Myth Busters – Resurfacing
Myth: The resurfacing techniques you use on each road are randomly selected.
Fact: Different surface treatments are carefully selected depending on the circumstances of the road in question, such as:
- The current condition.
- How busy the road is.
- The most efficient treatment for the future.
- How many years of good condition will result from the money spent on the treatment.
To find out about the different types of surfacing methods we use, head over to our surfacing webpage.
Myth: Why are there loose stones left on the road after resurfacing takes place? They are slippery and dangerous.
Fact: This can happen after a resurfacing technique called Surface Dressing, which is an efficient and effective method for routine maintenance of road surfaces. Having previously repaired any defects on the road, we spray the existing surface with a thin layer of hot bitumen binder. Then we spread stone chippings over the bitumen and use a heavy roller so that they stick to the surface. Some loose chippings will remain until vehicles press them into the bitumen. After a week, we will return to sweep any loose chippings that have not been successfully attached.
Myth: Road resurfacing works are always being cancelled last minute.
Fact: When carrying out resurfacing works, the conditions must be just right to ensure we achieve the best result possible. For example, Surface Dressing cannot be carried out if the weather is too hot or too cold. If the weather forecast for the days after the work is too hot, high temperatures can melt the bitumen, making it less effective. So, we may have to delay the work at short notice.
Myth: Why can’t you carry out resurfacing works when there’s a pothole instead of temporary make safes, so you don’t have to keep coming back and repairing the same defect?
Fact: Resurfacing works are different from makes safe works. Make safes are temporary repairs that are made to high-risk defects whilst a permanent repair can be scheduled. Resurfacing works are permanent repairs to either a part of or the full length of a road which require time to plan and coordinate.
Myth: You carry out works at night because you ran out of time during the day.
Fact: On the busiest routes, surfacing works are often carried out at night, which allows longer working sessions than during the day and enables works to be completed more quickly, reducing the impacts on road users and nearby residents. We always aim to keep the noisiest parts of the job to the beginning of the shift to keep any disruption to a minimum.
Myth: Road closures are disruptive and inconvenient, isn’t there a better way to fix the roads that keeps the roads open?
Fact: Resurfacing works can be disruptive and require road closures not only to achieve the best possible results but also for the safety of the public and our workers. To make it easier for the work to take place, residents and visitors are asked not to park on the area of road that is to be resurfaced, as that can cause costly re-visits or even prevent the work being done at all.
Myth: You seem to be resurfacing everywhere else but not X area
Fact: We look after 5,000 miles of roads, one of the largest road networks in the country, with a mix of urban and rural roads, which each bring their own challenges.
Due to the pressure on our limited resources, we prioritise our work and fix the higher-risk issues first. Unfortunately, we cannot undertake all works at once.
This means we do the repairs that require immediate attention because of safety issues first, and then move to more minor repairs.
Residents can report a defect on the Essex Highways website via the ‘tell us tool”. Equally, we occasionally run a Member Led Pothole scheme which allocates each councillor a specific number of potholes that they can nominate for repair. Speak to your local councillor if you have a pothole, you would like them to consider for nomination.
Myth: Resurfacing doesn’t last, you’ll only have to come back next year and do it again
Fact: We carefully select which surface treatment is used on each road depending on their requirements. We expect most of these methods to last up to 10 years but there are many external factors that can affect this such as: intense weather conditions, works carried out by utility companies and even heavy vehicles hard braking.
We are always looking for new, innovative ways to help our repairs last even longer. Most recently we trialled adding Gipave (which contains graphene) to our traditional surfacing materials. Gipave is 200 times stronger than steel yet extremely flexible – making the asphalt far less susceptible both to hardening and cracking in cold temperatures and softening in warm temperatures. It also increases the elasticity and strength to reduce the wear, particularly under high loading.