Council to carry out surface dressing repairs at 19 locations in Northumberland
Work is well underway on a summer ‘surface dressing’ programme to make travelling on Northumberland’s roads a smoother experience.
A total of 19 sites will be repaired and improved in the initiative, covering an area of 443,290 square metres, the equivalent of 62 football pitches.
This repair method is used where the existing road surface has worn over a period of several years. This can lead to minor cracks, allowing water to enter and cause damage which can result in potholes forming as well as reducing the skidding resistance of the road.
Surface dressing seals the cracks, protects the underlying road structure and improves its overall condition, extending the life of the road.
Over recent week teams from Northumberland County Council have been out cleaning, preparing and carrying out patching works on roads before the surface dressing treatment takes place.
Cllr Mark Mather, cabinet member for Roads and Highways, explained: “Our annual programme of surface dressing will see improvements to roads across the county.
“These are a combination of main roads and more minor ones which are often essential routes between our communities and it’s crucial they are kept in a good state of repair for everyone who uses them.
“During the works there may be minor delays for road users but we will work to keep these to a minimum and we thank people for their understanding.
“We’d ask drivers to take extra care and follow the speed limit signs on the recently surface dressed roads until essential road sweeping has taken place to remove loose road chippings.”
The surface dressing programme locations in 2026 are: A698 Twizel Bridge to Grindon, B6341 Rothbury to Thropton, A697 Roseden to Powburn, C136 West Moor to Longhorsley, C345 Medburn to Stamfordham Road, C115 Chevington Moor Cottages, C144 Netherwitton to Stanton Junction, C151 Kirkley Hall, C356 Berwick Hill Road, C123 Newbiggin to Lynemouth, B1505 3 Horse Shoe Rbt to Bebside, A686 Crag Head, A6079 Low Brunton to Cocklaw, A68 West Woodburn, A68 Barley Lodge to Scales Cross, A696 Blaxter Cottages to Raylees, B6295 Studdon, C6309 North of Wittonstall, C307/C312 The Sill to A69.