In simple terms it involves the even spray application of an emulsion bituminous binder through a purpose built spray tanker onto the existing road surface followed immediately by the even application of aggregate chippings to ‘dress’ the binder.
Surface dressing offers many advantages
- Seals the road surface against ingress of water which is known to be one of the major causes of asphalt pavement deterioration.
- Arrests the deterioration of the road surface and underlying road pavement structure.
- Restores the necessary level of skid resistance to the road surface with the resultant benefits of reduction in skid related traffic accidents.
- Timely intervention will enable worn out road surfaces to last longer thereby increasing the time to when structural maintenance is required.
- Can help to reduce spray caused by vehicles travelling on wet road surfaces.
- Maximises the cost effectiveness of limited highway maintenance funds.
When to Surface Dress
- Before the road surface deteriorates to the stage at which expensive major patching and/or reconstruction is required.
- Before surface skidding levels fall below the nationally accepted intervention level for the class of road in question.
Life Expectancy
Proper attention to design and execution has provided surface dressing lifetimes well in excess of 10 years, even on very heavily trafficked site
