CHESHIRE West and Chester Council will start preparation work for its resurfacing programme this month to get ready for when warmer weather arrives.

The council’s highways department will then treat some road surfaces with micro asphalt in the spring.

Micro asphalt is a road maintenance process which involves laying a thin layer over the top of the existing road to seal the surface and restore grip, thereby extending the active lifespan of the road.

Preparation work this month will include cutting back overhanging trees plus clearing debris and dirt at the edges of the carriageway.

Councillor Karen Shore, deputy leader and cabinet member for environment, highways and strategic transport, said: “Undertaking regular maintenance of roads using surface treatments such as micro asphalt is a far more sustainable and cost-effective approach.

“It extends the service life of a road, rather than allowing roads to deteriorate to a poor condition requiring more costly intervention.”

Micro asphalt cures quickly and can usually be driven on less than an hour after application.

It has the ability to reshape and re-profile existing surfaces, ensuring that minor defects such as potholes and cracks are sealed to stop water getting in and causing further damage.

On average, micro asphalt extends the life expectancy of a road by five to seven years.

It also has a much-reduced environmental impact compared to standard resurfacing techniques as it is a non-polluting, cold-applied, zero-emission material.

Full details of the council’s micro asphalt resurfacing programme for 2020 can be found on the council website.