Dorset Council highways service has completed its annual surface dressing programme, with 96-miles of road treated this season.
Over 14 weeks, 457,000m² of road was surface dressed – where bitumen is sprayed on the surface and finished with a thin layer of new stone chippings.
This method prolongs the life of roads by providing a waterproof seal, to prevent potholes forming from water damage, and improves skid resistance.
Around 123,000m² of main road was treated as part of the work – with these ‘premium’ sites also having a lock-in treatment over the top of the chippings to further protect the new surface.
Cllr Ray Bryan, Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “Surface dressing is a cost-effective treatment to help prolong the life of our roads and ensures that resources can be directed to fully resurface the roads that need it most – a treatment that costs around 12 times more per mile than surface dressing.
“Our annual maintenance programme targets road damage with the most appropriate repair method – patching, surface dressing, in-situ recycling, road preservation and resurfacing – to ensure we spend resources efficiently and effectively.
“This mixed-treatment lifecycle approach also reduces our carbon footprint through lowing the use of new aggregate and reducing the waste produced from our sites.”
The rolling programme of surface dressing work started on 25 April and finished in mid-August.
In recognition of the value offered to Dorset’s residents, business and visitors through this programme, Dorset Council have invested in a new specialist Phoenix surfacing vehicle to keep the team rolling.
This is a cheap sticking plaster. Roads round us are in a deplorable state. Church Street in Yetminster was ‘dressed’ a few weeks ago. It is now going to be dug up for scheduled water works. Someone must have know that this was going to happen. What a waste of our money and shocking display of incompetence.
I would like to know when you’re roadsurface men will return to remove the signs and remove the loose stone which are causing a hazard .Paddock close Stapehill
Great job and applied so quickly and efficiently with folk who knew their equipment and how to use it! No messing about. Done in double quick time and the process has really smartened up the road. It was in quite a sad state and this should keep the water and frost out for a time!
I must admit that I thought there was going to be another seal coat applied once the grit had ‘settled’!
Thank you.
Why has Whincroft Close not been resurfaced and our pavements relayed. Every other road around us has been done. We pay the same rates as everyone else. Also our Close has not been cleaned since last year,we see the road cleaner pass by on the main road. We are the poor relation when it comes to maintainace of our Road.
Need a bit of work on the pavements in Dorchester before congratulating yourselves, they are disgusting & dangerous for mobility scoter’s like on Weymouth avenue, that is why a lot of us travel on the roads.
Any chance Glennie Way, Putton Lane and School Hill be resurfed.
It don’t arf jar my neck, going over them pot holes.
Good work on Highfield Road.it wasvery much in need of resurfacing.
Dont forget to take down you Warning about skidding on the new surface!!
What about finishing Redwood Drive Ferndown
Unfortunately our local road, ‘Glissons’ is still awaiting the ‘follow up’ work on the road surface after receiving ‘micro-asphalt surface treatment’ on 29th June. The road remains uneven, Utility access points in the road remain covered under asphalt etc. The last time a road sweeper was seen in the street was at the beginning of Covid lockdown!
Our road was scheduled for resurfacing but this was put off due to hot weather…I trust we’ll be top of the list for next season!
But didn’t do all the roads in Corfe Mullen we got missed out again
The problem with this type of finishing road surfaces is it you ride a motor bike or cycle it is dangerous,especially if you have an accident regardless wether the fault of the rider or not,it can be extremely painfull,anyone with sense wears protective clothing but it can still cause injury.
When verwood was recently resurfaced damage was also caused to my husband’s car and I. Suspect others,and some drivers do not note tempory speed limits also the tar stuck on our paintwork of our vehicle,we feel this surface option is done on cost and not consideration to road users.
So what percentage of Dorset’s roads does that equate to, it doesn’t sound much?
What happened to Woodside Road, WEST MOORS?
Just returned from holiday in Devon and Cornwall, there is absolutely no doubt that Dorset has the best kept roads in the West. Well done!!!!
Our road was due to be surfaced dressed July/August time it was never done and we have not been advised if it will be done this year or not. Signs went up giving us the date, but just taken down with no information.
They did our cul-de-sac in Lytchett Matravers. The road was in perfectly good order and didn’t need the splash and dash treatment. Must have cost £20k, I would rather have had the money off my council tax.