Roads near or at the end of their life will need resurfacing to replace damage to the layers in the road.
Resurfacing repairs the structural failure in the lower layers of the road as well as the surface, restoring shape and strength.
Using annual condition surveys, each year, available funds are used to target primarily strategic routes and important link roads to services, communities and commercial areas.
In the current financial climate the highways service has had to focus on the most damaged sections of road and areas with safety concerns.
Previously, the entire length and width of road would have been resurfaced. To ensure we keep our network at its current condition and to repair more damaged areas of road, resurfacing is carried out on sections of road, in the form of large patches.
The section of road to be treated will vary in size depending on the extent of damage, and the repair may be on one side of the carriageway or across the full width of the road.
Carrying out the work
Work is generally done under a road closure during the day, with work taking place 9am to 4pm to avoid the ‘rush hour’ traffic, but on some routes work will take place overnight to minimise disruption to drivers.
Diversions are signposted, with drivers having to be diverted onto the same classification of road as the one closed for maintenance.
Access to properties and businesses is maintained, though drivers may have to wait a moment while machinery is moved or a task is finished to ensure the work area is safe to move through.
Scheduled work can be seen on the roadworks map.