Glossary of roadworks terms

Active Travel Schemes - Active travel improvements help make it safer and easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle. The works may include new crossings, footways, cycle routes and other features that support everyday journeys without the need for a car.

Ancillary works - Supporting works carried out alongside or at the end of the main project, such as reinstating lining, adjusting ironwork (e.g. manhole and drain covers) and finalising road signage.

Bridge Maintenance - Bridge maintenance works help keep the bridge safe and in good condition. The works may include repairs, resurfacing and other essential maintenance to extend the life of the bridge and prevent more significant problems from developing.

Carriageway coring investigation - A targeted physical inspection where specialists drill cylindrical samples (typically 100mm to 150mm in diameter) out of a road surface to assess its structural makeup, material quality, and compliance with national standards.

Carriageway Resurfacing - Carriageway resurfacing is carried out to replace worn and damaged road surfaces, improving safety, ride quality, and the long-term condition of the road.

Drainage - Drainage improvement works help remove water from the road more effectively. The works may include repairs or upgrades to drains, pipes and gullies to reduce flooding, improve road safety and help protect the road from water damage.

Failed Roads Programme - A failed road is one where the layers beneath the surface, not just the top layer, have worn out. Cracks, potholes and other damage show that the road has reached the end of its life. To provide a long-lasting repair, the road will be rebuilt (or we often say reconstructed) rather than resurfaced.

Footway Structural Repairs - Footway structural repairs involve rebuilding damaged sections of the pavement where the layers beneath the surface have deteriorated. This provides a safer and more durable footway for pedestrians.

Grouted Macadam - Grouted Macadam is a specialised road surfacing material. It combines open-graded asphalt (a type of porous, thick, sticky, black material designed to allow water to drain through the pavement, reducing runoff and improving safety) with a grout infusion (a sort of paste for filling gaps and crevices) to create a durable, often jointless surface. It is used as an alternative to traditional asphalt and concrete, offering high strength, impermeability, and resistance to wear.

Micro Surfacing and Surface Dressing Prep - Before micro-surfacing or Surface dressing treatment can be carried out, any potholes, cracks and damaged areas need to be repaired. These preparation works help ensure the new surface lasts longer and provides a smoother road for residents and road users.

Micro Surfacing Headline Treatment - Micro-surfacing is a preventative treatment that applies a new thin protective layer to the road surface. It is used to restore a road that is showing early signs of wear. It helps improve grip, seals minor cracks and extends the life of the road, helping to prevent more significant deterioration.

Network Safety - Network safety improvements are designed to make roads safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. The works may include new signs, road markings, crossings and other measures to help reduce the risk of accidents.

Private Cable and Feeder Pillar Renewals works - Involve replacing aged, damaged, or non-compliant roadside electrical distribution cabinets and the council-owned underground power cables feeding street lighting, illuminated signs, and bollards.

Road Markings - Road marking improvements involve renewing faded or worn road markings to improve visibility and help keep roads safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

Safety Fences - Safety fence improvements involve repairing or replacing roadside safety barriers to help protect road users and improve safety along the highway network.

Scour investigation works - Specialist structural and hydraulic inspections carried out to check if flowing water has eroded the riverbed or ground supporting bridges, culverts, and retaining walls.

Sign and bollard replacement works - Involve the scheduled removal, installation, and electrical reconnection of damaged or outdated street furniture to maintain road safety.

Street Lighting - Street lighting improvements help keep roads and pavements well-lit and safe to use. The works may include replacing or repairing lighting columns and upgrading equipment to LED to improve reliability and visibility.

Surface Dressing Headline Treatment - Surface dressing is a preventative treatment that adds a protective layer of stone chippings to the road surface. It helps improve grip, prevent water damage and extend the life of the road, reducing the need for more extensive repairs in the future.