Island Roads is thanking local residents as an intensive programme of highway improvement work during May nears completion. Over the past fortnight, Island Roads has been improving 44 sections of highway on 23 roads using a controversial technique called ‘surface dressing’. In all, around 100,000 square metres of road surface have been upgraded – including on one particularly successful shift when a record amount of improvement work was achieved. Surface dressing not only improves a road’s skid resistance, it also seals the highway surface stopping the ingress of water which is a major cause of potholes. The process involves applying a layer of bitumen onto the highway into which chippings are then simultaneously rolled. The road is swept initially then the action of traffic beds down the chippings into the new surface. Further sweeps are also carried out and, on less trafficked areas, a secondary sealant process is then applied. However, in the meantime motorists face stone chips to their paint work and tar on their wheel arches. The Island programme was carried out by a fleet of 4 specialist vehicles operated by Island Roads’ partner Eurovia Surface Treatments (EST). Using the latest vehicles, including a new state-of-the-art combination unit that lays the bitumen and spreads the chippings at the same time, the team established a record when 22,000 square metres of Alum Bay New Road and Bowcombe Road was treated on a single day during the programme – the most so far achieved by EST in a shift. An Island Roads spokesman said:
“Though the process is a relatively quick and disruption is less than other resurfacing techniques, it is impossible to undertake the level of work we have been doing without causing some disruption. “So we’d really like to thank resident for their understanding and patience during work which included some very busy sections of highway such as Whippingham Road. “Along with the favourable weather, this co-operation really helped us deliver the programme to schedule so we are very grateful to residents and businesses.”
Road markings will be painted from the week commencing 17th June – the same week as the Isle of Wight Festival. On the busiest routes, this work will be undertaken overnight.
I love this dangerous temu road surfacing. Its hilarious signs are needed to inform you the new road surface is dangerous and there is a risk of skidding due to the lose chippings.
Health and safety rules
Apart from total disregard for the safety of the residents while Island Roads were working (footpath not reinstated, swinging the grab lorry bucket over the heads of people waiting to get past etc). part of the dressing near me ends at a T-junction that is on a hill. It is now almost bare as traffic has already broken the surface.
The many potholes had tarmac dumped in them and are already sinking. Finally, to end the top job the tar they spray on the final pass has blocked the drains as it has hardened with the leaves that had not been previously cleared.
Top job! Great to see where my £3000 council tax goes….
Shorwell chute is a good one,the new surface stops at the top of a hill,just before a bend which drops back down the hill into shorwell,
that will be great in the wet!
I agree went along auther street felt like that had not addresed pot holes
Remember they did this a. Few years back,once it wears out(which wont be long) you get two black lines where the cars travel,and then in the wet it gets like driving on ice,especially dangerous for motorcycles,a dangerous road surface which just papers over the cracks!
I would like to thank Island roads for constantly patching up the potholes outside my house every time it rains it washes out then they come back fill them in again instead of just resurfacing the complete road great job keep it up
The Whippingham road now has ridges in the surface at regular intervals where it was flat before apart from the dropped manhole covers that are still the same. Why was this rough surface even required here when the previous surface was not that old compared with roads elsewhere? OR was the previous surface found to be dangerous in some way and a contributing factor in the several deaths that have occured in recent years since the previous bout of re-surfacing?
One bit of road they have done is the far western end of Undercliff Drive – not exactly a major thoroughfare, and certainly devoid of enough traffic to bed it in. I hope the cyclists using the ‘Quiet route’ enjoy it?
The interesting bit is that it stops a few metres short of new cracks that have opened up in the past few months!
Why are the TOADS tar and chipping surfaces?when PFI Contract was awarded we were told every road on the island would be upgraded now we’re left with the patchwork gang going round and the roads no better than before.Get the boss of ISLAND TOADS to come out and explain where all the money has gone.
Try re reading the contract buddy I did as an island employer.. the council have put massive restrictions on what and when things can be done (including the road to my business that I pay my rates and council tax) the council are hiding behind island roads and won’t except it!!!
So side roads get a patch of this wonderful substance whilst our main roads are a disaster, bottom and top of George street are a disgrace.
I don’t know if the rules have changed but it used to the the case that this type of dressing was supposed to be an annual process to maintain protection with complete resurfacing required every ten years.
Failure to do so would result in the deterioration of the road surface leading to the formation of pot holes and subsurface voids that made the road unsafe.
What is the difference in the new road surfacing to the old stone chips you used to put down? More stone chips to cars paintwork and windscreens. Thought you stopped this practice along time ago?
So again lots of views yet little knowledge yet can type!!! Little knowledge is dangerous!!
When you get back into work on Monday you can point out all the nasty comments to your Island Road colleagues…
Love they think it’s a success has only cost me a new windscreen
Clarendon Road in Shanklin has not been touched since 1850 I think orthough it s a major bus rough and is like a range of mountains to walk on let alone drive .
Why this is I do not know I am told it may be a private road but how can this be the case if it is a major bus route it is an accident airing to happen .
Please do something and quickly if only to eradicate the hoof makes of yesteryear and do it soon .
New surface managed to last a couple of days at Windsor Drive in Shanklin before the utilities noticed a pristine road and dug it up.