NEWSROOM

More than 80 improvement schemes are planned over the next 12 months, supported by a £91 million investment over the next four years.

As a designated New Town, much of Telford and Wrekin’s road network was constructed rapidly during the 1960s and 70s, an era of ambitious engineering that transformed a derelict industrial landscape into a modern borough with a 170‑hectare town park at its green heart.

Six decades on, many of these once‑innovative structures are reaching the end of their original design life. Bridges, footpaths, roads, retaining walls and reinforced concrete structures, built for a different era of traffic levels and environmental conditions, now require careful planning and targeted renewal.

Councillor Richard Overton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways, Housing and Enforcement, said: “2026 marks a significant step forward for our highways network. As we continue to protect, care and invest, residents will see smoother roads, safer neighbourhoods, better lighting and improved support during flooding incidents.

“These improvements are about making travel easier and safer for everyone, while creating a cleaner, greener and more connected borough.”

To meet this challenge, the council is prioritising investment on the parts of the network most important for safety and keeping people moving. This includes planning improvements in a way that supports better accessibility, greener travel choices and long‑term value for residents, while continuing to maintain the lowest council tax in the Midlands.

Retailer Blackcircles named the borough as the eighth best place in the UK for reports of potholes over the last five years.

This year will see upgrades ranging from major junction improvements to neighbourhood accessibility enhancements. Key commuter corridors such as Greyhound Interchange Randlay Interchange have already undergone extensive work, with further resurfacing planned across the borough, improving journeys for thousands of residents every day.

Street lighting modernisation will continue, with old columns replaced, LED lanterns installed and additional lighting added where communities have requested it. These upgrades improve visibility, reduce energy costs and make streets feel safer after dark.

Accessibility improvements will also continue through a new wave of dropped kerbs in locations including Horsehay, Lawley, Malinslee, Donnington, Muxton and Newport, making everyday routes easier for wheelchair users, people with mobility aids and families with prams.

Road safety remains central to the programme. Several schemes have already been delivered, with more planned over the coming year including crossing improvements in St Georges and road marking and signing improvements across the borough.

More than 400 resident‑requested Traffic Regulation Orders have been completed to address local concerns around parking, speeding and safety with further improvements planned for the coming year in direct response to local concerns.

Many of the borough’s most critical structures will also receive attention this year, including essential works to strengthen bridges, including the Jackfield Memorial Footbridge, embankment stabilisation that will protect key routes from long‑term deterioration.

The Council will continue to share updates throughout the year and states that while it remains committed to investing in infrastructure,

The Council added that this approach contributes to accolades such as being one of the top eight local authorities for reducing potholes over the last four years and at the same time, achieving top rankings for several years including 2025 in the National Highways and Transport (NHT) survey.

Councillor Overton added: “While the Blackcircles report is encouraging, we know that the real measure of our performance comes from our residents. Their views matter most, and we listen closely to their experiences on our roads.”

Residents can check current and upcoming works at Telford & Wrekin Council | Planned highways and transport projects