Northamptonshire council’s road coring survey reaches halfway point to address ‘decades of underinvestment’

The council’s highways team has been carrying out a programme of road coring surveys to help identify which roads across the area would be suitable for future improvement works.

Samples are being taken from roads including sections of the A43 and A6 using a machine to extract a core from of the road to a depth of around 10 inches and then sent to a laboratory for further testing. The samples provide information on the make-up of the existing road.

Cllr Chris McGiffen, the council’s executive member for highways and travel, said: “This work provides vital information about the condition of the roads across North Northants and enables us to make informed decisions about future maintenance works.

“The surveys are completed quickly and with as little disruption as possible. The samples help us understand exactly how roads have been constructed and how they are performing, ensuring we can target our investment where it will have the greatest benefit.

“By gathering this detailed information, we can continue to plan effective maintenance programmes, helping to extend the life of our roads and deliver the best possible value for our residents.”

Testing is taking place on the Rothwell/Desborough bypass today (Tuesday, October 27) and tomorrow (Wednesday, October 28).

The A6 Finedon Road at Finedon is due to be surveyed over two days – Friday, October 30, and Monday, November 2.

Some of the sections of roads being tested are relatively new. The A6 Desborough and Rothwell bypass was opened in August 2003 but was closed for several weeks in 2017 after a routine inspection found gaps had opened up under the road surface on either side of a bridge where the A6 crosses over the River Ise.

Sampling across the area started in September and will continue to the end of November. Survey results allow an assessment is made as to whether a road would be suitable for the council’s surface dressing programme in the coming year.

The council says the process is ‘quick and efficient’ and once works have been completed, the hole is filled straightaway to ensure the road remains fully operational. It added that the information gathered plays ‘an important role in helping the council target investment and plan future maintenance’.

Temporary road closures are put in place to ensure that the workforce is safe while carrying out the work – essential drainage clearance and pothole repairs are also undertaken during the road closures.

Cllr Martin Griffiths, leader of North Northants Council, said: “We know that decades of underinvestment have taken a huge toll on our roads, with the condition of roads being a concern for residents and businesses across the whole of North Northants.

“But we are starting to make a big impact with the funding available to us and programmes like this will help us continue to make progress – delivering better roads, prioritising repairs and resurfacing.”