Wheels in motion for highways improvement programme

Wednesday, 23 August 2023 17:25

By David Murphy

Councillor Shah Wazir, cabinet member for highways visited crews in Littleborough this week to see how work is progressing.

Over 60 roads across the borough are being repaired as a major road improvement scheme gets underway.

Areas across each township are being treated, with 64 roads, selected using detailed condition data, targeted over the next four weeks as part of the summer micro asphalt programme.

The programme involves the filling in of any defects before a protective layer of micro asphalt surface treatment is laid on the top of the existing highway to smooth it down and add further life to the road.

Residents in the affected areas will be sent a letter ahead of work taking place and notices will be pinned to lamp posts. Residents are being advised that the treated roads will look imperfect immediately after work is complete. Lining and grids will be reinstated shortly after the treatment has been applied and the new surface will take a few weeks to bed in.

The summer programme is part of a wider £4.7m investment into the borough’s roads in 2023/4, which also includes full scale resurfacing on sections of a number of roads across the borough including Caldershaw Road, Bury Road, Langley Lane and Kirkstall Avenue. Footpath repairs also take place at selected sites each year.

Major schemes, such as the installation of new safety crossings and cycle lanes outside Bowlee Primary School in Middleton, part of the Bee Network, and the extension of the junction 19 link road, Queen Elizabeth Way, are also being delivered in addition to the £4.7m programme.

Councillor Shah Wazir, cabinet member for highways at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The condition of our roads is a big issue for residents, and that’s why we invest heavily in our highways network year on year.

“As micro asphalt programmes need to be carried out during periods of good weather, and to minimise disruption as much as possible, we scheduled this work during the summer holidays. This means that there will be a hive of activity happening over the coming weeks. We’d advise residents to check out our website to find out which roads we’ll be working on and they’re welcome to get in touch with us.”

Anyone who would like to find out about the road repair programme can visit rochdale.gov.uk/roadrepairs

Residents can contact the highways team by emailing highways@rochdale.gov.uk or phone 0300 303 8879