FOI Request - Surface Dressing

Request 101003886106

1. How widely used is the practice of 'surface dressing' on Moray roads maintained at local authority level?

2. What is the lifespan of a surface dressed road?

3. Is surface dressing classed as a temporary repair or permanent fix?

4. If the repair is temporary,  how long is anticipated until a more permanent repair is carried out?

5. What is the cost per square meter of surface dressed road?

6. What decision making process is used to decide between surface dressing and a more permanent repair?

Response 10-12-2025

1. It is used every year in Moray and accounts for approximately 40-50% of the Annual Capital Resurfacing budget.

2. It has a lifespan of up to 10-15 years.

3. It is classed as a Permanent fix.

4. Not applicable

5. Varies from £5 to £6 depending on the materials required.

6. Surface dressing is a treatment based on preventing damage from water getting into the road layers and restores surface texture to improve skid resistance.
Surface dressing does not add any strength to the road, but it does maintain an already strong road in a strong condition for longer.
Resurfacing restores the road surface to a new condition, removing any surface problems (e.g. rutting and profile issues, edge damage, and potholing etc) and most unevenness to make it stronger.
Selecting the right treatment for a particular road will depend on many things including the condition and construction of the road and the amount and type of traffic that use it. Each situation is unique and several factors are considered to ensure road needs and treatment are considered on its merits, by using Engineering judgement and data provided by SRMCS.
If a road just has minor cracking and texture issues and is structurally sound then it would be considered for Surface Dressing, rather than resurfacing.
Further information on our Roads Asset Management Plan and Carriageway lifecycle plan are available on the Moray Council website.

http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_79238.html