Some Roads in Guernsey to Be Resurfaced After Asphalt Fault Discovered

Several roads in Guernsey will need to be relaid after a problem was identified with a batch of tarmac used in recent resurfacing works.

Ronez Construction, the island’s sole asphalt supplier, produces around 13,000 tonnes of asphalt annually. In spring 2025, the company discovered that approximately 200 tonnes of its supply were defective.

Steve Roussel, General Manager at Ronez Ltd, told ITV News:

“We monitor the roads after they are laid as part of routine checks, and this issue was flagged during that process. We noticed some of the stones in the asphalt were starting to strip out earlier than expected.”

Officials say there are no immediate safety concerns, but the affected sections will need to be relaid, causing further road closures and disruption.

The problem appears to be linked to Ronez’s move to a new quarry site at Chouet in late 2024. The different geology meant some early stone supplies were contaminated with clay. Normally, clay is removed during processing, but unusually wet weather last year caused some clay to stick to the stone and enter the asphalt mix.

Ronez Construction is covering the cost of repairs, but local drivers are frustrated by the ongoing disruption. Gary Reynolds, a Guernsey taxi driver, said:

“A lot of the time, clients tell us they’re fed up with the traffic and won’t bother coming because of the problems getting in and out of the island.”

Guernsey’s Traffic and Highway Services confirmed that monitoring of resurfaced roads is ongoing and that the council is working closely with Ronez to identify any additional areas requiring remediation under warranty.

“An issue with asphalt supplied for resurfacing projects was first identified towards the end of 2024,” the statement read. “We continue to monitor roads and work with Ronez to ensure all necessary fixes are carried out.”