Peacehaven road repaired using recycled materials

Road constructors Hailsham Roadways repaired The Promenade, Peacehaven, using materials dug from the existing broken road.

Initially, the aim was to fill the badly compacted potholes with crushed stone.

However, the road, which is on the side of a cliff, was so badly damaged that repairing it with stone would likely only last for two rainstorms before it was washed away.

The project, costing £110,000, took five weeks to complete and the road was narrowed to three metres to slow traffic.

The road was surface dressed and completed in September.

James Bailey, Hailsham Roadways’ chief executive, said: “Highways companies have to continue to operate through lockdown to ensure roads and footpaths are kept safe.

The construction took place during the first national lockdown

“Managing communication now with residents and road users is extremely important for the Roadways team.

“The company is doing it successfully by having extra Covid-19-related road signs and information boards on sites, special windscreen key workers permits and additional communication with the public affected by the road repair projects.

“We have had some excellent feedback from residents who appreciate our operatives’ empathy, courtesy and work ethic.

Mr Bailey said: “We’re busier than ever and we’ll carry on working effectively through this phase of Covid-related lockdown challenges as we edge into winter.”

The road is expected to last over ten years instead of two rainstorms and will only need to be resurfaced when the natural life cycle of the surface dressing comes to its end.

The repair project was carried out during the first Covid-19 lockdown in March, as roadways operatives were considered key workers because they helped keep the region’s roads and footpaths repaired and operational.

The road in Peacehaven was completed in September

The team was forced to socially distance from each other and from members of the public while the construction was carried out.

However, according to the company, keeping two metres apart caused “reputational, health and safety and mental pressures”, as workers were questioned by passersby whether they should be working during the lockdown.

To abide by the strict social distancing guidelines, additional safety and information mechanisms were put in place.

Only one operative was permitted per vehicle, while hand sanitising facilities were created.

Every team also had a Covid marshal, whose job was to remind those working about social distancing.