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Midhurst Road resurfacing - Tom H (4th Jan 2010 - 13:43:50) The recent resurfacing of the Midhurst Road seems to have entirely failed. It was done by the old method of spraying tar and then covering with gravel in the hope that it will stick. I've seen this work quite well in other places, but in the Midhurst Rd practically none of the new gravel is left - just the odd lump, with the rest spread around the pavements. How do we get this put right? I've nearly fallen off my bike twice, and I'm tired of getting sprayed with gravel every time a car drives past.

Re: Midhurst Road resurfacing - Neil (4th Jan 2010 - 14:46:59) Tom I could not agree more, I cycle along this every day and drives me mad, I have noticed a lot of roads like this over the last few weeks I think it is down to the weather. The frost gets under the tar and lifts it, its down to doing a job on the cheap they should take more of the top layer off and then put down fresh new tarmac.

Re: Midhurst Road resurfacing - jo herridge (4th Jan 2010 - 18:37:00) I think your right in the fact that its due to the weather. The road going through Lindford was resurface not long ago and that is now in a terrible state, bits of tar hitting my car as i drive along and the pot holes are probably worse than before it was resurfaced.

Re: Midhurst Road resurfacing - Jaybee (4th Jan 2010 - 21:21:52) I do not think that the weather can be blamed for the state of the Midhurst Road. The new surface had started to break up before the present bad spell. I feel that the resurfacing was poorly done in the first place. A pot hole at the entrance to the "Berg Estate" is now worse than before it was repaired. What should one do about it? Complain to the county highways department and to your County Councillor

Re: Midhurst Road resurfacing - Chris S (5th Jan 2010 - 17:32:34) I walk down this road daily and agree this isn't due to the weather. From the day it was put down it has started to fall to bits. Walking on the pavement usually ensures a good peppering of chippings on the legs and the now the piles of chippings are migrating like sand dunes. Unfortunately this has all the hallmarks of a job done on the cheap and the road is now in a worse state than when this work was started.

Re: Midhurst Road resurfacing - jaybee (1st Feb 2010 - 20:59:28) On cleaning my car to-day and found that the lower part is covered with tar and grit which is practical impossible to remove without using thinners or white spirit. I have also checked my wifes and my grandaughters car and found them to be similarly damaged, I blame the state of the Midhurst Road for this damage. For weeks now one sees and hears the grit from this recently resurfaced road hitting cars. Might I suggest that if you are a regular user of this stretch of road that you examine your car. If it is found that a number of us have been affected we should persue the council for compensation

Re: Midhurst Road resurfacing - Phil (4th Feb 2010 - 19:52:08) Jaybee - would suggest not using thinners to remove tar, as you may take the paint with it! There are various products you can acquire from the usual motor-accessories retailers - personally, I use AutoGlym Polish which removes tar with a little effort, but does not damage the paint - then cover immediately with Meguiars protective sealant. Would not wish you to further damage your paintwork over and above the tar spots! Kind regards.

Re: Midhurst Road resurfacing - Jaybee (5th Feb 2010 - 09:58:08) Phil - Thanks for that helpful advice. Will try what you have suggested

Re: Midhurst Road resurfacing - Nigel Myall (23rd Feb 2010 - 23:55:30) The practice of surface dressing has worked well when properly done. What is clear from this case is that the job was badly done; for one very simple reason - it was applied at the wrong time of year. Surface dressing in this country can only be done in spring, which gives the dressing applied time to be pressed down in warm weather into the tar and old road surface, bonding the two together. Whatever posessed HCC to authorise surface dressing in autumn when the dressing would have no chance of being able to bond to the road surface I do not know, but it has inevitably failed completely and wasted taxpayer's money as a result. Come spring, the whole stretch of road will have to be done again.

Re: Midhurst Road resurfacing - Phil (24th Feb 2010 - 20:10:45) But not all roads that were surfaced-dressed have ended up destroyed by the weather. There are a few about (can't remember where I saw the last one - but will re-post when I next see it!) that are still absolutely fine. Maybe the process was different, or they were done to a higher standard? The worst of the lot has to be the stretch between Camelsdale and Haslemere - before Coomers. I think the Moon would be easier to navigate!

Re: Midhurst Road resurfacing - Nigel Myall (25th Feb 2010 - 12:35:29) @ Phil It is possible for other factors to cause the dressing to strip, but it is my belief is that the weather was the critical factor in the Midhurst Road application. As most residents are aware, Liphook has a very varied microclimate, and is known to have unusually wide temperature variations across the village. I recall the surface dressing being laid in mid-October, and the frosts arriving just a couple of weeks later in that area. Further information can be found at: www.highwaysmaintenance.com/... which quotes "Loss of chippings in abnormally cold weather has to be said is very often linked with late dressings which have not had sufficient time to embed. But other simple factors like the use of too large a chipping, insufficient binder rate of spread and dirty chippings will all predispose the dressing to chipping loss in a bad winter. "

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