TRANSPORT chiefs in Southampton are due to rubber stamp an £8.5m road repair programme which will be carried out in the city over the next 12 months.

The programme forms part of an £18m scheme spread over five years which aims to repair the city's crumbling road infrastructure - and bring about much-needed improvements to so called "satellite" shopping centres in Southampton.

Members of the city council's ruling Liberal Democrat Cabinet will put this year's projects under the spotlight at a meeting today.

Included in the programme is £1.7m which is to be spent on current repairs to parapets at Redbridge flyover

Among the other schemes which are due to be approved are:

£1.375m repairs unclassified roads in the city

£400,000 on improvements to the city centre

£1.65m on repair and replacement of street lights.

Other schemes due to be endorsed by the Cabinet include about £170,000 on repairs to footpaths at Bursledon Road and Orpen Road, and £200,000 on the so-called "real time" electronic information facilities on the city's bus stops.

Safety schemes include about £100,000 which is due to be spent on Shirley Road where there will be improvements to the junction at Four Post Hill and Foyer Corner.

Major capital projects which are due to take place this year are at Romsey Road where there will be a carriageway and footpath rebuilding programme at Western Esplanade and Havelock Road where the carriageway will be re-surfaced.

City council leader Councillor Adrian Vinson said: "The Liberal Democrat administration is determined to tap into all available resources to reverse years of neglect to our roads and pavements."

The repair schemes are due to finish by 2009.