Staffordshire’s summer road maintenance efforts are off to a flying start, with more than 60 miles of surface dressing already completed across the county.
Since the start of March 2025, 254 sites have been treated, covering over half a million square metres of road. Crews are taking full advantage of the dry weather to press ahead with preventative work that helps extend the life of the roads and reduces the chance of potholes.
What is surface dressing?
Surface dressing is a tried and tested technique used by Staffordshire County Council to protect and preserve roads before they reach the point of needing more expensive repairs.
The process involves:
- Structurally repairing the road where needed
- Applying a new top surface
- Sealing the surface to stop water getting in
- Helping to prevent potholes
- Extending the life of the road by up to 15 years
Councillor Patrick Allen, Cabinet Support Member for Highways North, said the current progress was a credit to the teams working across Staffordshire.
“Surface dressing is an important part of our maintenance programme, as it takes roads that are already in a fair condition, improves their surface and can prolong their life by up to 15 years,” he said.
“Our surface dressing programme is also designed to cause the least disruption possible, being carried out usually under rolling road closures. It’s an impressive operation that requires precise coordination of all the elements, from the sprayer tanker applying the binder, to the chippings being applied, the site getting swept and the road markings being replaced.”
Making the most of the weather
Crews have been working flat out to complete as many treatments as possible while the conditions are favourable. The smoother road surfaces don’t just look better, they reduce vehicle wear and tear, improve safety, and cut the risk of sudden potholes forming.
Patrick Allen added,
“Our crews are working hard to make the most of the good weather we’ve been having, to get the very best results out of our preventative treatments, and ensure more roads can get an essential treatment that will make them last longer.”
The programme is set to continue throughout the summer and into early autumn, with more sites across the county – including Stone and surrounding areas – scheduled for treatment.
Watch the process in action
To learn more about how surface dressing works, the County Council has shared a short explainer video on YouTube:
▶️ Watch it here
