Drivers who were fed up with dodging potholes across the borough are now noticing a smoother ride, as Nottinghamshire County Council says it has carried out more major road improvements than any other county in England.
The authority is spending a record-breaking £182.5 million on its highways network, with around 100,000 potholes already repaired and hundreds more road schemes still to come before winter arrives.
Council bosses say the scale of work this year is unprecedented, with more than 450 road resurfacing projects planned across Nottinghamshire during 2026/27, more than double the number delivered or planned the previous year.
So far, 152 schemes have already been completed, covering everything from roads and pavements to drainage systems, bridges, street lights and traffic signals.
The county is set to see almost 638,000 square metres of resurfacing carried out this year, the equivalent of more than 56 miles of road. That’s a huge jump from last year’s programme, which resurfaced almost 20 miles.
As well as resurfacing, a further 1.5 million square metres of road will be treated with protective surface dressing designed to help prevent future deterioration and potholes.
The work is being delivered by highways contractor Via East Midlands alongside a number of external firms, using a mix of resurfacing, patch repairs, preventative treatments and specialist pothole-repair machines.
Councillor Mick Barton, leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said the authority was taking a longer-term approach rather than simply reacting when roads fail.
He said: “We are making an unprecedented investment in Nottinghamshire’s highways because we know how important good roads are to residents, businesses and everyone who travels around our county.
“The scale of this year’s programme shows that we are not simply reacting to potholes. We are taking a much more proactive approach to improving and protecting our road network for the future.
“Around 100,000 potholes have already been repaired and there is much more work to come.”
Councillor Bert Bingham, the council’s cabinet member for transport and environment, said the work goes far beyond filling potholes.
He said: “There is much more to maintaining our highways than filling potholes. Our teams are looking after 14 different types of highway assets, including drainage infrastructure, structures, street lighting and signage, as well as the roads themselves.
“We are determined to make the most of every opportunity to improve the network and ensure Nottinghamshire is better prepared for the demands of winter.”
The highways programme will continue throughout the autumn, with the majority of resurfacing schemes expected to be completed before colder weather sets in.
