Roads disruption expected as resurfacing takes place

Disruption will be brought to Lerwick roads this month when three weeks of surfacing work, involving a series of road closures, takes place.

Specialist contractors working for Shetland Islands Council are being asked to carry out ‘microsurfacing’ on selected streets from Sunday onwards. The work is expected to last for around three weeks, weather depending.

During the work, access to each of the streets where work is taking place will be prohibited from 8am to 6pm each day.

The roads affected can be viewed on the council’s website.

The work will see a liquid emulsion and aggregate mix applied to the road surfaces, and allow time for it to dry. Parking restrictions will also be in place as indicated by yellow “no parking” cones, which will be placed out the previous day.

The council says residents will be advised of the dates of these closures by letter, and updates will also be provided on the council’s website.

Chairman of the council’s infrastructure committee, Michael Stout, said: “We have to carry out this maintenance work to reduce the need for more substantial, disruptive and costly road works.

“This microsurfacing work will result in a better quality road surface for all road users. In the interests of safety, we would ask the public to observe these street closures and the parking restrictions.

“Vehicles parked on these roads during the closures will prevent us from undertaking the work and, as they will be committing a traffic offence, may be removed by Police Scotland.

“Please read the letters delivered to households, with details and dates for each area. We realise that these works and road closures will cause some inconvenience for residents and we’re grateful for their co-operation to help us complete this work with the minimum of disruption.”