Boost for Wiltshire's roads with fast acting treatment
A special resurfacing treatment is extending the life of roads for years to come
New life is being breathed into roads across Wiltshire thanks to a special resurfacing treatment.
Micro-asphalt is a fast acting method to maintain and improve road surfaces, sealing them from water damage and restoring the surface texting, boosting safety and durability.
Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, said: "Our micro asphalt programme is an efficient and effective way to extend the life of our roads with minimal disruption to residents."
It uses a mixture of materials, including bitumen with added fibres, small stones and cement, to smooth out the existing surface and fill in small potholes, while the second layer creates the final road finish.
The treatment extends the life of a road for a number of years, as well as causing minimal disruption, with the road ready to use an hour after the treatment has been made.
Cllr Smith said: "The treatment is currently mainly used on roads without high volumes of traffic, such as those on housing estates, but we are also currently trialling its use on main roads, to see how it holds up to higher traffic volumes.
"If the trial is successful, we will look to broaden the use of this method to maintain a greater number of roads across the county more efficiently and with reduced disruption.
"We're committed to investing in preventative maintenance like this, which not only saves money in the long term but also helps keep Wiltshire's roads safer and more reliable for everyone who uses them."
The repair programme is currently in its first phase, which runs until the end of October, treating roads in Pitton, Chitterne, Devizes, Chippenham, Bradford on Avon, Hilperton, Corsham, Melksham, Salisbury, Bulford, Malmesbury, Great Bedwyn, Sherston, Cricklade and Bratton.
Phase two will take place following a winter break in the spring, treating roads in Whitley, Chippenham, Rowde, Devizes, Amesbury, Zeals, Mere, Woodfalls, Salisbury, Lavington and West Lavington.