Mayor secures landmark £121m road maintenance funding for the East Midlands

Mayor Claire Ward on board one of the region's buses (Credit: Onclusive News)

Millions of pounds is to be invested in improving the region’s roads thanks to the Mayor of the East Midlands.

Members of the East Midlands Combined County Authority’s transport committee have backed a £121 million investment in road maintenance and repairs across the region for the next three years, supporting the four highway authorities across the EMCCA region.

The decision – which will now go before the EMCCA board for final approval – was agreed at EMCCA’s latest transport committee meeting, confirming the largest single year of investment in road maintenance the region has seen in years. The approved funding will make roads safer, reduce congestion, and address long-standing wear and tear caused by historic underinvestment.

The £121m package was approved over an alternative lower-funding option and will be used for a range of measures. Work is set to include repairing worn road surfaces and potholes, improving footways and cycleways, upgrading street lighting, protecting key structures, and increasing proactive maintenance to prevent future damage. In many locations, repairs will be combined with drainage upgrades and public realm improvements to deliver better outcomes for local communities.

In addition, more than £13.5m has been agreed for local neighbourhood transport projects. These smaller-scale schemes will improve road safety, accessibility, and local travel, directly benefiting people’s daily journeys in towns and villages across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire through measures such as traffic calming and better signage.

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “This year, 2026, is the year of delivery for the East Midlands. With this £121m investment now approved, we are ready to roll up our sleeves and make roads safer, journeys smoother, and communities stronger. This isn’t just planning, it’s action, and residents will start seeing the benefits this year.”

Transport Committee members also reviewed progress on the existing £184m transport investment programme, which is already delivering safer roads, better bus services, new cycle routes, and improved travel connections across the region.

Mayor Claire said: “This investment is a significant step forward for our region. By focusing on road maintenance, safer streets, and better transport connections, we are delivering real benefits now while laying strong foundations for long-term improvements over the next seven years.”

EMCCA successes so far include:

• Bus and active travel upgrades in Derby: Refurbishment of Victorian railings alongside improved bus priority and active travel routes;
• Digital bus totems: Real-time travel information installed in Derby city centre and Sutton-in-Ashfield;
• Cycle and pedestrian improvements in Nottingham: New routes and links delivered ahead of schedule;
• Road maintenance in Nottinghamshire: 140 schemes completed to improve safety and journey quality.

Key projects under way include:

• Merrill Way / A514 / Boulton Lane Junction (Derby): £3m junction improvement scheme now in construction;
• Chesterfield–Staveley Regeneration Route (Derbyshire): £2.5m invested in scheme development to support housing and regeneration;
• A614/A6097 Major Road Network (Nottinghamshire): £7.5m contribution to reduce congestion and support new housing, with construction planned for summer 2026.

The programme remains on track to spend £151m this year, a significant increase on 2024/25, demonstrating EMCCA’s growing capacity to deliver major transport projects at scale. This year marks the first of a seven-year investment plan, providing long-term certainty to deliver larger, more lasting improvements across the East Midlands.

Options for the remaining funding are to be brought to the Transport Committee’s April meeting for consideration.