Surface dressing of roads

The aim of the County Council is to carry out surface dressing works in a way that will minimise disruption to the travelling public and residents.

Surface dressing is a low cost way of restoring road surfaces - but there can be problems. It involves a coating of bitumen being sprayed onto the road surface followed by one or more layers of hard stone chippings. As the bitumen sets, the chippings stick to the road surface and are further embedded by rolling in.

Advantages

• Restores a good resistance to skidding on smooth or slippery roads
• Prevents water from seeping into the road foundation and weakening it, reducing the chances of potholes developing and delaying the need for complete rebuilding of a road
• Up to ten times cheaper than other methods of restoring road surfaces
• Traffic can be allowed to run on the new surface almost immediately, avoiding lengthy closures and disruption
• The speed with which it can be laid reduces delays to traffic.

Disadvantages

• Drivers need to travel very slowly on the newly laid surface to prevent chippings being dislodged
• Inconsiderate drivers travelling above the recommended speed cause chippings to be thrown up which can damage other vehicles and property.

What we will do

Where practicable give advance notice of works to residents and drivers

Provide advisory and warning signs from the time of treatment to the time when the road is ready for normal use

Sweep the road and footways to remove loose chippings

Ensure that surface dressing is carried out to high standards

Minimise hazards and disruption to traffic through correct use of traffic control

Ensure that complaints are investigated and appropriate action taken.

What you can do

Ensure that your vehicle is not left on the road which is to be treated

Try to avoid inviting visitors or arranging deliveries when work is to take place

Keep to the recommended speed limit on recently treated roads

Use headlights when travelling on newly dressed roads to remind others to drive carefully by advertising your presence

Never overtake on a newly treated surface

Contact your local Highway manager if you believe the work is not to standard.

Some facts

In Nottinghamshire, approximately 600,000 square metres of road are surface dressed each year.

To ensure that the correct conditions exist for surface dressing, it is only carried out between May and September. The bitumen will set even if the road is damp.

It takes two or three days for the dressing to settle down and vehicles running carefully on the surface help it to compact.

Bitumen can be easily removed from shoes, wheels or clothing by the use of widely available solvents, such as turpentine or white spirit.