Several months ago, sections of the lane were resurfaced with tarmac to a good standard, arguably better than many other lanes, or roads, in the vicinity. Recently, the lane was completely resurfaced with chippings for the entire distance from Seven Crosses to Bickleigh.
I would be grateful to know the reason for this latest resurfacing and the cost to the public of doing so.
The maintenance scheme referred to is the Seven Crosses to Yearlstone site (scheme No. 2738340) which is on the minor road network (maintenance category 9) and was surface dressed on 29 April 2021.
Surface dressing is a preventative treatment used extensively within highway maintenance to improve skid resistance of the running surface and to protect the fabric of the road from the ingress of water, a major contributor to the failure of a road pavement. The process of surface dressing on the minor road network is principally as a water barrier which if left untreated will accelerate the rate of the deterioration and consequently require more extensive repair more quickly.
In preparing the road to receive surface dressing it is necessary to pre-patch those areas of the carriageway which are in an advance stage of deterioration which in some situations can involve extensive areas of patching. However this preparation is essential to protect the new dressing and to minimise the need for any post treatment remedial works. In order to access the suitability of a road to receive surface dressing a number of criteria must be satisfied these include the age of the pavement, data on the condition of the road e.g. potholes, what the visual inspections are showing, the percentage of pre-SD patching required (currently 40% max of area for maintenance category 9 roads) ,geometry, usage of the route and local priorities. This site was assessed as suitable to receive a surface dressing treatment and was programmed for inclusion in the 2021 SD programme and in preparation for this pre-SD patching was undertaken in October 2020 at a cost of £71,320.