This month sees the Department of Infrastructure start its yearly programme of surface dressing, which will be carried out by 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, which prevents water getting in to the road foundations, thus prolonging the life of the road.
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 which have the effect of making the road slippery. This is why it is extremely important that drivers keep to the speed limit of 20mph when going over a surface-dressed road.”
Signs will be erected at intervals along the various roads, 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. On other roads there will be speed limits and traffic management whilst the works are carried out. The works will be advertised on Road Watch, on the Government web site. http://www.gov.im/residents/roadnotifications/
Work on the TT Course will begin immediately after TT, with the rest of the programme due for completion by September, dependent upon weather conditions.
The full programme of works will involve the following roads:
A1 Greeba Bridge to Ballacraine (TT Course)
A20 Poortown Road
A27 Peel to Glen Maye – at the Raggat
A27 Peel to Glen Maye – at Glen Maye dip
D18 Stockfield Road, German
C5 Ballabooie Road, German - Stockfield to Cronk y Voddy
C189 Mill Road, Peel
C1366 Cooil Drive, Douglas
C1396 Farmhill Park, Douglas
C1481 Hampton Grove, Farmhill, Douglas
C166 Glen Vine Park, Marown
A1 Crosby to Greeba Castle (TT Course)
A6 Cooil Road - Fort North to Ballacottier
A3 Ballaugh to Quarry Bends (TT Course)
A2 Minorca Crossroads to Everlasting
A17 St Judes to Andreas
A14 Ballamenagh Road, Jurby
A13 Jurby Road, Ramsey to Garey
A34 Phildraw Road
B43 Ballagawne Road
B30 Burroo Road
A31 Sound Road
C243 Truggan Road
The Department apologises for any inconvenience during these works.
