72 Shropshire Roads to Receive Surface Dressing in 2026 Maintenance Drive

More than 70 roads across Shropshire will undergo surface dressing this spring and summer as part of Shropshire Council’s 2026 highways maintenance programme.

The works, which begin on 22 April 2026, will be delivered by Kier on behalf of the council and cover 72 sites across the county. The programme includes a mix of urban streets and major A and B roads.

Details of individual schemes and timings will be published on the One Network interactive roadworks map once road space permits have been confirmed.

Preventing Potholes Before They Form

Surface dressing forms a central part of the council’s preventative maintenance strategy. The treatment seals the carriageway, restores skid resistance and helps stop water penetrating the road surface — one of the primary causes of pothole formation.

David Vasmer, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Environment, said the programme is designed to reduce the need for more costly reactive repairs.

“As well as improving and protecting our roads, this important programme of work plays a crucial role in helping to prevent potholes and other defects forming in the future,” he said.

“Pothole treatment is very much about prevention as well as cure and this is one important way that we can aim to prevent potholes forming next winter.”

The process involves spraying a layer of bitumen binder onto the road before applying stone chippings, which are rolled into place. The treatment significantly extends the lifespan of the carriageway and is widely regarded as one of the most cost-effective maintenance methods available to local authorities.

Traffic Management and Closures

To allow the works to be carried out safely, most sites will require temporary road closures. However, the council has said that in many cases closures will only be in place for a few hours and are unlikely to last more than a day.

Where full closures are not required, alternative traffic management measures — including temporary traffic signals — will be used.

On A and B roads, centre line studs (cats’ eyes) will need to be removed and replaced under temporary closures. Removal is expected to take place overnight between 8pm and 6am, followed by surface dressing, sweeping and road marking during daytime hours. In some instances, replacement of studs and final road markings may take place up to ten days after the initial treatment.

The programme may be subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances.

Advance warning signs will be installed at each location in the weeks prior to works starting, providing residents and road users with details of closures and timings.

With surface dressing now underway across dozens of sites, the council says the 2026 programme represents a proactive investment in protecting Shropshire’s road network ahead of future winter seasons.