The latest figures released by the council show a reduction in the borough’s potholes by more than half – from 34,000 in 2014/15 to an estimated 15,000 in the current year.

The dramatic improvement is the result of some additional £39 million of additional funding made available by Labour councillors over the first nine years, and now a subsequent £16m over the current four year period.

The news comes as the council publishes this year’s programme of works, the second for the current four year period.

In total 187 roads will be resurfaced this year alongside 95 pavements, including key locations along the A57, Moorgate Road, Doncaster Road at Hooton Roberts, and Aldwarke Lane.

A report to the Council’s Cabinet shows that the percentage of Rotherham’s classified road network – A, B and C roads – that require repair is lower than the national average.
Just 2.67% of Rotherham’s A Road network requires repair – less than the national average of 4%.

Meanwhile, 2.5% of Rotherham’s B and C roads need repair – again, lower than the national average of 7%.

Latest figures show that just 11.1% Rotherham’s 770km unclassified road network requires repair, compared with the national average of 17%. National average figures are provided by the Department of Transport.

Over the last year, Council investment has led to repairs across 235 maintenance schemes, equating to 31.7 miles (50km) of roads and 5.6 miles (9km) of footpaths.

Cllr Robert Taylor, Labour’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy, said: “Safe, high-quality roads and footways are essential for everyone in Rotherham – whether you’re walking to school, cycling to work, or driving across the borough – and that’s why we’ve made them a top priority. We know how important this is to our residents, and we’re continuing to invest to keep our network in the best possible shape.

“Our teams carry out regular inspections and detailed surveys to make sure we stay ahead of any issues. By using innovative materials and cost-effective repair methods, we’re delivering long-lasting improvements while making every pound of public money count.

“We’re already seeing the impact – with fewer potholes, fewer claims, and more residents telling us we’re getting it right. The fact that Rotherham’s roads are now outperforming the national average is a real testament to the hard work of our highways teams and the long-term commitment we’ve made to improving the borough’s infrastructure, but while we’re pleased to have made so much progress in recent years, we know there is still more to do.”