Highways crews in Staffordshire are rolling out their preventative maintenance programme for the year, which will see hundreds of roads undergo surface treatments.
Surface dressing involves structurally repairing roads from end-to-end before applying a new top surface.
This vital highway treatment is carried out on roads before they deteriorate too far and require more costly repairs. Surface dressing reduces the risk of potholes and can prolong the life of roads by up to 15 years.
Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways, Peter Mason said: “Surface dressing is a key part of our maintenance programme. By treating roads while they’re still in fair condition, we can improve the surface and extend their life by up to 15 years.
“We plan our surface dressing programme to keep disruption to a minimum, and the work is usually carried out under rolling road closures. Each site is prepared carefully, and we work with local communities to manage access and keep traffic moving safely while the treatment is laid. It’s a highly coordinated operation, with every stage needing to run smoothly—from applying the binder to spreading the chippings and rolling them in.
“Our crews are making the most of the good weather so we can treat more roads and help them last longer. By doing this preventative work now, we can protect the network and reduce the need for more disruptive, costly repairs later.”
This is part of Staffordshire County Council’s Highways Roadmap, which sets out how the county council will look after roads earlier—so problems can be prevented and the need for bigger, more expensive repairs are reduced.
The county council’s surface dressing programme will continue throughout the summer and into the Autumn.
A list of roads that will undergo treatments can be found on the county council’s website.
