Furious motorists highlight further crumbling Sheffield roads after investigation reveals cracks in recently repaired highways

Furious drivers have highlighted several new crumbling roads in Sheffield - just a day after we revealed a number of the city's highways are already cracking despite a recent £2bn upgrade.
Knowle Lane, Ecclesall.Knowle Lane, Ecclesall.
Knowle Lane, Ecclesall.

A series of photographs showed how huge cracks and potholes are already appearing on roads which were resurfaced as part of a major upgrade.

The pictures showed the cracks developing along Knowle Lane, in Ecclesall, where a new surface was laid around 18 months ago.It is one of numerous roads around the city left crumbling just months after works were carried out, according to complaints from readers.

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One couple living in Knowle Lane said it was already in a worse condition than before it was resurfaced, while another labelled the rapid deterioration ‘ridiculous’.Complaints also poured in about the standard of other roads which have been resurfaced, in neighbourhoods including Beighton, Crookes, Ecclesfield and Gleadless.Further complaints flooded in today on Facebook and Twitter.

Carl Thompson sent us pictures of Gleadless Road, Gleadless, cracking apparently just a week after being resurfaced. He described the resurfacing work as "terrible."

Alison Garner said: "Roads at Redmires and Lodge Lane have not been done 12 moths and they are already cracked and pot holes forming."

Nick Martlew added: "Cycling out in the Peak District the Snake Pass on the bendy bits before Ladybower has already disintegrated."

Gleadless Road.Gleadless Road.
Gleadless Road.
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Khalid Ayub claimed that Stainforth Road in Darnall has "started to crack."

Cam Hamon said: "Yet for some reason all the footpaths are being done first. Why? There are pot holes the size of smart cars. Get them done first. It's damaging people's cars. Is the council going to pay for car repairs due terrible roads? Doubt it."

Sheffield Hallam MP Nick Clegg said yesterday that he had also received complaints about similar problems on Greystones Road and on Chichester Road, in Crookes.

A spokeswoman for Sheffield Council said Knowle Road was one of a small number of streets where remedial work was required after resurfacing, in this case due to ‘soft underlying surface layers’.

Walkley Lane, Walkley.Walkley Lane, Walkley.
Walkley Lane, Walkley.
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She added up to 590 miles of highway in Sheffield has been resurfaced by Streets Ahead with a further 200 miles expected this year and the failure rate on roads resurfaced is "less than one per cent."

Streets Ahead is a 25-year deal between the council and private contractor Amey, funded with £1.2billion of central government money and £800million from the council’s coffers.Councillor Bryan Lodge, Sheffield Council’s cabinet member for the environment, said: “We are aware that, unfortunately, the surface of Knowle Lane has deteriorated prematurely due to soft underlying surface layers. “There are a very small number of similar cases across Sheffield which account for a small percentage of over 500 miles of road that have already been resurfaced as part of the Streets Ahead contract. “Occurrences such as these are not unusual on a contract of this size and we can reassure residents that the roads affected have either already been resurfaced or will be by the end of 2017. “Streets Ahead is required to maintain all roads to a reasonable standard and any remedial work, such as that planned for Knowle Lane, will be at no extra cost to Sheffield City Council or Sheffield residents."

To report a problem with the roads call 0114 273 4567.