By Press Release
Island Roads is preparing to deliver an intensive programme of highway improvement works at a number of sites across the Island during May.
The programme of surface dressing is designed to increase skid resistance and also seal the carriageway surface, preventing water ingress, a major cause of potholes forming. The work, at 23 locations, will be carried out between the two May Bank Holidays.
Surface dressing involves applying a layer of bitumen onto the highway into which chippings are then simultaneously rolled. The road is initially swept and the action of traffic beds down the chippings onto the new surface. Additional sweeping will be done after 48hrs and again one week after the treatment has been delivered. Emergency vehicles will be able to pass through work sites at all times.
On less trafficked areas, a secondary process is carried out, similar to the initial surface dressing, three to five days after the work is completed.
Work may be required in some areas to prepare the road in advance of the surface dressing. After roads are treated, crews will need to return to reinstate cats’ eyes and line markings.
An Island Roads spokesman said: “This is probably the most intense period of work we have undertaken for several years. Fortunately, it is a quick process, so disruption to the network should be kept to a minimum even though approximately 100,000 square metres [1 million sq ft] of carriageway will be treated.”
You can read more about the programme and find out which areas will be affected when at iw.observer/islandroads via the ‘current works’ tab.
