Image: one of the WDM vehicles currently in use across Falkirk.

Over the past three years, an additional £7.5m has been invested across Falkirk’s road networks to improve and extend the life of its carriageways. 

This substantial investment has led to an increase in the length of the resurfaced roads, improving driving conditions across Falkirk. 

Resurfacing work is carried out over a combined length of roads measuring 997km or more than 600 miles. 

Surfacing treatments such as ‘surface dressed’ have been implemented on rural roads. This is a quick and cost-effective method to seal and protect road surfaces. This process prevents water damage and prolongs road life. 

Weather poses the most difficult challenge for road maintenance with extreme cold, heavy rainfall and flooding as well as extreme heat which can cause roads to soften. 

Cllr Paul Garner, Depute Leader of Falkirk Council explained: “Ensuring our roads are safe to drive on is a priority and with investment of more than £7.5m over the past three years shows this commitment. 

“We prioritise resurfacing work by using expert knowledge as well as data from roads surveys that give an accurate picture of what condition the road is in and consequently, where work should be carried out first. 

“As ever, the weather can divert us away from this work, but we will continue to maintain a high level of investment in the coming years.” 

Using data to inform on the priorities 

To help prioritise where work should be carried out, Falkirk Council relies on road data provided by WDM, who undertake the road surveys.  

They assess road conditions by scanning the surface as they traverse, accurately measuring cracks and damage and providing data to work with. 

This data, combined with a scoring matrix that assesses road failures like cracking and texture, helps the council identify areas in need of resurfacing.  

Also, factors such as road hierarchy and engineering knowledge are also considered to prioritise the projects effectively.