Glasgow Takes Action: £12 Million Pledged for Road Repairs After a Harsh Winter.
Glasgow’s road repair budget is set to double to £12 million, as the city confronts the aftermath of a devastating winter – the worst in over ten years. The combination of freezing temperatures in December, persistent heavy rainfall, and heavy traffic volumes contributed to an astounding 7,000 reported potholes in just the first two months of 2023.
The additional £6 million will enable the repair and maintenance of nearly 300,000 square meters of road surfaces across 130 streets in Glasgow. The city council plans to tackle repairs, resurfacing, and other preventive measures like surface dressing, all designed to eliminate weather- and traffic-vulnerable road cracks.
Councillor Ruairi Kelly, City Convener for Neighbourhood Services, expressed his agreement with the decision to allocate more funds to road maintenance, given the recent decline in road conditions. He sympathized with the frustrations of motorists and cyclists alike, acknowledging the increase in pothole numbers and sizes, as well as the necessity for significant road surface repairs.
As Glasgow’s roads experience some of Scotland’s highest usage levels, they are more prone to damage and demand more frequent repairs. Councillor Kelly emphasized the city’s commitment to enhancing local infrastructure and stressed the need for funding mechanisms that acknowledge Glasgow’s road network’s national significance to Scotland’s overall prosperity.
The £6 million increase in funding is a temporary reallocation from the Neighbourhood Infrastructure Improvement Fund, intended to provide £1 million to each of Glasgow’s 23 council wards for local priority spending. The additional funds for road repair will be reinstated to the Neighbourhood Infrastructure Improvement Fund in the coming years.
The council is working to develop an innovative process that allows local communities to actively participate in decision-making related to the fund within the city’s 23 area partnerships. A significant majority of the fund remains unspent and is yet to be earmarked for local projects in the current financial year.
This substantial investment in road repairs demonstrates Glasgow’s commitment to addressing the issues that impact daily life for its residents and visitors while also prioritizing the overall prosperity of Scotland.
