It’s fair to say that the people of Guildford have grown used to roads being closed over recent months. The developments that are taking place around the town are such that it is all but impossible to drive from one place to another without hitting some roadworks, a diversion or another form of alteration to your route.
Sadly, that doesn’t show any sign of abating any time soon, with another major route now being closed in order to accommodate the completion of concrete fine milling works. The good news is that the plan is for the residential road, which acts as a linkway, to be closed for just three weeks whilst the work is carried out.
What Is Concrete Fine Milling?
Given the extent to which the likes of many people in the Guildford area are going to be disrupted by the work, it is only right that you know what it actually is. Fine milling is a way of allowing for highway maintenance that removes the need for a new asphalt surface to be put in place. It is innovative and sustainable, as well as being cost-effective, which is why it is that the Surrey County Council has chosen to opt for this form of road repairs where possible. The old asphalt surface is removed, with the sold, original concrete road underneath, which is mainly sold, being refurbished to allow it to be driven on.
The process itself involves join locations being levelled out, usually where one slab has settled lower than one of its neighbours, causing bumps in the road. The concrete itself then gets retextured, which allows for the reinstallation of grip. A specialist material is used to repair all of the joints and cracks, whilst deep sections of the concrete that have previously failed can also be repaired. Given the fact that the council has previously spent up to £1 million removing and replacing the thin asphalt surface on top of most of the concrete roads, opting for fine milling instead is likely to save money in the long term, which is better for all.
Which Road Is Closing & When?
In terms of the road that is closing in this particular instance, it is Linkway in Park Barn & Westborough. It is closing to all vehicles, except for work ones, from Tuesday the 14th of April and will remain closed for the following three weeks. Those that live in the area have been advised to park their cars away from the road, given the fact that there will be traffic management systems in place 24/7 during the period that the works are being carried out. Linkway is one of a dozen in the area of Guildford that have been earmarked for regeneration, although the roadworks in question are not linked to any future housing projects.
The actual working hours for the fine milling process to be carried out will be 8am to 5pm. The specialist machinery taken onto the site will be used to remove the old asphalt surface in order to then refurbish the concrete that is underneath it. Once it is completed, the aim is that it will leave behind a surface that requires low maintenance. Everyone with houses and businesses in the area will be able to get to and from them when it is safe, with staff on site able to offer help and advice to those looking to move around. The hope is that the work can be delivered with a minimum of disruption to everyone living locally.