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Maintaining roads

Road resurfacing

We plan maintenance on roads throughout the year in areas that we know need resurfacing. These repairs improve the long-term condition of the roads; which means that we don’t have to come out as often to make smaller wear-and-tear repairs, such as filling in potholes.

To find out which roads need repair we analyse information from:

  • regular inspections
  • annual surveys using specialist equipment
  • reports from councillors, parish councils and community groups
  • reports from residents

What is resurfacing?

When the surface or sub-surface layers of the road have deteriorated to a point that they need to be replaced, we remove the existing layer and lay a new surface. This is expensive, but will normally last at least 15 years. If the weather affects the resurfacing process, we may have to reschedule the work.

We also surface dress many of our roads; this involves treating the road surface to stop it getting worse. These treatments are usually cheaper than expensive rebuilding works so we can maintain more roads for the same budget. This is why some of the worst roads are not worked on first.

What you need to do

Look out for signs saying that resurfacing will be happening in your area – we will try to minimise disruption, but there may be some delays to traffic and some temporary road closures.

Make sure that your car is not parked on the road when the resurfacing is happening.

Our map shows planned resurfacing works for the current financial year (please be aware that these plans can be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances).

Restriction of work after resurfacing (Section 58 Notice)

When we, or a utility company, carry out substantial roadworks we may restrict further work in the area for up to a maximum of five years. No streetworks can be carried out on these streets during the restricted period without our consent. This is subject to certain exemptions and regulations.

Exempt work when a restriction is in place:

  • Minor work that don’t involve breaking up or excavating in the highway.
  • Immediate work for emergency or urgent purposes.
  • New customer connections – after a 20 day period.

Other work during a restriction

If we receive any proposed work while the restriction is in place, and they aren’t in one of the exempt categories, the work can only be carried out with our approval. This will depend on the nature of the work and we will look at each request on its own merits.

Utility companies

Utility companies will need to give us details of any plans for work that will take place in affected streets as early as possible within the notice to work periods. You will also need to complete the work before any specified starting date in accordance with Section 58 direction.

If work overruns, or have to be carried out after the original date, it would make sense for the utility work to be accommodated before we complete the road resurfacing.


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