Smoother roads ahead as scheme hits milestone

Scheme to treat county roads is a quarter of the way through completion

highways

A £2.5 million programme designed to keep roads in tip-top condition for years to come has seen around 200,000 square metres of roads treated so far.

Roads across Leicestershire are being treated throughout the summer to help maintain the highway network and reduce deterioration.

Leicestershire County Council is carrying out the preventative maintenance, known as surface dressing, to more than a million square metres of roads.

Currently a quarter of the sites in the programme have been completed, with officers set to visit Harborough, Hinckley and Bosworth and Melton as part of the next phase.

Councillor Blake Pain, cabinet member for highways, said: “The surface dressing process extends the life of the road surface by up to 10 years.

“With more than 2,575 miles of roads to maintain across the county, it’s important that spending is targeted. By tackling the problems early, the need for reactive maintenance is reduced and more money is saved.

“Our roads are some of the best maintained in the country and the success we have is partly down to our proactive approach to road maintenance.”

Surface dressing provides the road with an additional protective layer, by sealing the surface with bitumen and stone chippings, which help to improve the road surface and increase safety.

It is up to 10 times more cost effective than conventional resurfacing, and therefore helps create and sustain a resilient highway network.

The work, which is completed annually, will be carried out in stages to reduce the impact on motorists.

Any areas that cannot be completed due to poor weather conditions will be added to next season’s programme or an alternative maintenance treatment will be considered.

Residents and businesses will be notified prior to work commencing.

July

Blaby District – Kirby Muxloe, Glenfield, Enderby, Braunstone, Thurlaston, Croft, Sapcote, Blaby, Glen Parva, Countesthorpe and Cosby
Oadby & Wigston – Oadby and Wigston

August

Harborough – Leire, Great Glen, Burton Overy, Billesdon, East Norton and Market Harborough
Melton – Knossington and Cold Overton, Bottesford, Scalford, Clawson, Hose and Harby, Melton Mowbray and Grimston
Charnwood – Burton on the Wolds, Sileby, Mountsorrel, Birstall, Thurcaston, Loughborough and Shepshed

Leicestershire Matters

Lorry drivers get chance to talk about mental health

The Local Nature Recovery Strategy looks at ways to tackle habitat loss, shrinking species populations, and the effects of climate change

Nominate inspiring young people in your communities for this year’s awards

Extremely challenging position centre stage in four-year plan

Children encouraged to get reading this winter

Apply now for autumn 2025 primary school places