Yearly Programme of Surface dressing

This month sees the Department of Infrastructure start its yearly programme of surface dressing, which will be carried out by contractor Colas (IOM) Ltd.

Surface dressing, commonly known as ‘tar and chip’, is carried out for a variety of reasons:

• To improve the texture of the road surface, which helps with water dispersal from vehicle tyres during wet weather ;
• To improve the skid resistance of the road surface;
• To seal cracks in the existing road surface, which prevents water getting in to the road foundations, thus prolonging the life of the road.

Network Operations Engineer Bill Corlett explained:

“Surface dressing is one of the most cost-effective forms of highway maintenance, but it does have some drawbacks. When it is first put down, there are usually loose chippings on the road surface which have the effect of making the road slippery. This is why it is extremely important that drivers keep to the speed limit of 20mph when going over a surface-dressed road.”

Signs will be erected at intervals along the various roads, and the speed limit must be adhered to until these signs are removed. There may be a need to close some roads during working hours while the surface dressing is carried out. On other roads there will be speed limits and traffic management whilst the works are carried out. The works will be advertised on Road Watch, on the Government web site.

http://www.gov.im/residents/roadnotifications/

Work on the TT Course will begin immediately after TT, with the rest of the programme due for completion by September, dependent upon weather conditions.

The full programme of works will involve the following roads:

• A1 Greeba Bridge to Ballacraine (TT Course)
• A20 Poortown Road
• A27 Peel to Glen Maye – at the Raggat
• A27 Peel to Glen Maye – at Glen Maye dip
• D18 Stockfield Road, German
• C5 Ballabooie Road, German - Stockfield to Cronk y Voddy
• C189 Mill Road, Peel
• C1366 Cooil Drive, Douglas
• C1396 Farmhill Park, Douglas
• C1481 Hampton Grove, Farmhill, Douglas
• C166 Glen Vine Park, Marown
• A1 Crosby to Greeba Castle (TT Course)
• A6 Cooil Road - Fort North to Ballacottier
• A3 Ballaugh to Quarry Bends (TT Course)
• A2 Minorca Crossroads to Everlasting
• A17 St Judes to Andreas
• A14 Ballamenagh Road, Jurby
• A13 Jurby Road, Ramsey to Garey
• A34 Phildraw Road
• B43 Ballagawne Road
• B30 Burroo Road
• A31 Sound Road
• C243 Truggan Road