Work to fix 1,000 potholes on one road near Newtown

More than 1,000 potholes will be repaired along a two-mile stretch of the A470 near Caersws as part of a Welsh Government programme to tackle the deteriorating state of major roads.

The scale of the problem on this section of the vital Mid Wales route has been laid bare by official figures showing over 1,000 individual pothole repairs and prevention measures will be required across just 2.1 miles of carriageway.

Work will take place between 19 - 25 June with road closures expected.

The announcement comes as motorists across the region report mounting frustration with road surface conditions, with potholes causing hundreds of pounds of damage to vehicles through punctured tyres, broken suspension components and wheel alignment problems.

Local drivers using the A470 between Newtown and other parts of Wales have endured years of poor road surfaces, with many reporting having to swerve around holes or slow dramatically to avoid vehicle damage.

Welsh Government's £25 million refurbishment programme will see comprehensive resurfacing work carried out on the affected stretch, rather than the temporary patching that has previously failed to provide lasting solutions. The A470 Caersws project represents one of the largest single pothole repair operations in the region.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates said: "Fixing our roads is a key priority. The comprehensive programme of works that are being delivered as part of our £25m investment will help improve the future resilience of our strategic roads network and prevent potholes. I am pleased to hear that some of this work has already started with more to follow in the coming months. I look forward to seeing some of the end results."

The 1,000-plus potholes on this relatively short stretch demonstrate the severity of the problem facing Wales' road network. Across the entire £25 million programme, around 30,000 potholes will be fixed and prevented on strategic routes throughout Wales.

Since 2021, Welsh Government has spent more than £81 million on resurfacing around 200 miles of roads on the trunk network. The latest investment will bring total spending to £118 million by the end of the current Senedd term, covering more than 310 miles of road improvements.

The A470 project forms part of 22 schemes across Wales, including bridge repairs and community footway programmes. Work has already begun on some projects, with the Caersws resurfacing scheduled to continue over the coming months.

Traffic management measures will be implemented during construction work, though authorities have pledged to minimise disruption to this busy route that connects communities throughout Mid Wales.