Twenty per cent of local Walsall roads 'need major repairs'
A fifth of Walsall's local roads are crumbling and urgent work is required to stop others deteriorating rapidly, a new report has said.
The report to Walsall Council’s cabinet says 20 per cent of unclassified roads in the borough are in a poor condition and in need of major repair, with a further 35 per cent in need of minor work.
And highways officers expect the number in need of major work to more than double to 45 per cent by 2028 unless the council increases its spending on the network by hundreds of thousands of pounds each year.
There are around 430 miles of unclassified roads in Walsall, with any route that is not not an A road, B road, or motorway included.
Although they have not been given specific numbers, the roads are often essential for local travel - connecting drivers with larger roads, local business, schools and workplaces.
Walsall Council is looking to spend an additional £500,000 on maintenance in each of the next 10 years. It believes this will reduce the number of roads in poor condition to nine per cent.
And to help fund this, the council wants to get a slice of £19.8 million that the West Midlands Combined Authority is looking to secure from the Department of Transport’s Challenge Fund.
If the combined authority is successful, Walsall is hoping for £3.9m which would be dependent on them providing match funding of £500,000.
The report to cabinet also said most of Walsall’s classified road network – A and B roads – are in good condition and unlikely to deteriorate for a number of years.
Councillor Adrian Andrew, cabinet member for regeneration, said: "Approximately 20 per cent of Walsall’s unclassified roads are now considered to be in poor condition and in need of deep structural repairs.
"A further 35 per cent of these local routes have been identified as needing shallower, preventative treatments to slow the rate of deterioration.
"Based on the current budget and maintenance strategy, the proportion of unclassified roads in a poor condition is expected to more than double in the next 10 years."
He added: "Focused investment in the borough’s unclassified road network will have wider benefits for the local economy and public health.
“For example, improving access to active and sustainable travel options supports attempts to deliver congestion relief, public health improvements and arrest the general decline in high street footfall."
Councillors will be meeting on Wednesday to discuss the issue.
