Highway maintenance

Surface dressing is a quick, efficient and cost-effective way to maintain skid-resistant and waterproofed road surfaces, helping to prevent future deterioration. 

We surface dress roads as it:

• improves skid resistance
• makes the road waterproof
• extends the life of the carriageway surface by up to ten years
• is comparatively low-cost at just a fifth of the price of resurfacing

Surface dressing work is undertaken between mid-March and the end of August - the process needs warm, dry weather to make sure the dressing becomes established. 

Loose chippings may initially cause a short term inconvenience to road users as the speed limit's restricted to 20mph, but it's is important that traffic is allowed onto the new surface so chippings get fully embedded under the weight of vehicles. 

The new surface is left for 14 days to allow the chippings to embed, then any residual chippings are swept up before road markings are repainted.    

It's important to keep to the temporary speed limits and avoid sharp turns, this will:

• allow the surface to stabilise
• prevent any damage to your vehicle

A pothole is where the surface of the road has eroded and a hollow has formed. 

The severity of the pothole and criteria for attention is determined by the risk it poses to road users - this is difficult to judge since all potholes present some risk. 

Factors we take into consideration are:

• the size, depth, traffic type, speed and volume of the vehicles
• where the pothole is in the road alignment

Surface dressing seals aged and ravelled pavements, filling minor cracks, restoring skid resistance and restoring aesthetic appeal. 

It may be used on:

• residential streets
• parking lots
• driveways
• any area that needs the pavement preserved

Surface dressing is generally laid to a depth of 6mm, made up of a mix of:

• bitumen emulsion
• selected aggregates
• water
• an additive to control the speed of setting

The protective layer of slurry mixture is spread out over the pavement, levelled and then brushed to give the pavement a textured finish. 

The treatment takes between one and two hours to set before pedestrians can use the pathway again. 

Any masking tape will be removed when work is finished - this part of the process can take place much later in the day, or the following day. 

We're responsible for maintaining grass verges next to the adopted highway on classified and unclassified roads in Rutland.