Kirklees road re-surfacing work to continue during lockdown restrictions

It is anticipated that the surface dressing treatment itself will start in May 2020.

It will continue on a rolling programme working around the area until it is completed in June 2020.

This is subject to operational and environmental delays and any change in Government guidelines on Covid-19 restrictions.

Among the highways to be worked on will be Bradford Road in Oakenshaw

Councillor Rob Walker, Cabinet member for environment said: “In the current situation, It’s easy to forget that some things we take for granted still need to be maintained, the roads our emergency services and delivery drivers travel on need to be repaired, utility companies need to keep us in gas and water. Internet companies need to manage the demand for bandwidth by continuing to expand their networks.

"The men and women working on our roads are coming to work each day, increasing their chances of catching this deadly virus for our benefit, so please treat them with the respect they deserve.

"Unfortunately we cannot resurface every road in Kirklees. We prioritise those on the network that have been waiting longest or that are busier routes in urgent need of repair.

"We will continue to make patch repairs on other roads as part of our ongoing maintenance work.

"If you live on one of the roads being treated you may be asked to move your car whilst the work takes place, this is a necessary inconvenience and we are grateful for your understanding.”

During the works the roads will be covered in a layer of bitumen before gravel is applied and them rolled to create a new surface.

This type of road resurfacing is essential work which not only seals the road surface reduces the risk of potholes forming over the next few years.

It also increases skid resistance to keep the roads safe.

As the work can only be completed during warmer weather it isn’t possible to wait until after the pandemic to carry it out.

The council is asking that local residents respect the people working on the roads, as they are continuing to provide vital public services at this challenging time.

The Department for Transport has previously said that roads remain open and that they expect works, including emergency and other street works to maintain utility services to continue, ensuring that life-saving medicine, equipment, supplies and healthcare staff can travel across the country to where they are needed most.