Roads and paths to be repaired

ROADS GETS THE GO-AHEAD

ALMOST 1,000 roads and pavements in Rochdale are to be repaired in a massive blitz on potholes.

Town hall bosses have signed off on a huge £12m scheme to improve the borough’s streets.

Work is due to start in September and is expected to take about two and a half years to complete.

A total of 955 roads, 48 miles long will be repaired.

The bumper cash injection was agreed by the council in February and a list of roads was then drawn up using condition and accident data, before being given the final sign-off by councillors.

Speaking in February council chiefs said the aim was to make Rochdale’s roads ‘the best in Greater Manchester.’ Utility companies such as gas, electricity and water providers will also be barred from digging up newly-repaired roads unless they are carrying out emergency work.

Some £2m of the £12m fund will be spent on footpaths.

Council leader Allen Brett said: “The state of the roads is a serious concern for many of our residents and something they have to deal with every day.

“This huge additional investment will allow us to carry out a series of repairs, from fixing potholes to full scale resurfacing and other long-term repairs, on 955 roads, to get them in good condition for years to come.”

The work will be carried out in addition to the council’s standard annual repair programme, which will see £1.2m spent on repairs across almost 15 miles of roads.