Sunderland Approves £10.9m Investment to Upgrade Roads and Transport Network

Plans for a £10.9 million programme to maintain and enhance Sunderland’s roads, bridges and transport infrastructure have been given the green light by city leaders.

At a cabinet meeting on March 26, senior councillors approved the council’s 2026/27 capital programme covering highway and bridge maintenance, alongside wider transport improvements.

Described as essential to keeping the city moving, the programme sets out a range of works including road repairs, structural maintenance and initiatives to improve safety, accessibility and sustainable travel options.

The plans also include the introduction of additional 20mph zones in residential areas, upgrades to traffic signals, new traffic calming measures and strengthened enforcement.

To further tackle road conditions, the council has committed an extra £1 million specifically for pothole repairs over the coming year.

Work will be prioritised based on inspections, traffic flow data, collision statistics and feedback from residents and local councillors.

Key resurfacing schemes are planned for sections of the A182 in Copt Hill and Houghton, the A1018 St Nazaire Way in Hendon and Ryhope, and part of the A1231 in Washington.

Several major routes are also scheduled for improvements, including Chester Road in Shiney Row, Durham Road in Houghton and Sunderland Road in Southwick.

In addition, numerous smaller, unclassified roads across the city will undergo resurfacing or full reconstruction.

The programme will be funded through a combination of £4.5 million from the council and £6.404 million in government grants.

Councillor Lindsey Leonard, cabinet member for transport, environment and net zero, highlighted the council’s increased focus on pothole repairs.

She noted that around 5,200 potholes had already been fixed in the first two months of the year—more than double the 2,000 repaired during the same period last year.

She added that new technology is being introduced to improve both the speed and effectiveness of repairs, reflecting feedback from residents and a commitment to addressing their concerns.