Surface dressing programme for summer 2020 set to start this week

Shropshire Council has announced its programme of roads that are to be surface dressed this summer.

Surface dressing (applying and rolling aggregate ‘chippings’ onto a bituminous binder) is a proven quick, efficient and cost-effective way of maintaining skid-resistance and waterproofing road surfaces and, as such, forms a major part of the council’s annual road maintenance programme.

The 2020 surface dressing season is due to start today (Wednesday 3 June), with operations ongoing until August 2020.

In total, 56 sites have been identified for treatment (listed below and in greater detail on our programme spreadsheet – see here) across the county on all types of road, from urban cul-de-sacs to major ‘A’ and ‘B’ roads.

Due to the limited width of the majority of identified roads, over 90% of the sites will unfortunately require a temporary road closure for the works to be carried out safely.

Where road closures are not necessary, other forms of temporary traffic management will be in place, including temporary signals where appropriate. When treating cul-de-sacs limited access will be available.

For the majority of ‘A’ and ‘B’ roads (currently 14 separate sites county-wide) centre line studs/cats’ eyes also need to be removed and replaced under a temporary closure. It’s envisaged that stud/cats’ eye removal will take place overnight between 8pm and 6am, followed by dressing, sweeping and reapplying road markings during daytime hours.

The replacement of studs and road markings on some sites may necessarily need to take place up to ten days later.

In reality, most of the road closures will only be required for a few hours for the dressing operation, and are unlikely to be of more than one day in duration.

Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and parking, said:

“As well as improving and protecting our road surfaces, this important programme of work plays a crucial role in helping to prevent potholes and other defects forming in the future. Pothole treatment is very much about prevention as well as cure and this is one important way that we can aim to prevent potholes forming next winter.”

The programme of work may alter due to wet weather or other unforeseen events.

In order to keep affected residents and road users informed of when and how long closures will be in place advance information signs will be positioned on each site in the weeks preceding proposed commencement of works.

Due to the current restrictions and concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, and in order to safeguard both operatives and vulnerable people, the decision has been made to suspend the usual practice of delivering letters to directly affected properties, so the advice is to call 0345 678 9006 for any specific enquiry, and also to view the updated detail available on the website and via social media.

Surface dressing sites 2020

Northeast  Shropshire
Shrewsbury Road, Market Drayton
Pear Tree Lane, Whichurch
St Johns Street, Whitchurch
Hawkstone Park Hotel Road
Tilstock roundabout to Tilstock 30 mph
Broughton crossroads to Wem
B5063 junction with B3476 to junction with A49
A528 Cockshutt to Burlton
A442 Espley roundabout
A49 Hinton Bank roundabout
A49 Hadnall to Sandy Lane

Northwest Shropshire
Weston Road, Oswestry

Central Shropshire
Wigmore Lane, Wattlesborough
Bow Way, Shrewsbury
Wenlock Road, Shrewsbury
Pulley Lane, Shrewsbury
Lower Chatwall to Plaish
Shadymoor Lane, Stapleton

Southeast Shropshire
New Road, Oreton
Bridge Road, Much Wenlock
Cherrybrook Drive, Broseley
Dog Kennel Lane, Alveley
Benthall Lane to Jack Mytton Way
Kinlet B4363 junction right-hand-side B4199 to junction right-hand-side B4194
Oakwood Road, Bridgnorth
Merriwell Lane, Much Wenlock
B4555, Knowle Sands
B4378, Bourton

Southwest Shropshire
Oak Meadow, Bishops Castle
Cow Hall, Newcastle
Guifron Farm, Newcastle
Blanydree, Llanfairwaterdine
Black Hall Lodges, Llanfairwaterdine
Kerry Lane, Bishops Castle
Welsh Street, Bishops Castle
Black Mountain to Anchor
Eaton to Ticklerton
Clun to Guilden Down
Bwlch to Purlogue
The Graig, Llanfairwaterdine
Badger Moor
Balaams to Broncroft
Boraston Bank
B5477 Ludlow Road, Church Stretton
Dinham, Ludlow
Guilden Down, Clun
Linney, Ludlow
Seifton Lane
Beckjay Lane, B4367- B4385
Butts Cottage to The Row
Stanley Cottage access, Lower Down
Grey Bank to Guilden Down, Clun
Hospital Lane Grey Bank, Clun
Rushbury Road end to Topley
Shadwell Hall jct to Bicton jct
A488 Hope Valley