A total of £7.4million worth of road surface improvement schemes were completed at 197 sites countywide in West Sussex in just six months.
From April to October, 138km of road were either completely resurfaced or had surface dressing or micro-asphalt treatments. The three programmes of work comprised:
- Thirty-eight resurfacing schemes, totalling approximately 25km in length, were completed across West Sussex, representing a total investment of £3.4million. A warm mix material was used, with approximately 11 per cent less carbon emissions than traditional methods. The new road surfaces are more durable, making them more resilient to potholes, and smoother, too, which lessens road noise.
- Micro-asphalt treatment was used at 113 sites, with a total of 44km roads treated and representing a £2million investment. This treatment delays the need to do more significant work which would otherwise cause more disruption for residents and road users. With the existing road surface left in place, reduced working times and no need for disposal of materials, less carbon emissions are produced. A cold-lay material is used in this process, again supporting carbon reduction.
- Forty-six sites, totalling 69km of road, received surface dressing treatment, representing an investment of £2million. Surface dressing involves coating the road in bitumen and chippings and utilises the weight of traffic using the road to embed the chippings. It is used as a cost-effective method to prolong the lifespan of suitable roads.
Joy Dennis, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “We know how important developing a modern infrastructure is to residents and businesses in West Sussex, which is why there are key targets on road condition in our Council Plan : a £7.4million investment in highway improvements in just six months is testament to the hard work of our highways officers and contractors, and shows our commitment to developing that modern infrastructure.
“Potholes are a big source of frustration for all road users, and in the six months from April this year, approximately 22,000 were filled by our Highways teams and contractor. But we are also taking a holistic approach to the condition of our roads, with whole roads and larger sections completely resurfaced to make them more resilient to potholes, and vastly reduce the need for small-scale, disruptive repairs.
“Micro-asphalt and surface dressing methods have also been deployed on suitable roads as cost-effective ways of improving and prolonging their lifespan.”
