Extra £27 million to be put into improving the area's roads

Devon County Council's cabinet has this week approved spending an additional £27 million on the county's roads this year, making this year's allocation the largest ever annual investment in Devon's road network.

The Cabinet's decision to back this spending follows one of the wettest winters on record. The funding, from the Government's Potholes Fund, will be used to repair road surfaces, increase pothole prevention and to combat the damage caused to highways, bridges and structures during the winter months.

The extra money has also enabled DCC to improve plans that were already in place to tackle the effects of weathering and previous storm damage. The funding will be used to advance Devon's highways for the 'long-term', using community knowledge to highlight specific areas that require maintenance. Structural repairs of bridges and improvement of main roads and 'B' roads will be the priority.

Smaller roads, such as 'C' and unclassified roads, will receive the majority of the available funding, with a focus on improving the condition and resilience of high-usage local route networks. Bridges and structures and main roads will receive the remaining share, concentrating specifically on structural repairs and making Devon's highways safer for all users.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: "The announcement of additional highway maintenance funding is great news for Devon. It will be integral to providing appropriate long-term repairs to Devon's road network and the safety of our highways.

"All parts of Devon benefit as a result of this funding. Devon's Covid-19 recovery has also introduced different challenges and new considerations for the improvement of Devon's highways and the funding will be invaluable in enabling high-usage routes to be safe, properly maintained, and appropriate for active travel, like walking or cycling."