Millions of pounds to improve county roads as Nottinghamshire County Council approve 2025/26 highway maintenance programme, including East Midlands Combined Authority funding

Millions of pounds are set to be invested into major road improvement projects across the area — including a potential new river crossing at Kelham — following a boost to highways funding.

Nottinghamshire County Council has approved its 2025-26 highway maintenance programme, which will see a total of £72.7m invested in highways improvements across the county, covering everything from major roadworks to extensive pothole repairs.

This includes £52.4m of capital investment and £20.3m of revenue funding.

A further £1m funding from the East Midlands Combined Authority will go towards feasibility studies on major projects.

Within Newark and Sherwood, these studies will explore the potential for a new river crossing at Kelham, and improvements to Gunthorpe junction with the aim of improving safety, cutting congestion, and reducing disruption for residents.

The majority of the capital and revenue funding will be spent on delivering a range of road improvement and maintenance strategies with the aim of addressing a significant backlog of repairs needed across the county’s highways network.

Council leader, Sam Smith, said: “I know resurfacing more of our roads is the number one priority of our residents and that is why it is this council’s priority as well.

“We know particularly that potholes are the source of so much frustration for the public so we are committed to making sure this investment can be used to address improvements needed across our entire network.

”While the funding invested will help to address some of the worst affected roads it will also mean we can carry out essential preventative works to avoid further deterioration”.

This month, the council has also submitted a full revised business case for the A614/A6097 major road network scheme to the Department for Transport for approval, with updated costs and a revised programme of works.

The scheme — estimated to cost £34.4m — will see improvements made the traffic corridor between Ollerton and East Bridgford, including changes to the layout of key junctions such as White Post Roundabout, Lowdham Roundabout, and Ollerton Roundabout.

Improvements to the road will aim to ease congestion and support planned housing developments along the route in Edwinstowe, Ollerton, Blidworth, and Newton.

Portfolio holder for transport and environment, Neil Clarke, confirmed that following a successful bid, the council had also been awarded a further £15.2m of funding by the East Midlands Combined Authority towards the highway maintenance programme.

The maintenance programme includes over 200 proposed individual carriageway and footway schemes across the county, including notoriously pothole ridden roads such as Bowbridge Road, Barnby Road, and Magnus Street in Newark.

Mr Clarke said: “The works will incorporate both resurfacing projects and other treatments aimed at improving roads in poor condition.

“These will include preventative treatments such as surface dressing and micro-asphalt designed to extend the life of the network by preventing further deterioration taking a more long-term approach to highways maintenance”.

The capital programme also includes a total of £5.6m to deliver active travel and pedestrian crossing schemes, £3.975m for improvements to pavements, £2.03m for highways drainage, and £7.575m towards other essential highway assets such as bridges, street lighting, and traffic signals.

In some cases, schemes will adopt a whole-street approach meaning that improvements will address carriageway and footway repairs, alongside other works.