DOZENS of city roads are set to be resurfaced in the summer as part of a multi-million pound scheme.
Worcestershire County Council’s Highways team started work on the £3.5million county-wide project in neighbouring Evesham today (Monday) and will move onto Worcester in June.
A total of 1.2million square metres of carriageway will be surface dressed which involves spraying on a coating of bitumen to waterproof the roads followed by one or more layers of stone chippings to restore skid resistance.
Council bosses say the method is up to ten times more cost effective for the taxpayer, causes minimum traffic disruption as most roads can be resurfaced in a couple of hours and is less likely to develop potholes.
Once finished, the road can then be driven over with care and any loose chippings on the surface are swept within 24 hours and again after about a week. The road markings are then replaced.
Coun John Smith, county council cabinet member for highways, said: “Surface dressing allows us to catch roads half-way through their lifespan and extend them.
“It’s an excellent preventative maintenance measure that offers good value for the taxpayer, which has been used to successfully improve hundreds of miles of highway in Worcestershire over the last few years.
“One of the big advantages of this method is that it can be done quickly thus cutting down on road or lane closures that cause inconvenience to motorists.
“We know from residents and businesses that improving of our highways is a priority. Over the last few years we have invested more than £50million in projects like this and the situation has improved but we are committed to continuing efforts.
“This winter was the wettest on record and, inevitably, that has meant that some of our roads have suffered.”
Anyone who spots a pothole can log onto www.worcestershire.gov.uk/reportit to report it.
The following roads are set to be resurfaced in Worcester:
Monday, June 9:
Kingfisher Close
Queens Wood Drive
Draycote Close
Hidcote Close
Connaught Close
Ransom Avenue
Tuesday, June 10:
Field Walk
Barnes Way and off shoot
Barns Place
Springfield Road
Woodbridge Close
Burnham Close
Springfield Close
Wednesday, June 11:
Blackpole Road
Tunnel Hill
Mayfield Road
Monarch Drive
The Spinney
Thursday, June 12:
Lambourne Crescent
Bramley Avenue
Pearmain Close
Cecila Drive
Laxton Avenue
Elison Avenue
Ribston Close
Everard Close
Russet Close
Langley Close
Friday, June 13:
Everard Place
Monday, July 28:
Spetchley Road
Tuesday, July 29:
Spetchley Road
Hylton Road
New Road
Friday, August 1:
Northern Link Road
