Record investment for West Midlands roads as national repair bill hits £18.6bn
The region is seeing its biggest ever transport funding, but councils still face a huge backlog as national road repairs soar.
The West Midlands is receiving record investment in transport, including extra cash to tackle potholes, but local roads still face a significant repair backlog.
New figures from the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) show that bringing roads across England and Wales up to good condition would cost £18.6 billion. Government funding, while increased, falls far short of this figure, leaving councils struggling to close the gap.
Richard Parker, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said the region is making the most of the investment. “We continue to work closely with the government and local councils to ensure every part of our transport network works for the people who live here,” he said. “It’s vital that roads are safe and reliable, but we are also taking a long-term approach, investing in buses, rail, and the metro alongside immediate repairs.”
Research from the AIA found that only 51% of the local road network is reported to be in good condition. Roads are resurfaced, on average, once every 97 years, and 1.9 million potholes were filled last year alone. David Giles, chair of the AIA, said noticeable improvements “lie a long way off,” and warned that the backlog will not be cleared quickly.
While government funding for local road maintenance in England for 2025/26 is nearly £1.6 billion, the AIA says the total cost of repairs demonstrates the scale of the challenge facing councils.
Mr Parker acknowledged the difficulty but stressed that the region is focused on using funding wisely. “We are making sure councils get it right first time and invest in preventative resurfacing where possible,” he said.