Cheltenham transport bosses: Too hot to fix roads

Date: 8/7/2013

Transport bosses in Cheltenham have said that work to complete an ongoing road resurfacing project will have to be delayed as a result of the hot weather, the Gloucestershire Echo reports.

Phase two of the programme was due to start today (July 8th), but the authorities have said that workers will have to wait until at least Friday before they can resume the scheme.

John Kay, Area Manager for Gloucestershire Highways, explained that the conditions mean it is too difficult to carry out resurfacing and reopen roads to traffic in a timely fashion.

"The success of surface dressing is reliant on the bond between the bitumen and the chippings. When successful the road can be reopened to traffic almost immediately after treatment," he said.

"If the temperature is too hot the binder will not be able to cool and the bond will not be strong enough to hold the chippings in place; this will mean a delay in allowing traffic on the road."

The project was initially scheduled to be completed in August, while the first phase was finished between May 28th and June 13th.

Posted by Sarah Bailey

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