MORE than £1 million is set to be spent on improving roads across Sandwell this summer.

The council is planning to resurface roads the equivalent size of almost 50 football pitches as they hope to prevent potholes next winter, following the severely cold weather the borough experienced at the start of 2018.

Sandwell Council’s highways team has already resurfaced 61 roads since the late spring and by the end of early autumn, more than 342,000 metres square of 112 roads will have been resurfaced – the equivalent of 48 football pitches.

The work – which will be on top of further planned resurfacing and reconstruction work that will be carried out throughout the remainder of the year – is expected to cost more than £1m.

To check where resurfacing work is being done this summer visit www.sandwell.gov.uk/resurfacing.

Councillor David Hosell, cabinet member for highways and environment, said: “The roads were severely impacted by the winter’s sustained bad weather. We had freezing temperatures and snow on the ground for many months.

“We’ve committed this money not only to pothole repairs but to resurfacing roads extensively to protect them for years to come.

“So, if you get a letter through your door or signs up in your street to say we’re resurfacing, please bear with us and park elsewhere while our contractors get the work done.”