This month sees the Department of Infrastructure start its yearly programme of surface dressing, which will be carried out by our 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, prolonging the life of the road by preventing water getting into the road foundations.
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 for a short time. This has the effect of making the road ‘slippery’, and is why it is extremely important that drivers keep to the speed limit of 20mph when going over a newly surface-dressed road.'
There will be speed restriction signs up at intervals along the roads being treated, 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. The works will be advertised on Road Watch, on the government web site.
The roads which are being surface dressed this year, are:
TT Course – Braddan Bridge to Glen Vine
TT Course – Laurel Bank to Cronk y Voddy
TT Course – Ballaugh to Quarry Bends
Douglas to Ramsey Coast Road – Onchan to Baldrine
Douglas to Ramsey Coast Road – Dhoon to Corrany
Douglas to Peel Road – St Johns Arboretum to Ballaleece
Beach Road/Shore Road, Port St Mary
Governors Hill Ballacrye Road, Ballaugh
