Surface dressing is very much dependent on the weather and so our rolling programme needs to be highly flexible. This means that in periods of changeable weather the planned start dates can change several times. You can see a provisional start date on the above map and we will also aim to erect signs on-site at least 24 hours before work begins. In periods of good weather, we aim to put up advance notice boards further in advance if we can.

Surface dressing at each site is usually completed within the day, although larger sites may take 1 to 3 days to complete. Sweeping will be completed at given intervals for each site for approximately one week, followed by the replacement of any lining and cat’s eyes.

Usually, the road is kept open with stop/go boards used to manage traffic. Some sites within the programme will require a temporary road closure, however, this will usually be localised where the road is too narrow, to safely allow traffic to pass the operation of the work. Due to the nature of the work, there may also be short periods of time when access to properties cannot be maintained. Where there are particular access requirements please speak to our colleagues on-site who will usually be able to accommodate your needs.

Surface dressing is often misunderstood and dismissed as a cheap alternative to resurfacing. In fact, that is a myth – they are very different processes. Resurfacing is a more extensive maintenance treatment which involves removing layers of a worn-out road surface and replacing them with new material. We surface dress roads in relatively good condition to ensure they last much longer before resurfacing is required. It’s like the difference between painting wooden windows to stop them from rotting, rather than simply replacing them. Resurfacing has its place but is not always the right option as can cause increased traffic congestion and is more expensive and time-consuming.

We purposely lay more chips than required to ensure that the whole surface is covered and we don’t end up with bare patches. We leave the loose chips for a short period to be embedded by traffic, after which any surplus chips are swept clear. Advisory speed limit signs are left out for a few days until most of the loose chips have been removed. This is to maintain the safety of the highway user, protect the new dressing and prevent damage to vehicles. Depending on the weather we may carry out additional sweeping or dusting to minimise the effect on traffic.

To protect your vehicle it is important to follow the site signage and drive accordingly. Warning signs are erected along with 20mph advisory speed limit signs. As long as these are observed there should be no damage to vehicles. If you would like to make a claim, please make a note of all the details and contact us via our Insurance claims page.

The cat’s eyes have been removed in preparation for surface dressing works in the future. Once the dressing has taken place, the road surface has settled and the section has been swept, the cat’s eyes will be replaced along with the road markings.

This is dependent on several factors. Ideally, a new carriageway will be surface dressed around three times at intervals of between eight and 15 years.

A road is chosen for surface dressing following an extensive prioritisation process. The process uses the allocated budget and ranks the roads in order of priority using several different criteria including mechanical surveys, inspections, works records and network importance.