Swansea launches £300k pothole blitz as major M4 roundabout set for overnight resurfacing

The council said more than 760 potholes were filled in December alone, with teams now working “day and night” to keep traffic moving. Some of the busiest periods saw up to 150 new pothole reports a day as ice, snow and heavy rain caused road surfaces to crack and break up.

According to the authority, four repair teams are now travelling the city aiming to fill around 100 potholes a day, with an additional specialist crew drafted in to tackle larger patches where the top layer of road has been stripped away by the weather.

Cllr Andrew Stevens, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, Swansea Council, said the scale of the problem was being felt “right across the country”, but Swansea was “taking action to tackle the problem”.

He said the extra teams would repeat last year’s post‑Christmas campaign, which saw larger surface defects repaired at a rate of one location a day for two months.

The pothole push comes alongside the council’s wider £20m highways investment for 2025/26, which includes major resurfacing already completed in Ynysforgan, Killay, Morriston, West Cross, Birchgrove, Gowerton and Llanmorlais. Recent work has also taken place on the A4118 in South Gower and the A48 Peniel Green Road near the M4.

Overnight works at M4 junction 44

As part of the same programme, the council confirmed that highways teams will spend the next week resurfacing the main roundabout at M4 junction 44 (Birchgrove) overnight to minimise disruption. A smaller roundabout on the B4625, which links to the westbound M4, will also be renewed.

Cllr Stevens said the junction was “a very busy part of the network” and in need of resurfacing “to keep motorists on the move”.

He added that record investment in the 2025/26 maintenance programme had allowed the council to prioritise full resurfacing schemes in areas most affected by wear and heavy traffic.

Recent resurfacing has also been completed on the A4118 at Parkmill, West Cross Avenue, Woodfield Street in Morriston and Mill Street in Gowerton.

Swansea Council maintains more than 1,000 miles of non‑motorway roads and says engineers carry out regular inspections to identify defects. The public can also report potholes directly, with the council pledging to repair as many as possible within 48 hours.

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Residents voice anger over plans to resurface historic Clyne bridleway

The £250,000 project, funded through Welsh Government’s Active Travel programme, would see the historic bridleway linking Derwen Fawr and Olchfa Lane resurfaced later this autumn.

Swansea Council says the work will make the route more accessible for walkers, cyclists, horse riders, families with pushchairs and people using wheelchairs or mobility scooters.

“Already accessible as it is”

Local resident Will Allen sparked the debate after posting online that the project would “ruin the visual appeal of one of the most beautiful parts of Clyne Valley woods” and risk damaging the area’s industrial heritage, including brickwork remnants from the former brickworks.

Allen, a daily cycle commuter and supporter of active travel, questioned whether the scheme would deliver meaningful benefits, suggesting it was “an easy way to spend Welsh Government funding” rather than addressing more pressing gaps such as the long‑discussed Clyne Common link.

His post prompted dozens of responses, many of them emotional.

• Bethany Rowe said: “I’ve seen mobility scooters using this path already so it’s already accessible exactly as it is. My children ride their bikes on it, horse riders use it without issues, and everyone can enjoy the history embedded in the track.”
• Analyst101 added: “I instantly feel immersed in nature and love how it changes week by week. I don’t feel the same walking along the cycle path.”
• Others warned of damage to flora and wildlife, drainage issues, and the loss of a tranquil walking route.

Some residents described the path as “a beautiful walk, especially in autumn when it is truly spectacular,” while others feared the valley could become “a manicured park” rather than a wild woodland.

Horse riders raised particular concerns, saying more hard surfacing would further reduce safe spaces for cantering. One rider said: “We’re losing rights to access such exercise throughout the valley. If the surface was laid like hard dirt and tiny stones that would be ideal, but not hard solid tarmac.”

Campaign call

In a follow‑up post, Allen said the response showed “strong feeling locally that this project should not go ahead.” He claimed local councillors only learned of the scheme after it was approved and that an ecological assessment has not been shared publicly.

He urged residents to contact their MP and MS, sign petitions, and join a campaign to halt the works. “Time to campaign against this is very limited. Work will begin soon. If you can, please do something,” he wrote.

Council: “Improving accessibility for all”

In a statement, Swansea Council defended the scheme, saying the current footpath provides “limited accessibility” and that the upgrade will benefit a wide range of users.

The council said the route was identified during a city‑wide consultation in 2021 and that ecological surveys have been completed to ensure the works are carried out sensitively.

A spokesperson said:

“Our aim is to improve this section, creating a more accessible route for everyone to use, including walkers, cyclists, horse riders, as well as families with pushchairs and people using wheelchairs or mobility scooters.

The works will not only feature an upgrade to the existing path, we will also strengthen culverts, install seating and provide information boards celebrating the historical nature of this route.”

The council pointed to previous improvements at Olchfa and Sketty, which it said had proved “hugely successful.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtUUS3BT3ls

Cycle‑through video of the upgraded Olchfa active travel route, showing the type of improvements Swansea Council has previously delivered in Clyne Valley.

Political reaction

The scheme has drawn criticism from local Liberal Democrat councillors Mary Jones and Jeff Jones, who represent the area.

In a joint statement they said:

“We were yet again disappointed with the lack of consultation from the Active Travel Team and the relative short notice given. We were under the impression that the detail of works given in 2020/21 were that there would be repair work to existing surfaces and it was understood that there were no plans to increase the number of paths that are tarmacked.”

Former cabinet member Jen Raynor has already criticised the project online, describing it as “an easy way to blow WG grant money in the absence of better alternatives.”

A path at the heart of the valley

The Old Carriage Drive is one of the most historic routes through Clyne Valley, with remnants of the area’s industrial past still visible underfoot. For many residents, that heritage is part of the attraction.

As one commenter put it: “It is not acceptable to destroy natural heritage and write about it on a display board instead.”

Others argued the steep incline means the path will never be suitable for those with severe mobility issues, even if resurfaced. “My dad has severe mobility issues and even when it is tarmacked there is no way I’d take him on that sort of incline,” said one resident.

What happens next

Work is expected to begin in late October or early November. Campaigners say they are considering petitions and protests, while the council insists the project will improve safety and accessibility in line with its Active Travel duties.

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Five weeks of roadworks to start on busy Carmarthen trunk road

The resurfacing work is taking place between Pensarn roundabout at the junction of the A40, A48 and A484 – and Glangwili roundabout at the junction of the A40 and A485 on both the eastbound and westbound carriageways.

The South Wales Trunk Road Agent (SWTRA), who maintain trunk roads and motorways in South Wales, say the resurfacing works will start on 19 June for 21 nights with an additional night planned on the 25 July to replace existing bridge joints. 

Waterproofing repair work is also to be carried out on the Towy River Bridge known as Pont Cynnwr.

In order to undertake these works safely the A40 will be closed westbound between Glangwili Roundabout (A40/A485) and Llangunnor Roundabout (A40/A484) to traffic from Friday 4 July at 8pm through to Sunday 6 July at 6am. 

Signposted diversions will take drivers on a 33 mile detour along the A48 to Cross Hands, the A476 to Llandeilo and the A40 back to Carmarthen.

SWTRA say that during the daytime, there will be periods where traffic will be running on the milled surface prior to the resurfacing works being carried out. Temporary markings and signage will be in place during this period and the speed limit will be reduced to 40mph. 

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Council publishes full list of Swansea roads to be resurfaced between now and March 2026

The council has revealed 31 roads across the city that will be upgraded along all or part of their overall length.

Two major routes included in the upgrade will target parts of Carmarthen Road and Fabian Way.

Further improvements set to be completed between now and March 2026, will be made along Neath Road and Woodfield Street in Morriston, Mill Street in Gowerton, West Cross Avenue, Gors Avenue and Birchgrove Road.

Also included in the newly published list of roads is Mumbles Road, which has recently been completed. The upgrade included a new section of road between the West Cross Inn and Norton Road.

Andrew Stevens, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure, said: “Our highway improvement plans for 2025/26 include significant upgrades to well used, popular sections of road throughout the city.

“The roads earmarked for full resurfacing schemes have been prioritised based on regular highway inspections and have been assessed as needing repairs during the next twelve months.

“In most cases, much of the works will be completed during the evenings so that we minimise disruption for the travelling public.”

As well as completing major resurfacing schemes, the Council says its highway maintenance crews will also be completing other road repair programmes with a series of small repair schemes – which target smaller sections of road.

Pothole teams will also be responding to reports from the public with the aim of repairing them within 48hrs.

In 2024/25, the council says its highways maintenance teams repaired more than 5,000 potholes and resurfaced 13km of main road.

Cllr Stevens, added: “Our maintenance teams worked very hard last year and we expect the same commitment this year. The public has also played their part by reporting potholes and other defects to the council so we can respond as quickly as possible.”

These roads are due to be resurfaced in 2025/26

• Butterslade Grove, Clydach
• Neath Road (Pentre Mawr Road to bus stop)
• Nantyffin Road, Llansamlet
• B4295 Penclawdd to Llanrhidian Holiday Park
• Brynmill Lane, Brynmill
• J44 Peniel Green Road roundabout, Llansamlet
• J44 slip road, Llansamlet
• Lôn Cynlais, Sketty
• Glan Yr Afon Road, Sketty
• Westland Avenue, West Cross
• Woodfield Street, Morriston
• Mumbles Road, (Norton Avenue to No.67)
• Highview, Mayhill
• Mill Street, Gowerton
• Elba/Mill Street junction, Gowerton
• Pontardulais Road, Gorseinon (traffic lights to Brynteg)
• Lôn Camlad, Morriston
• Bishopston Road, Bishopston
• Gors Avenue to Carmarthen Road, Mayhill
• West Cross Avenue, West Cross (West Cross Lane to Norton Avenue)
• A48 Penllergaer Business Park roundabout to J47 Penllergaer
• Goetre Fawr Road, Killay
• Ridgeway, Killay (Goetre Fawr Road to Broadmead)
• Birchgrove Road (between No’s 311 to 188), Birchgrove
• Carmarthen Road, Cwmbwrla roundabout to Wickes roundabout westbound
• Carmarthen Road, Wickes roundabout to Cwmbwrla roundabout eastbound
• Glynhir Road, Pontardulais
• Lone Road, Clydach (Vardre Road to Carlton Road)
• Fabian Way, St. Thomas
• Llanrhidian to Oldwalls
• A4118 – Vennaway Lane to North Hills Lane

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Busy Mumbles road to close overnight for over a week for resurfacing

The crumbling road surface is set to be renewed as part of the council’s resurfacing programme.

The overnight work will start at 8pm (Tuesday 6 May) and continue on until 2am. The road will be closed from those times every night until Wednesday 14 May to allow the repair work to be carried out, with diversions set to be put in place.

Residents have been warned to expect delays – particularly when the new surface is being laid.

A spokesperson for Swansea Council said: “Highway maintenance crews will be at Mumbles Road from Tuesday 6 May until Wednesday 14 May.

“Works will be taking place overnight to resurface a section of Mumbles Road between the junction of Norton Road and the West Cross Inn.

“A road closure will be in place during the upgrade (from 8pm – 2am) and diversions will be in place.

“Access will be maintained for residents along this section, although there may be short delays due to movement of plant machinery and longer delays when the new road surface has been laid. Traffic Management Operatives will be stationed at closure points and will be able to assist with any queries.

“Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.”

#Mumbles #MumblesRoad #potholes #resurfacing #roadResurfacing #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil

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