An £11 million programme to extend the life of Kent’s roads and prevent potholes starts next week and will continue until September.

The road surface preservation programme starts on March 22 and will improve over 125 miles of highway equivalent to 1.1 million square metres.

These specialist treatments preserve roads for eight to 10 years and extends the time before more disruptive and expensive renewal works are required.

Kent Highways is responsible for the inspection and maintenance of 5,400 miles of roads, one of the largest road networks in England.

Cllr Michael Payne

KCC Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport Michael Payne said: “Our highways are one of Kent’s biggest assets and critical to the economic health of the county and vital to our daily lives.

“The recent wet and wintry weather we have experienced in Kent has caused significant damage to our roads as water gets into the road surface and expands when it freezes causing cracks and subsequently potholes.

“With temperatures warming up, we are implementing a three-pronged attack on potholes. In addition to this £11 million programme to seal road surfaces and prevent potholes, we have also launched a £10 million innovative pothole blitz campaign which focusses on permanent and larger pothole repairs.

“Additionally we have just announced the first phase of a road resurfacing programme, worth £5 million and covering 26 locations, to replace areas that have reached the end of their serviceable life. A considerably larger resurfacing programme will then follow over the spring, summer and autumn months.

“We will shortly be publishing a detailed forward works programme covering the next five years. This will include around 7.5 million square metres of road resurfacing and preservation and shows the commitment that Kent Highways is making to improving our roads and tackling potholes.”

Some of the work will include: