“"Good roads matter to everyone. They connect us every day to work, school, shops and places of leisure. That’s why it was a priority to us to put in an improvement plan which focused on key areas and where people could see a difference. Our roadmap is our commitment to doing things differently. A year after we launched we can see it’s had an impact. However this is very much work in progress and we know we need to maintain this momentum. We’ve campaigned for the essential funding we need to improve our bridges and structures, ensured utility companies are doing everything they can to coordinate works to reduce disruption and we’re carrying out more extensive repairs where possible, so we don’t need to return to that site soon. And we’ve invested more in fixing potholes which we know are always a big issue. Ultimately this is all about keeping Staffordshire moving."
Staffordshire's Road Improvement Plan Makes Impact in First Year
Council's 'Road Map to a Better Network' focuses on fixing roads, bridges, and delivering value, with significant progress reported.
By Aisha Mahmood
••3 min read
AI
Generic image of a well-maintained road in the Staffordshire countryside.
A year after its launch, Staffordshire's 'Road Map to a Better Network' is making a tangible impact on the county's roads, with increased repairs and a focus on efficiency and fairer funding.
The Road Map to a Better Network, implemented by Staffordshire County Council, aims to enhance the county's road infrastructure by fixing more roads, protecting bridges, and reducing the repair backlog, all while seeking better value for money and fairer government funding. Highways leaders acknowledge that while progress has been made, the extensive network of over 4,000 miles means there is still significant work ahead.
The plan prioritises four key areas: Fixing roads properly through increased whole-road and full-lane repairs for longer-lasting improvements and reduced future disruption, exemplified by recent work on the A518 near Stafford. Improved condition surveys are also aiding in earlier problem identification.
Providing smarter delivery involves leveraging technology and local teams for quicker defect identification and repair, alongside closer coordination with utility companies and neighbouring authorities to minimise disruption from roadworks. The council is also focused on bringing better value, investing an additional £15 million in road repairs and enhancing efficiency. In September alone, teams repaired 5,000 potholes and defects, marking the highest monthly total to date.
Furthermore, the council is actively fighting for Staffordshire by pressing the government for long-term, fairer highways funding. This includes a £40.3 million request for the Chetwynd Bridge scheme, while major bridge improvements, such as the completed Wodehouse Lane Bridge and Wolseley Bridge schemes between Stafford and Rugeley, are progressing.
Based on information from the official source: Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub (23/10/2026)
