, Mayor of West Midlands has
secured a 30% increase in the region's highway repair funding to
fill more potholes, resurface bad roads and give motorists a
smoother drive.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has given the West Midlands
Combined Authority (WMCA) an extra £8.6 million to fix the
region's roads – enough to fill 88,000 potholes. This is on top
of the £24 million funding already awarded for 2025-6.
The extra money will be distributed among six WMCA member
councils; Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and
Wolverhampton according to a set formula – allowing them to
accelerate their road maintenance programmes. Birmingham City
Council's road repairs are funded through a separate private
finance initiative process.
This additional funding will allow councils to schedule more
roads for repair and resurfacing, as well as work to prevent more
potholes from forming – improving safety and cutting repair costs
for motorists. The use of modern techniques and materials
can also extend the life of a road and reduce the future risk of
potholes.
The Mayor, who is also chair of the WMCA, said: “Far too many of
our roads are blighted by dangerously deep potholes, cracks and
craters leaving motorists to pick up the bill for car repairs and
poor driving conditions. This is the result of years of under
investment.
“Now, with this funding I've secured from Government, our
councils can bring even more roads up to scratch and our
motorists can enjoy journeys which are quicker, safer and with
reduced wear and tear on vehicles.”
Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the WMCA, is
also working on a Government funded research project to test
innovative new road surface materials which are both lower carbon
than traditional methods and in some cases longer lasting.
Trials for the Centre of Excellence for
Decarbonising Roads project are being carried out across the
West Midlands in collaboration with WMCA members and in Scotland
by partner North Lanarkshire Council.
