£3.5m road improvement programme to protect against potholes
Road improvements worth £3.5m are due to be carried out in the East Riding this spring and summer to help protect against potholes and other damage.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council is investing the money in its annual road surface dressing programme with the work expected to take 16 weeks to complete.
The surface dressing forms a major part of the council’s planned highway maintenance programme.
The scheme will cover all types of roads, from A roads to unclassified ones, and will see 166 sections of the network upgraded – the equivalent to 68 miles.
Around 700,000 square metres of stone chippings will be laid on road surfaces during the operation, which is comparable to surfacing a continuous route from Beverley to Hartlepool.
Surface dressing is a fast and cost-effective method of repairing, preserving and prolonging the lifespan of a road, and is carried out by the council’s own highways maintenance team.
The work consists of applying hot, adhesive bitumen to the road, covering it with chippings, and then rolling them in.
Afterwards, road sweepers clear away any loose chippings after a few days. New road markings are then put down as quickly as possible.
The process actively reduces the risk of potholes forming, as it seals the road and prevents water from entering and damaging the surface. It also significantly improves skid resistance for vehicles.
Councillor Paul West, the council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “We really appreciate drivers and local residents for bearing with us over the next few months while our crews carry out this essential work to improve our roads.
“Surface dressing is an extremely important part of our annual maintenance programme because it helps to protect these roads from potholes and other damage.”