Drivers face 20mph limits as pothole work starts on 350 miles of Norfolk roads |
Norfolk County Council's annual spring and summer road surface dressing programme starts on Tuesday (April 21).
The work starts on Mill Lane in Fleggburgh and Lyon's Green in Scarning, the first of 351 miles of the county's roads which are due to be treated between now and September.
Surface dressing involves spraying a coating of bitumen on to the roads, followed by further layers of stone chippings.
Council officials say the new seal helps stop water penetration and cuts the number of potholes which can form, while also extending the life of roads with new skid-resistant surfaces.
Officers at Norfolk County Council say 20mph speed limit restrictions will be needed on freshly-sealed roads for safety reasons.
Norfolk County Council's surface dressing work is starting (Image: Press Association)
Grahame Bygrave, director of highways, transport and waste, said: "We’re treating more miles of road this year helping to keep local routes in good condition, which is all part of our preventative maintenance strategy.
"Surface dressing is a practical way to reduce potholes and improve safety, and it means we can look after more of Norfolk’s roads in a cost effective way.
"We appreciate residents’ patience while the work takes place and hope these improvements make everyday journeys smoother for communities across the county."
People living along the routes being treated will receive notification a day or two before the crews arrive.
They will be asked not to park on the road on the day of the surface dressing work, or on the following day when surplus chippings will be swept up.
People are urged to drive slowly and considerately across the new surface until it is bedded in, and highway teams return to sweep up the loose chippings.
Council officials say that is because the passage of vehicles over the new surface plays an important part in helping the new surface to settle in.
Leaders at County Hall last month defended the state of the county's roads, saying Norfolk has the lowest number of potholes out of 40 surrounding counties.