Disruption warning over road repairs across the Dales

HIGHWAYS CHIEFS have warned drivers to expect disruption during a major programme of road repairs which will be undertaken across the Yorkshire Dales from this month.

North Yorkshire County Council announced yesterday that it will be conducting the so-called surface dressing across Richmondshire from Friday next week through until July 4.

The council is responsible for overseeing 5,000 miles of roads.

The £1.3m improvements across 62 miles of roads in Richmondshire are part of a wider programme being carried out across the county from last month until October. The authority’s assistant director for highways and transportation, Barrie Mason, said: “Surface dressing is comparatively low-cost at just one fifth of the price of resurfacing.

“This means we can treat a much larger proportion of the road network each year, preventing the need for much more expensive work later.

“We know the process is not popular with some drivers, mainly because of loose chippings.

“But the speed of the operation and its long-term benefits, as well as the short time for which motorists are inconvenienced, are important factors.”

Surface dressing sees bitumen sprayed onto the road then covering it with a layer of chippings. The process can extend the life of a road by up to 10 years.