Road maintenance

Find out more about how we have been reducing our carbon emissions through our ex situ carriageway recycling scheme in this short video:

See how we are using a new process incorporating recycled rubber tyres to resurface roads:

How we have used the Asphaltic Grouted Macadam process for resurfacing:

Surface dressing is a cost effective way of maintaining a road. It restores skidding resistance and seals the road surface to prevent water ingress

1. Hot bitumen is sprayed onto the road
2. Chippings are then applied and rolled in
3. The road is then swept to remove excessive chippings

Our Road Maintenance Service will carry out carriageway surface dressing work as scheduled.

Micro surfacing is a type of surface treatment that is used to prolong the life of a road by 10 to 15 years.

Micro surfacing is quicker, less noisy and cleaner than traditional resurfacing because it is not necessary to remove large volumes of existing carriageway surface.

The micro surfacing process is as follows:

1. First the road will be swept clean
2. The surface will then be sprayed with a bitumen binder
3. This will be followed by the application of a layer of stone chippings
4. These chippings will be pressed into the bitumen binder by a road roller
5. All lining, including disabled bay and resident H-bar markings, will be replaced 14 days after the work has been fully completed

Road resurfacing is when part of the old road surface is removed by a process known as ‘planing’ or milling.

Resurfacing is a major road works and we will often have to undertake this work with full or partial road closures. We will always provide advanced notice of this and arrange for plenty of signage of the safest diversion route.

Depending on the existing condition of the road, we will either:

• remove the top layer, approximately 4cm thick, or 
• remove a further layer, which would be another 6cm thick

When we have finished the planing, we will:

• often adjust the levels of the gullies and inspection covers to improve the smoothness or drainage of the road
• clean the road with a special road sweeper, and
• spray a bitumen emulsion over it which acts as a "glue" to bond the new tarmac to it

The new tarmac is delivered in special insulated wagons and placed whilst hot onto the road using a specialist tarmac laying machine, called a paver, that spreads the tarmac at a uniform width and thickness along the road. Then:

• we roll the tarmac to compact it and provide a smooth even driving surface
• the tarmac needs to cool for a while 
• the road can be reopened to traffic

Road markings are sometimes replaced prior to the road reopening to traffic, although sometimes they are replaced at a later date for operational reasons.

When we put the 'No Parking' signs and cones out. You will be able to return your vehicle outside our working hours, but we need the road to be clear whilst we are working on the highway. 

We will try to contact you first, but if we are unable to contact you and the vehicle has to be towed away, unfortunately this may be at your cost.

Our works may create dust.

From the working area for their safety. 

There will be 'speed reduction' signs in place for the duration of the work and until the final sweep has taken place. We advise that you keep to the indicated speed limit until the signs are removed.

Check your shoes for bitumen before entering your car or home and take off your shoes at home if necessary.

If you get bitumen on your clothes or shoes, it can be removed with a proprietary cleaner.

In the case of business premises, we are obliged to maintain access, but as there are no practical ways in which we can cover the treated surfaces and cannot prevent people from walking on them, we suggest you place a temporary covering inside your premises.