100 roads resurfaced in purge on potholes
MOTORISTS are being warned they face two months of disruption after it was revealed that work is to get underway on 100 of the borough’s roads.
Resurfacing work has been brought forward by highways bosses and is expected to start on Monday, July 29, continuing right through until mid September.
Some of the town’s key roads will be resurfaced, including Roch Valley Way, Oldham Road and Kingsway, with the council saying they hope to complete each one within a week of starting.
As they can only operate in warm and dry conditions, a spell of bad weather might hinder the progress of the resurfacing work which will include major highways and side streets
across all townships in the borough.
Most of the work will take place in August but some roads will be affected from next week. Work will commence on Bagslate Moor Road from Wednesday, July 31, in two separate areas. Work in Pennines will begin from Friday, August 2.
Councillor Allen Brett, leader of Rochdale Council, said: “The state of our roads is a major concern for residents, so it’s a major priority for us. We’ve invested millions of additional funding into our highways, over and above the £1.2m we spend every year, and this intensive summer programme will get us well on the way to fixing almost 1,000 roads before summer 2021.”
News of the repairs might be welcome to some after complaints of poor surfaces and damage to vehicles. But not everyone is happy with the timing.
Carolyn Whittaker, who lives in Walsden, was recently caught up in some roadworks in Littleborough. She said: “All I can say is I will be avoiding Rochdale like the plague.
“College Road, Cutgate and Edenfield Road are all close together. I understand they have to do it, but why not through the night when less traffic and not school holidays?”
Hundreds of roads have already been targeted as part of the programme, with 237 being patched up and 24 being fully resurfaced. A further 49 roads have received micro asphalt treatments.
More than 900 roads will have been repaired by the end of the programme, as part of the council’s commitment to spend an additional £12m improving roads and footpaths between April 2018 and April 2021. Andrew Storey, head of highways, said: “We’re undertaking a very intensive programme of work over the summer, as the treatments being carried out can only be done during periods of good weather.
“There will inevitably be disruption, so we would advise people to leave more time for their journeys. Our contractors will also be letter dropping on roads where repairs will be taking place and signs and cones will be put out.
“Operatives will be on site at all times and fully signed diversions will be put in place.”