Newham Council hails “major milestone” in highway improvement

More than 75 miles of Newham’s highways have been resurfaced in the past decade under what its council calls one of London’s most ambitious road renewal projects.

A report on the borough’s infrastructure says that since its launch in 2016, the Keeping Newham Moving programme has seen investment averaging £10 million a year spent on renewing the borough’s 432 mile road and footpath network.

The work has also seen the council filling in more than 6,000 potholes since 2021, with nearly 1,600 being repaired in the last financial year alone.

Sarah Ruiz Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport said: “Newham is one of the main gateways into the capital, so our roads – particularly our principal highways – get a lot of traffic.

“We know that the state of our highways and footways is a high priority for our residents.

“So, keeping our roads, cycle routes and pathways in a good state of repair makes travelling around the borough, whether by car, public transport, or bicycle more comfortable.

“But more importantly than that, it means that they are safer to use. That’s why, despite the extreme pressure on Council finances, we have continued to invest in new infrastructure and repairs.

“There is always more to do – just like painting the Firth of Forth Bridge – the work never ends. But the work of our Highways Maintenance teams is keeping us on the front foot and helping to encourage residents to take up sustainable transport options where possible.”

The Local Highways Maintenance Transparency report sets out that a further £8.9 million will be invested in 2025-26 under the Keeping Newham Moving programme, including repairing 1,500 potholes, 21 roads resurfaced, reconstruction and bridge maintenance.