Trials are under way across Reading to ensure better pavements for pedestrians which will sustain a high standard for longer.
Reading Borough Council is one of the first in the UK to trial a technique which involves applying a barrier coating on to existing pavements that seeps into the existing surface to preserve and rejuvenate it, extending its life and negating the need for more costly and time-consuming reconstruction.
Three trial sites – Commercial Avenue, Shirley Avenue and Sun Street – have had the preservation treatment applied so far.
The easy-to-apply treatment is intended for use on pavements which are still in relatively good condition but showing signs of deterioration.
The councils says the application is quicker and more cost effective than resurfacing, which means more of Reading’s footways can be enhanced and have their lifespan extended until resurfacing is eventually required.
The new technique is likely to be rolled out as an extensive footway preservation programme around the whole borough next year.
The Council says there are other benefits including:
Additional benefits of this method of footway preservation include:
- Treatment is cold applied and therefore has a lower carbon footprint than traditional tarmacking methods
- Up to ten years of extended life for a pavement before resurfacing is required
- Less inconvenience to residents as ease of application reduces a week’s work down to one day compared to resurfacing
- Preservation can be conducted by the Council’s own in-house Highways team, reducing time and costs to prepare tenders and manage contractors
- Time and financial savings mean a much greater number of footways can be improved compared to a focus on traditional resurfacing with tarmac
(Picture – Reading BC)
