Swansea’s new road repair teams are improving more than 400 square metres of road surfaces in the city every week.
The repairs are being carried out as part of the Council’s new Priority Action for Community Highways service (Patch) which targets specific areas for a two-week makeover.
Carl Humphrey, Head of Streetscene in Swansea Council, said:
“The Patch service is a new way of working with our teams carrying out highway improvements in a targeted ward over a two-week basis.
“The teams are already having a big impact and each week we’re repairing more than 400 square metres of roads which makes driving safer and reduces damage to vehicles.”
During the two weeks spent in each ward, the Council also has the opportunity to carry out other street works such as gulley cleaning and street sweeping, if required.
So far, work has been carried out in St Thomas, Bonymaen, Llansamlet, Castle, Clydach and Cwmbwrla.
John Hague, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “The Patch service is a far more efficient and effective way of working because it gives us the opportunity to carry out a range of work to provide a one-stop streetcare service at the same time in the same place.
“I’m particularly pleased with the impact we’re having on repairing roads. We’re all aware that the severe winter has damaged roads across the country but in Swansea the Patch team has been able to concentrate efforts on the worst hit roads and really make a difference for motorists.”
The patch service will compliment the Council’s latest five-year programme of major highway maintenance referred to as the Highway Asset Management plan.
The new plan sets out the Council’s intentions during the next five years to maintain some of the 1,100km of carriageway and 1,500km of footways in Swansea.
Cllr Hague added: “Both the new Patch initiative and the Highway Asset Management plan will give us the opportunity to focus our efforts on the real priorities in Swansea in terms of highway maintenance.
“When we were developing the five-year programme we asked for input from residents and gave them the opportunity to tell us which roads concerned them. This new plan has taken those concerns into consideration.”
Residents in Swansea can report any highway defects to the Council’s Highways Maintenance Team and call free on 0800132081.
