When we carry out surface dressing, we usually close the road for safety reasons and a signed diversion will be put in place.
We'll keep local people informed about the work by putting up signs around all the locations a week or so in advance, and a letter will be shared with households affected, explaining how and when we will be working.
We can't surface dress in some weather conditions, when it’s damp, wet or cold, which could delay the works at the last minute.
The surface dressing process
Applying the new surface dressing is only one part of the process to repair the road.
The other steps include the following.
Removing the road studs – or cat's eyes – from the road
We take out all the road studs and remove any 'slow' road markings and white lines. This makes sure that the chippings used for the surface dressing process can bind and stick to the road surface.
This work will start on Tuesday 6 May 2025 and will be carried out at night time, usually between 7pm and 5am. The work will be completed by Wednesday 11 June 2025, weather permitting.
Sweeping the road
Within the first 24 hours of the surface dressing being laid, we sweep the road surface to remove any loose chippings and then repeat this process again within around 7 days.
Sealing treatment
On busy main A and B roads, in rural areas, we use a sealing treatment.
Bitumen is sprayed over the road surface to provide an extra lock, to help bind the chippings to the road surface. The work has to be done in dry, warm weather for the bitumen to dry.
Roads have to be closed whilst this work takes place, as the vehicles we use are large and it would be unsafe for drivers to try to get past our team. The work will start on Sunday 13 July 2025 for approximately 2 weeks.
Road markings and studs replacement
The final stage of the surface dressing process involves replacing the road studs and the white line markings on the road.
The work will start on Monday 7 July 2025 until Friday 22 August 2025. As the road studs and lines are in the middle of the road, we have to close the road for the safety of our team.
Surface dressing programme 2025
During 2025/26, we will invest £3.6 million to carry out surface dressing works at 55 sites across the county. We will surface dress 475,000 square metres of road surface – the equivalent to 43 football pitches.
Work will commence on Wednesday 25 June 2025 and, subject to weather conditions, is expected to be completed by Monday 14 July 2025.
The full list of major road improvements for the county to be carried out during 2025/2026 are included in the highways capital programme.
We have included the address, location and electoral division of the sites we will surface dress.
Roads where surface dressing will be carried out are:
- Jaggers Lane, from the B5057 to Farley Lane, Darley Moor, Derwent Valley
- Farley Lane/ Farley Hill, from Flash Lane to Smedley Street West, Farley, Derwent Valley
- A619 Markham Road dual carriageway from the West Bars roundabout to Park Road (carriageway to be treated in both directions), Chesterfield, Spire
- A619 Chesterfield Road, from the A621 Golden Gates roundabout to Top Lane, Eastmoor, Baslow, Derwent Valley/Dronfield West and Walton
- Nethermoor Road, from the A6 Derby Road roundabout to Green Lane/Wingfield Road, Tupton, Clay Cross North
- A632 Chesterfield Road/Amber Lane, Matlock, Matlock/Wingerworth and Shirland
- A6 Dale Road North, from the pelican crossing outside 'Rock Lea' to Church Road, Rowsley/Darley Dale, Derwent Valley
- A52 Ashbourne Road, from west of Brun Lane to the B5020 Moor Lane, Kirk Langley/Mackworth, Alport and Derwent
- Coton Road, from the speed limit sign outside property no.81 to Elms Road, Coton, Walton on Trent, Linton
- Horsleygate Lane, from the B6051 to B6054, Holmesfield, Dronfield West and Walton
- B5059 Macclesfield Road, from the junction with the A53 to College Road, Buxton West
- A515 Brierlow Bar/Sterndale Moor, Brierlow Bar/Sterndale Moor, Dovedale/ Buxton North and East
- A515 Clifton Road, from the A52 Clifton roundabout to Edlaston Lane, Clifton, Ashbourne
- A6187 Hathersage Road/ Castleton Road, from the A6013 junction to the 30mph speed limit sign at Hathersage, Bakewell, Chapel and Hope Valley
- Over Lane, from the A609 to Whitemoor Lane, Openwoodgate, Horsley
- Common Lane, from Schoolpiece Lane to Marlpit Lane, Sutton on the Hill, Hilton
- James Lane, from Ash Lane to Commonpiece Lane, Sutton on the Hill, Hilton
- Hillside Road, from High Street to Arthur Street, Linton/Caste Gresley, Linton
- Langer Lane from Rectory Drive to Birdholme Brook, Wingerworth and Shirland
- B5057 Elton Road, from the B5056 to West Bank, Winster, Dovedale
- B5057 Main Road/ Wensley Road, from East Bank to the 30mph sign at the former Red Lion pub at Wensley, Dovedale
- Unnamed Road from Marlpit Lane to James Lane, Sutton on the Hill, Hilton
- School Lane, from the junction with Netherfield Lane to Wigley, Wadshelf, Dronfield West and Walton
- A615 Matlock Green, limited section, Matlock
- A615 Alfreton Road, from the 30/40mph speed limit at Matlock Green to near the 30/40 speed limit sign entering Tansley, Matlock
- Lullington Road, from Gunby Hill to A444, Overseal, Linton
- Sutton Road, from Bent Lane to Schoolpiece Lane, Sutton on the Hill, Hilton
- Church Street, from Main Street, Netherseal to the watercourse next to the fish pond, Linton
- Church Street, from the A615 (excluding the junction) to just north of Oak Tree Gardens, Matlock
- Coton Park, the cul-de sac to Cadley Lane, Matlock, Linton
- Main Road, from the A619 at Wadshelf to Netherfield Lane, Dronfield West and Walton
- Hilton Road, from Etwall Brook to Egginton Road, Etwall and Repton
- Main Street, from Boggy Lane to Badway Lane, Church Broughton, Hilton
- Cote Bottom Lane, from Woodhouse Lane to Tippers Lane, Foston, Hilton
- Linton Heath, from Colliery Lane to Waterfallows Lane, Linton
- Unnamed section of road from Commonpiece Lane to Butterpot Lane, Hardley Hill, Hilton
- Main Street, from Hillside Road to Colliery Lane, Linton
- Church Road, from Ashbourne Road to Boggy Lane, Church Broughton, Hilton
- Littlefield Road, from Badway Lane to Bent Lane, Church Broughton, Hilton
- Firthwood Road, from Ferndale Road to Eckington Road, Coal Aston, Eckington and Killamarsh
- Slack Lane, from Ridgeway Lane to Gun Lane, Nether Heage, Ripley West and Heage
- Derby Road, from A516 Etwall to Etwall Brook, Hilton
- Ash Grove Lane, from A5132 to Etwall Road, Egginton, Etwall and Repton
- Ford Road, from south of Geer Lane to B6056 Main Road, Marsh Lane, Eckington and Killamarsh
- Bradshaw Lane, from A619 to Main Road, Wadshelf, Dronfield West and Walton
- Dimple Road, from just west of Woolley Road to Hurds Hollow, Matlock
- Ridgeway Lane, from Crich Lane to Slack Lane, Ripley West and Heage
- Padfield Main Road, from the B6105 Woodhead Road to Brosscroft, Glossop and Charlesworth
- Church Street, from the A619 to Park Street, Barlborough and Clowne
- Dyehouse Lane, from Spring Bank Road to High Street junction, New Mills
- Salisbury Road, from Shetland Road to Links Road, Dronfield East
- Stonebroom Lane, from Love Lane to B6014, Tibshelf
- Wirestone Lane, from A632 to B5057, Matlock, Wingerworth and Shirland
- Hawking Lane, from Stainsby Mill to Deep Lane, Tibshelf
- Stanley Lane, from Deep Lane to the county boundary, Tibshelf
- Lickpenny Lane, from the B6014 to A615, Dethick Common/Butterley, Wingerworth and Shirland/ Alport and Derwent
Useful information about our surface dressing programme
Help us to help you
You can help us to complete the job as swiftly and safely as possible by following this advice:
- please make sure vehicles are not parked on the road during the day while the work is in progress
- keep children away from the works to ensure their safety
- be patient if there are any traffic delays – we'll be working as quickly and effectively as we can to minimise disruption
- drive slowly and observe the speed limit signs, particularly during the works and for the first few days after application of the surface dressing
- take care while the works are being carried out which can be dusty, and keep away from heavy machinery and hot bitumen
- check your shoes before entering your property or car to make sure there is no bitumen from the works sticking to the soles
Choosing which roads to surface dress
Some roads that are in relatively good condition will be treated with preventative maintenance treatments to help seal the surface before any rainwater and damp can cause damage.
Other roads, requiring much more extensive treatment, will be included in other more suitable repair programmes like carriageway resurfacing.
Duration of the work
Surface dressing is usually completed at each site within the day. Periodic sweeping continues for approximately 1 month, followed by the replacement of any lines and road studs.
Accessing your property or business
Due to the nature of the work involved, there will be short periods when access cannot be maintained. Where there is particular access requirements please speak to the team on site who will usually be able to accommodate people's needs.
As with any of our closures, access to properties and businesses within the closure will be maintained.
If you need to enter the closure, please speak to an operative at the closure point who'll be able to advise you further. It may be that there is a short wait while the site is made safe. You may be asked to follow the diversion route to enter the closure at the other end as that is a safer place to enter.
Timing of the work
The surface dressing season is during the warmer time of the year from May to September.
In colder and wetter weather, the bitumen used to stick the chippings to stick to the road surface is unable to work properly, leading to the failure of the repair.
Works on busier routes does not commence until 9.30am Monday to Friday and is generally completed by 3.30pm. However, due to the nature of these works, weather can also play its part and may cause works to continue beyond the 3.30pm target.
Road works that are delayed
There are several reasons why the work may not have started, or delayed on the day we're working. These usually come down to unexpected circumstances such as vehicle breakdown, non-delivery or even the weather. Severe weather such as heavy rain or hot days can prevent work from happening.
Loose chippings
Loose chippings are not immediately cleared after completion because a surplus is required as part of the process to provide an even spread of chippings over the road surface, to avoid any bare patches.
We leave the loose chips for a short period to be pushed down into the road surface by passing traffic after which any surplus chips are swept clear.
Advisory speed limit signs are left out for a few days until most of the loose chips have been removed. This is to protect the new road surface and to prevent damage to vehicles.
Depending on the weather we may carry out additional sweeping, dusting or watering to minimise the effect on traffic or residents and ensure the dressing is effective.
Informing residents about the works
Signs are usually put up on sites needing a road closure at least 7 to 14 days prior to works commencing. A letter containing further information is also delivered to properties that front the works.
Reasons roads are surfaced dressed and not resurfaced
If roads did not benefit from preventative surface dressing maintenance they would require replacement 3 or 4 times as often. Resurfacing roads causes increased traffic congestion and is much more expensive and time consuming.
Frequency of surface dressing
How often roads are surface dressed is dependent upon several factors. Ideally, a new carriageway will be surface dressed 3 times at intervals of between 10 and 15 years, followed by replacement after a further 10 to 15 years.
The difference between surface dressing and resurfacing
Surface dressing involves treating roads which are in relatively good condition with preventative maintenance treatments to maintain their good condition.
Resurfacing is a more extensive structural maintenance treatment which involves removing up to 300mm of a worn-out road surface and replacing this with new material.
Resurfacing
View a list of roads to be resurfaced.
Find out more about how we resurface or surface dress roads.