Newport road resurfacing sparks furious public reaction

Newport City Council recently completed works on Corporation Road as part of its £6.6 million Fixing Our Roads programme, hailing the latest resurfacing as a sign of progress and investment in the city’s infrastructure.

In a video shared to social media, Dmitri Batrouni leader of Newport City Council, said: "We've come to Corporation Road to check out the latest piece of resurfacing work our highway team have completed as part of fixing our roads programme.

"The road looks great as you can tell, but we're really pleased that we've ticked off another big stretch of road off our list."

The resurfacing on Corporation Road was completed over two weeks starting Tuesday, May 26, with overnight closures to reduce disruption for residents and businesses.

However, reaction from the public has been mixed, with some residents raising concerns that only part of the road was resurfaced and noting that a nearby sinkhole had not been repaired.

Others have taken to social media to question why other major routes, such as Malpas Road, have not yet been completed.

The resurfacing forms part of a wider initial £6.6 million plan targeting 55 of the most critical roads across Newport.

The council announced an extra £12m for the project as part of their 2026/27 budget back in February.

More than 30 routes have already been completed, including sections of Chepstow Road, Cardiff Road and the A467 Risca bypass.

Mr Batrouni said that while the focus is on major roads, the benefits are citywide.

He said: "These are mostly high-profile roads and then the roads in most urgent need of full resurfacing.

"But the programme benefits every road in Newport, not just the ones on this list.

"The resurfacing jobs we're doing now will provide the long-term solutions to these problem roads — freeing up our highways team to tackle more of the day-to-day pothole repair work we know we need across the city."

But not everyone is convinced by the approach or its pace.

Following the council’s announcement, many residents used social media to voice their frustrations, particularly about Malpas Road.

One resident wrote: "Malpas Road still not completed."

Another asked: "When are you going to finish Malpas Road from M4 roundabout to Cwmbrân Drive roundabout, both north and south?"

A third said simply: "Malpas Road is a mess."

Concerns were also raised about Cromwell Road, Park Square car park, and the road opposite St Woolos surgery.

One resident questioned the durability of the new surfaces, writing: "Until the 13.5 ton electric buses smash it up again."

Others criticised the tone of the council’s announcement, with one resident commenting: "[They] Want praise for doing their job," and another adding: "Well done, only took five years."

The council has acknowledged that funding and emergency repairs can affect which roads are prioritised in the current scheme.

In May 2026, a further expanded list of roads was announced, with schemes selected using condition surveys to target carriageways where investment can deliver the greatest long-term benefit.

Mr Batrouni said this reflects a broader strategy for Newport’s roads.

He said: "That is why we're putting record levels of investment into this work, delivering real long-term change in the things that matter most to all of us in Newport — resurfacing our roads."

A full list of completed and planned resurfacing works in the Fixing Our Roads programme is available on the Newport City Council website.

The council says it remains committed to delivering improvements across the network, but some roads will have to wait until more funding becomes available.

Meanwhile, residents continue to push for improvements on the roads they use most, keeping pressure on the council to deliver results.