The programme of roads and pavements planned for improvements this year has been published by Rotherham Council.
This will be the second year of the current four-year programme, which is supported by an additional £16m of investment allocated by councillors last year.
In total 187 roads will be resurfaced alongside 95 pavements, including key locations along the A57, Moorgate Road, Doncaster Road at Hooton Roberts, and Aldwarke Lane.
A major programme of investment over the last ten years now means that Rotherham’s roads are in a better condition than the national average, with fewer potholes reported and insurance claims at their lowest ever level.
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.
It’s all thanks to significant investment from Rotherham Council in the road network, with around £39m dedicated between 2015 and 2024.
It means that 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.
The investment over the last decade has also seen a significant reduction in the number of potholes that have required repair. In 2014/15, 34,000 potholes were repaired, but so far in 2024/25, only 11,159 potholes have needed to be repaired as of 6 January this year – meaning that figure is on track to have halved since investment began.
Teams on the ground are also receiving positive feedback, with 89% of residents surveyed satisfied with the performance of the highways teams dealing with repairs.
The investment in Rotherham’s roads is the latest example of the Council’s wider commitment to building a better, fairer borough for residents and a more inclusive economy.
Millions have already been committed to improving Rotherham’s public spaces, schools, high streets and communities, alongside building more council homes and investing in the town centre.
Cllr Robert Taylor, 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.”
