Council to spend more than £5m on road upgrades

Funding has been confirmed for key infrastructure projects - including £5.095m for road resurfacing, and £1.2m for bridge improvements in Earls Barton

More than £5m will be spent on resurfacing roads in the north of the county as part of a wider £7.7m package to improve local transport.

The funding, from the Local Transport Grant, will support multiple projects focused on road maintenance, traffic safety and bridge repairs in North Northamptonshire.

The largest share of the investment - £5.095m - has been allocated to resurfacing works across the area.

North Northamptonshire Reform UK councillor Chris McGiffen, said: "This funding is significantly more than the council has received for general transport improvements to date and gives an opportunity to deliver schemes that have previously been unaffordable."

Other major investments include £1.2m for replacing a weak bridge deck on Station Road in Earls Barton and £500,000 for waterproofing at Irthlingborough viaduct.

A further £350,000 has been earmarked for a new pedestrian crossing on the A509 at Wilby.

Smaller projects include bus gate enforcement cameras in Kettering and Corby, £270,000 for new vehicle-activated signs, and £40,000 to close a road to tackle fly-tipping.

Leader of the local authority, Martin Griffiths, said the works would support long-term improvements to local roads.

"This funding, alongside the wider plans for highways, should mean residents start to see a difference," he added.

A sum of £7.7m from the local transport grant for 2025-26 - rising to £54m by 2029-30 - can be used for road maintenance, safety upgrades and traffic signal improvements.

All projects are expected to be completed by summer 2026.