Road surfacing warning to drivers (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Road surfacing warning to drivers

DRIVERS have been warned to look out for their cars and pedestrians when the county council begins its annual surface treatment work on next week.

Gloucestershire County Council is spending around £800,000 on surface treatment around the county to extend the life of roads and improve skid resistance by sealing the road surface.

The treatment, starting of Thursday, May 18, will affect mainly rural roads and consists of spraying a bituminous material on the road followed by stone chippings.

This process helps to maintain the skid resistance of the road surface and seals it to prevent the ingress of water, extending road life.

Those roads affected by the work will be clearly signed in advance to warn residents and motorists of the work.

There will also be signs on site during the work to warn drivers about loose chippings. These signs will be left until all the chippings have bedded into the surface or have been swept off.

County councillor Stan Waddington, cabinet member for environment, said: "Surface dressing is important to extend the life of roads.

"Every effort will be made to maintain access to roads and to keep inconvenience to an absolute minimum. I would ask that motorists drive carefully and stick to the speed limits to prevent damage to vehicles."

Traffic should pass slowly over the new surface for a few days after treatment, to avoid causing damage to the road surface, passing vehicles and pedestrians. Very often the old road markings are damaged or covered during this process.

Motorists are asked to drive at less than 20 miles an hour, keep their distance and not to overtake whilst the work is being carried out.

The schedule for work in the North Cotswolds is: Thursday, May 18: Ebrington to Hidcote Boyce - B4479/4035 to Charingworth Paxford - Ditchford Hill

A424 Icomb Whitegate - Upper Rissington; May 19: Aldestrop Village -

Barrington Lane; May 20: Kingcomb Lane to Weston Subedge - Kingcomb Lane, Chipping Campden; May 22: Sherbourne - A429 to Old A40 (Saltway); May 23: Old A40 Puesdown to Northleach.