Repair blitz on county's roads
A major programme of highway repairs begins across Northamptonshire on Monday as the battle continues to shore up the county's roads following one of the coldest winters in 30 years.
Northamptonshire County Council and its highways service provider MGWSP have been carrying out more permanent repairs than ever before, investing in preventative maintenance to slow further deterioration and concentrating on localised road patching.
According to the council, increased usage, coupled with the worst winter weather in decades, has resulted in widespread damage to road surfaces with thousands of defects, such as potholes, being reported to them each month.
Affected roads being treated in the fortnight-long blitz - timed to coincide with the relative quiet of the school holidays - include carriageway patching on Link Road, Bective Road, Knights Lane and Kingswell Road, Northampton, and the soutbound A43, from the Round Spinney to St Gregory's roundabout. There will also be so-called area-based targeting of two residential areas in Northampton, Parklands and Moulton Leys.
Councillor Heather Smith, county council cabinet member for transport, minerals and waste, said: "We all know that the severe weather had left some of our roads in a terrible state so we have been working hard to address this problem and also make sure that our roads are more resilient for the future.
"The county council's recent You Choose campaign revealed that the condition of our roads was people's top priority, so it's essential that we make sure this work is carried out.
"We use a number of different methods to achieve our aims and I'm sure people are starting to notice a big difference as they drive around the county."
The improved integrity of the highway will make it more resistant to wear and tear and the effects of severe winter conditions. In the long-term this will prove to be far more effective and offer better value for money for the taxpayer.
The overriding commitment was to continue to attend and repair all emergency defects and ensure roads and pavements were safe at all times, she added.
Meanwhile, one lane of the A508 at Roade, between the junction with the High Street and the petrol station, will be closed for five weeks from Monday to build a right turn lane into the new Grafton Gate development. Temporary traffic lights will operate throughout the period.
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Weather for Northampton
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
