Hampshire County Council announces 27 roads across the New Forest which will undergo strengthening works this summer
Repairs will be carried out across 27 New Forest roads this summer, Hampshire County Council has confirmed.
The programme, which is government funded, is part of a larger project across the county that will cover more than 600 miles of roads.
HCC’s lead member for universal services, Cllr Nick Adams-King, said: “We know that potholes and other road defects are a cause of frustration to residents and motorists which is why we invest in a range of ways to make Hampshire’s roads stronger.
“Surface dressing treatments help to slow the natural deterioration of roads and reduce the occurrence of potholes and other road defects, as well as giving the road more grip to boost safety.”
In Bransgore, works will take place between Harrow Road and Burley Road, Burley Road to Mount Pleasant Drive, Georges Drive to Burnt House Lane, Burley Road to Lyndhurst Road, Ringwood Road to A35 Junction, and Burnt House Lane to Whitelands.
In Ringwood, works will take place between Kingsbury Lane to Mansfield Road, Broadshard Lane to Seymore Road, Hilton Road to Cloughs Road, on Southampton Road and Salisbury Road as well as from Southampton Road Link to Crow Lane.
In Breamore works will take place between North Street to Fryern Court Road, Whitsbury Road to A338 Salisbury Road, Flood Street to A338 Salisbury Road and Flood Street to North Street.
Works are also planned for Main Road, Hythe, Swallow Drive and New Lane in Milford, Pound Lane, Burley, Romsey Road, Lyndhurst, from Everton Road to Wainsford Road, Hordle, and A338 Salisbury Road to Harbridge Drove near Alderholt.
In Totton there will be works between the junction of High Street to A36 on-slip and Calmore Road to Michigan Way roundabout and in New Milton between Old Milton Road to Barton Court Road and Farm Lane south.
Where surface dressing is being carried out, road closures will usually be in place from 9.30am to 4pm, with a few exceptions. Timings will be flexible, as the process is very weather dependant, but local roadside signage will be updated as promptly as possible to keep people informed.
Cllr Adams-King said treatments must be applied during the summer months because the process needs warm, dry conditions to be successful.
“Summer is also the optimal time to fix potholes and we are continuing to focus more resources on repairing road defects following another challenging winter,” he said.
“I’d like to thank road users for their patience during any periods of temporary disruption while the work is being completed.”
Sites are selected for “surface dressing” based on an assessment of conditions including the level of potholes, cracking and other defects present.
The process involves the application of fresh stone onto a layer of bitumen binder – a glue that holds together crushed gravel to create a durable, flexible surface, essential to the success of the treatment.
The loose stones are then embedded by rubber rollers with remaining loose chippings swept up.
“It’s a cost-efficient way to target roads that carry the most traffic so are most at risk of wear and tear, helping taxpayers’ money to go further at a time when our budget is extremely stretched,” added Cllr Adams-King.
Residents can find out more about roadworks at www.hants.gov.uk/transport/roadmaintenance/plannedmaintenance
Potholes and road defects can be reported online at www.hants.gov.uk/transport/roadmaintenance/roadproblems.
