The UK’s highways engineers have prevented widespread structural damage to the road network by heading off the worst excesses of winter weather, according to the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE).
A strategy of pre-salting roads to avoid serious damage from icing, and rapid action to address minor defects, has significantly cut the number of potholes on roads this year.
Richard Hayes, vice-president of the IHE, and area highways manager at Northumberland County Council, said: “Salting is often interpreted purely as a road-use safety action, but adopted strategically as a maintenance measure – as it has been this winter by local authorities following the recommendations given in the Quarmby Report – has prevented the break-up of the underlying road structure.”
The Quarmby report has given better guidance on the use of salt following the last two winters.
Richard Hayed added: “By steering road maintenance in this way, highways engineers have saved authorities the need for costly structural repairs.
“This prudence must be acknowledged, and local authorities must support engineers in investing their savings to return the road network to a state that is safe for all road users: replacing worn white lines and upgrading road surfaces.”
For more information contact Richard Hayes at the IHE on 07786 856116.
I can’t see them speaking on behalf of every county. I for one would say that gritting has been very sparse in the Blackpool and Fylde areas and as a result there has been an increase in potholes and greater general degredation of the road surface.
This has meant that grit has been disloged from its anchorage and has in places been spread about the carriageway sometimes ending in the middle of the lane and over a considerable distance.
This causes no alarm whatsoever to any four wheeled vehicles that can basically travel over it at speed with impunity but its absolutely leathal to any scooter, or motorcycle rider or cyclist when loss of grip riding over such could result in a fatal accident.
So once again they have not got it right no matter how much they may be patting themselves on the back. It’s safe for 4 wheels but absolutely not for anything less.
Bob Craven
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