THIS year's programme of surface dressing work has been extended in response to the amount of damage caused to the Island's roads last winter.

Work is currently taking place around the Island and motorists have been asked to take care when driving through areas where it is being carried out.

Road markings around the Island are also being replaced and renewed as some have been badly worn away.

Surface dressing involves spreading a bituminous layer on a dry road and then spreading graded stone chippings onto that. Traffic then helps roll the chippings into the bitumen layer.

This process is recognised as being a cost effective way of extending the life of a road because it re-seals the road and in turn helps to prevent frost damage, while at the same time restoring a good skidding resistance and grip.

The Department of Infrastructure has asked motorists to obey the 20mph speed limit as failure to do so can result in the stone chippings hitting windscreens and damaging paintwork. Where there is an excess of chippings, before sweeping, these can also create a skidding hazard.

The department has also revealed that it took them to June to be back on the same level of highway defect reporting as before the bad weather hit.