THOUSANDS of highways repairs have been carried out on top of normal maintenance since April through the Members’ Highways Initiative (MHI).

The MHI gives every Essex County Councillor a dedicated Essex Highways crew to carry out repairs every few weeks.

Councillors can use the programme to prioritise local highways issues which matter most to residents.

So far this financial year, additional repairs have included:

2,338 carriageway repairs, such as potholes and surface damage
1,965 footway repairs
840 other repairs which include kerb repairs, drainage covers, signage and street furniture
The MHI also funded a programme to refresh linings on pedestrian crossings, in particular zebra crossings, which had faded and needed repainting.

These issues had been reported by county councillors during the summer months. MHI crews used Methyl Methacrylate to give the crossings a longer lifespan.

This is the second year the MHI has been available to county councillors after the council confirmed £8 million in funding in this year’s highways budget.

15,104 repairs were completed through the MHI in the 2024 to 2025 financial year.

Councillor Tom Cunningham, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure, and Sustainable Transport at Essex County Council, said: “We launched the Members’ Highways Initiative last year so the people who know their communities best can address what matters most to their local residents. The more than 5,000 additional repairs so far this year shows the initiative is making a difference across our county.

“I am proud of the hard work our highways crews have shown in tackling the issues that residents see and care about the most, helping us build a safer, greener and healthier Essex.”