$200 million road repair blitz targets Sydney’s damaged roads

Sydney’s roads are set for a $200 million maintenance boost, with the NSW Government announcing a fast-tracked blitz to tackle thousands of potholes and degraded corridors following one of the city’s wettest winters on record.  

The announcement comes just months after The NRMA’s annual road safety survey revealed potholes, poor road conditions, and distracted driving are among the top concerns for motorists in New South Wales. More than half of respondents said they encountered dangerous road surfaces weekly, with many linking these hazards to increased repair costs and crash risks. 

What will the funding target? 

The NSW Government’s latest funding injection brings total maintenance investment for Greater Sydney to $488 million in 2025–26, with a focus on making sure that roads are repaired faster, potholes are less likely to develop and fewer cars are damaged. 

Repairs will be prioritised on traffic volume, how bad potholes are and where they occur, and how crucial that road is to emergency services, freight and buses. 

About 15 per cent of pothole reports come directly from the public through Transport for NSW’s online portal or the 131 700 hotline, giving residents a chance to flag hazards in their neighbourhoods. 

"These are some of our busiest roads, they carry lots of traffic and there is a direct safety and economic benefit to making sure our roads are smooth and efficient,” NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury told Open Road. 

“Resilience of our roads is crucial because we know there’s going to be more extreme weather and there’s more and more traffic in Sydney. By using new technology to fix potholes we are building more resilient roads and that means councils don’t have to go back and fix the same areas over and again.”  

NSW Premier Chris Minns said in a statement the blitz would “make sure our roads are safer and more reliable, while supporting the crews who are already working hard every day to keep Sydney moving”. 

Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison added that while new infrastructure projects often grab headlines, “this work might not get ribbon cuttings, but we take enormous pride in delivering safe, reliable travel for everyone who uses our road network”. 

Addressing maintenance backlogs 

Last financial year alone, Sydney crews logged 1.57 million hours of maintenance, resurfacing nearly one million square metres of road – equivalent to more than 125 football fields – and repairing over 10,000 potholes. 

The NRMA’s Council Backlog report released in May 2025 shows NSW councils are sorely in need of extra funding to help repair roads, with metropolitan councils reporting a backlog of $633 million and regional councils reporting a $2.8 million backlog. 

With a very wet winter and ageing infrastructure increasing the rate of road damage, the need to fix roads sooner has become paramount.  

NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury said: “This funding is really important because it brings funding forward - it was allocated in forward estimates and it means the money can be spent now. After a very wet August there was an immediate need to fix these roads after all the damage done by the rain.” 

A fairer, safer road network 

The Government has also directed an additional $155 million towards regional NSW road maintenance, bringing non-metropolitan funding to $1.25 billion this financial year. 

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the investment gives “families certainty, and workers and businesses the confidence to plan for the future as they go about their activities today”. 

For Sydney motorists, the hope is simple: fewer wheel alignments, smoother drives, and safer commutes. 

Drivers can report potholes and damaged roads to Transport for NSW here.