Road surface dressing and resurfacing

About surface dressing

Surface dressing is an important part of our road maintenance programme and is used to prolong the life of roads across the county.

The process involves applying a layer of bitumen binder to the existing road surface followed by a layer of stone chippings. The chippings are then rolled into the binder to create a durable and skid-resistant surface. This process helps to seal the road surface, preventing water from penetrating and causing damage to the underlying layers. This also helps to prevent potholes from forming. Read more about the surface dressing process below.

It is a quick process and usually only takes a few hours to complete, meaning we can sometimes treat several roads in one day. A sweeper will travel along the newly treated roads the following day to clear any immediate loose stones.

We usually treat roads during the summer because surface dressing can only be carried out when the road is dry. If it rains, the work has to stop and the whole programme of work is affected. If there are any changes to the programme, we will update the on-site yellow information signage with the new date.

All our road information is available on our roadworks map.

We use asset management prioritisation to determine which roads receive maintenance or treatment based on their condition. This process is important to ensure that limited resources are allocated to the roads which require the most attention.

Surface dressing is a preventative maintenance treatment that is best used before the road condition deteriorates significantly. It may look like we're spending money on perfectly adequate roads while there are others in a worse condition, however, we're doing these treatments to keep the roads in a good condition for longer. Typically it prolongs the life of the road for 10-15 years and it can be redressed in the future.

Proposed locations in Herefordshire included in the 2024 surface dressing programme

  • C1234 - Bagwyllydiart to Pontrilas Court
  • C1125 - A417 To The Vauld, Bodenham Village
  • C1205 - Green Lane to Rhydunnog Lane, Michaelchurch Escley
  • C1294 - C1293 to Court Farm, Kynaston
  • C1105 - Ivington Road, Newtown
  • C1082 - Gorsty Corner to Bearwood Cross Road, Bearwood
  • C1060 - From A44 to C1059, Near Hatfield
  • C1109 - Auberrow Road to Parks Lane, Near Wellington
  • C1110 - Little Maidenhyde to C1116 Via Pencombe
  • C1080 - Track South of Pennsylvania to Bad Patch Wood, Holme Marsh
  • C1154 - A417 To Millend Farm, Canon Frome
  • C1289 - The Old Lodge, Much Marcle
  • C1234 - Bagwyllydiart Farm to Little Hill Road, Orcop
  • C1155 - Heywood lane to Cold Green, near Ashperton
  • U94010 - Enfield Lane, Risbury
  • C1283 - C1280 to Kingstone, near Rudhall
  • U72618 - Holbatch Lane, Sutton St Nicholas
  • C1098 - Between Lulham Cottage and Madley, near Madley
  • U93018 - Hereford Lane, near Kingsland village
  • C1190 - A438 to Brook at the Boat House, Breinton
  • U91607 - Stansbatch
  • C1099 - A480 to Upper Barn Lane

Download our leaflet which explains more about what to expect if surface dressing works are taking place in your area.

What surface dressing is and how we complete it

Step 1 - A film of hot bitumen is sprayed onto the road

Machine surface dressing a road with bitumen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 2 - A spreader lays hard stone chippings onto the bitumen

Surface dressing a road step 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3 - Chippings are rolled and pressed to form an interlocking surface

Chippings are swept away within 48 hours and again within seven days. Road markings are replaced.

Surface dressing a road step 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resurfacing

Resurfacing is an extensive method which is used on roads that are near the end of their life or where there may be structural issues that cannot be remedied with surface dressing.

Resurfacing is where the existing road surface is completely removed, remedial works are carried out to the structural layers of the road and then a new road surface is laid.

This method can extend the life of the road for 15-25 years depending on materials. However, it is more costly.

Stretch of the C1154 with resurfacing/surface dressing repairs

Balfour Beatty contact details

Address: Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP), Network Regulation, Unit 3, Thorn Business Park, Rotherwas, Hereford HR2 6JT

Telephone: 01432 261800