Council Works To Prepare Roads For Winter

Winter is coming and Caerphilly council has worked tirelessly to prepare the roads for the season ahead. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Over £2.3 million has been spent on resurfacing works over the past few months. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Improvements have been made to local roads with 34 separate sites, across the area, being resurfaced as part of the CAUTS programme with a further 49 sites to be looked at during October. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Many sites will be treated with a surface prevention technique called Micro Asphalt and the remaining with conventional resurfacing materials. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The CAUTS (cold applied ultra –thin surfacing) programme consists of chippings being firmly embedded into the road surface by the application of a ‘locking spray’ within 24 hours of being spread. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This improvement on the previous surface dressing means there is no longer a reliance on the traffic to embed the chippings into the road over a period of time. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Tom Williams cabinet member for highways, transportation and engineering said, “At the council we continuously strive to employ new technology to carry out work in a more efficient and effective manner and I am sure the new CAUTS system will be a welcomed investment for motorists throughout the borough.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As well as resurfacing, over 10,000 tonnes of grit is currently stockpiled in local depots ready for the harsher weather to make a return. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A fleet of 13 gritters are equipped with new technology to cover 420 kilometres of road across the whole borough in order to keep motorists moving. The latest equipment in conjunction with the treated salt allows distribution at a lower level enabling the salt to ‘stick’ to the highway to ensure even spread, minimising vehicle and street furniture damage. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In addition to this, 869 grit bins are strategically placed throughout the county, allowing residents to help themselves, for the use of side roads and residential areas that are not on the main routes covered by the gritting vehicles. Go to the Grit Bins section for more information. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council also aims to, as far as practicable; ensure access to essential Council premises, residential accommodation for older people, education establishments, hospitals, doctor’s surgeries, town centres, major bus stations and emergency services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​