West Midlands road repair cash welcomed by council chiefs

The cash has been won by the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority (WMITA) following a bid to the Department for Transport.

The money means a total of nearly £90 million – which includes £4.9 million from West Midlands local authorities – will be spent on improving 211 miles of major roads across the region over the next six years.

Councillor Roger Lawrence, leader of Wolverhampton City Council and chairman of the WMITA, said: "This is excellent news for West Midlands people and businesses. The fact that we've secured such a significant proportion of this national funding demonstrates the strength of our business case and joint working."

"It will bring much-needed infrastructure investment to our region's road network and will support our drive to deliver jobs, growth and prosperity."

Councillor Bob Sleigh, the leader of Solihull Council and deputy chairman of the WMITA, said asset management was a key element of the ITA's emerging Strategic Transport Plan, which aims to ensure the West Midlands is central to growth in the UK.

"Our A-roads are the arteries of our economy, moving people and goods whilst the delays and repairs associated to poor road maintenance on our major roads are costs to our businesses and residents, a cost we can now reduce," he said.

"Crucially, this means that all road users will benefit from smoother and more reliable journeys from the investment including drivers, cyclists and bus passengers.

"We are the only ITA in the country to receive such an award, which I think speaks volumes for the strength of the bid we submitted and shows what can be achieved when the region speaks with one voice."

Wolverhampton will get £11.7m, Dudley £15.8m, Walsall £12.6m and Sandwell will be given £16.7m.

In total, 31 schemes have been awarded sums totalling £275m across 28 local authorities over the country.

The project's include safety repairs, bridge renewal, carriageway and drainage improvements, as well as upgrading street lighting in a number of areas to bring them in line with modern standards.