Surface dressing work to start on roads soon

SHETLAND Islands Council says it will soon begin the summer programme of surface dressing on the roads network, with around 70 locations identified.

In some locations, work is only needed on short sections of road, while at other locations surface dressing will be done on sections over a mile long.

The work at each location will involve sealing the road surface with a layer of bitumen before applying a fresh layer of stone chips, pressed into the road surface.

The council said this essential maintenance helps prevent water penetration and freezing, which can over time lead to potholes, and also helps to improve skid resistance for vehicles.

The work needs to be done in warmer temperatures during the summer months.

Warning signs of ‘loose chippings’ will be in place at each location during and after work has been completed. Drivers are asked to observe these enforceable speed limits while these signs are in place.

Among the locations with longer sections of road identified for surface dressing this summer are:

• A970 Cunningsburgh
• Sumburgh Airport Road
• B9071 Laxo to Vidlin
• B9076 Sellaness to SVT Junction
• A970 Ronas Voe, Swinister to Leon
• Queyfirth, near Ollaberry
• East Yell Road (Gossabrough to Aywick)
• B9088 Fetlar (Brough to Quarry)
• Brough to Vaivoe and Skaw, Whalsay
• B9071 East Burrafirth
• Watsness, near Walls
• Silwick, near Skeld
• A970 Girlsta (Wadbister to Brunthamarsland)

Roads manager Neil Hutcheson said: “Our summer programme of surface dressing will soon get underway, which is an essential part of our annual roads maintenance programme.

“This work may cause some delays in areas where work is being done and we’d ask drivers to keep their speed down in any areas where stone chips have been laid.”