Regular roadworks are an essential part of safe, reliable transportation infrastructure.
But they’re also a major disruption for road users and a big drain on budgets for councils and local authorities.
The weather conditions in which you carry out public highway maintenance have a big impact on cost, durability and the likelihood of delays.
So by carefully planning projects for the right times of year, you can minimise disruptions, reduce wasteful spending and extend road lifespan.
Get in touch with the expert road surfacing team at Hazell & Jefferies Ltd for practical advice on seasonal timing for roadworks.
Seasonal timing for roadworks at a glance:
Road surfacing materials respond differently depending on the temperature.
Asphalt and tarmac need to stay hot long enough to compact properly. But in cold weather they cool too fast. This leaves weak spots and air gaps that later develop into cracks and potholes.
But in excessively hot conditions, these materials remain soft for too long. That makes them more prone to deformation under traffic before they fully set and cure.
Concrete and surface dressing are also sensitive to temperature changes. Cold and damp conditions slow the curing process, while excessive heat causes uneven drying.
Strategic seasonal timing for roadworks ensures your surfaces last longer.
Rain is one of the most disruptive factors in council and local authority roadworks.
Even light showers can prevent bitumen binders from adhering properly. And heavy rainfall risks washing away emulsions or pooling on surfaces.
Both of these undermine the integrity of the road structure.
High moisture levels also delay curing and increase the risk of weak finishes.
Because sealing, paving and surface dressing rely on dry conditions, contractors typically schedule these activities during drier months.
By reducing exposure to rainfall, you improve the durability of your civil engineering road projects.
In winter, shorter days reduce the time available for crews to work safely.
This often means projects take longer, increasing labour time and equipment costs.
It’s possible to rely on artificial light. But it’s less efficient and raises safety concerns for workers.
Longer daylight hours in spring and summer in turn provide longer working windows. So teams can complete larger stretches of road in a single shift.
Factoring daylight into roadwork timings reduces disruption and improves the efficiency of public projects.
Temperature and moisture have a big impact on road surface performance.
So you should be mindful of unusually extreme weather conditions to avoid early failure.
Frost can damage freshly laid asphalt or concrete before it sets properly. Once the road is reopened to traffic, even light traffic loads can cause the compromised surface to crack.
Heatwaves also tend to soften or “bleed” asphalt, causing ruts and slippery surfaces that put safety at risk.
Both extremes reduce productivity and force costly remedial works, making projects less efficient.
That’s why most contractors avoid scheduling large-scale surfacing and resurfacing projects in mid-winter and peak-summer conditions.
Careful public roadworks planning and scheduling helps prevent wasted investment and ongoing disruptions for road users.
Keep reading: What do you need to consider in road planning?
With rising temperatures and drier conditions, spring offers one of the most reliable windows for seasonal road maintenance and construction.
Surface dressing is particularly well suited to spring, as it requires a stable, dry surface for the binder to adhere effectively.
It’s also a smart time for preventative road maintenance, addressing minor issues left by winter frost before they develop into larger defects.
By scheduling public roadworks in spring, you can strengthen the surface ahead of heavier summer traffic and reduce the likelihood of expensive repairs later in the year.
Warm, settled weather makes summer the prime season for large-scale civil engineering operations.
Asphalt paving, surface sealing and resurfacing all perform best when temperatures are high and rainfall is minimal.
That’s because these conditions allow the materials to bond and cure properly.
Longer daylight hours also extend working shifts. So crews can complete bigger projects in less time and reduce disruption for road users.
The lower chance of weather delays in road construction and infrastructure maintenance also makes summer the best time for cost-effective road surfacing.
Planning public roadworks for UK summers lets you enhance your community with durable surfacing programmes that stand the test of time.
Before winter sets in, autumn provides a valuable opportunity to complete finishing and preventative road maintenance treatments.
Conditions are still mild enough for materials to set correctly. So councils and local authorities should schedule road planing, surface sealing and small repairs such as micro asphalt in this season.
This is also your last chance to deal with cracks and other surface defects before frost and moisture turn them into potholes.
Investing in autumn road maintenance lets you protect your travel network against the harsher months ahead and reduce the scale of emergency repairs needed in winter.
Cold, damp conditions make winter unsuitable for most major projects.
That’s because frost, moisture and shorter daylight hours undermine material performance.
Attempting large-scale road surfacing and maintenance projects during winter often results in premature failure and wasted investment.
Instead, winter is typically reserved for urgent repairs like pothole filling and safety-critical patching.
However, this lower maintenance load makes winter a useful time for planning public roadworks.
Use this period to survey road conditions, finalise budgets and schedule future works so they’re ready to go when spring and summer come around.
Find out more: Signs a road surface needs to be replaced: A comprehensive guide
The long-term success of highway repair planning depends on having a forward-thinking strategy as much as choosing a trusted road surfacing contractor.
Establishing a long-term road maintenance schedule tied to seasonal cycles ensures you carry out the right treatments under the most favourable conditions.
This not only extends the life of your road network but also helps you spread your budget more effectively over time.
Aligning road resurfacing projects with other public works like utility upgrades or wider infrastructure developments can further minimise disruption to communities.
By combining efforts, you can reduce repeat closures, save resources and limit frustration to road users.
Choosing an experienced road surfacing contractor who understands the weather impact on road surfacing is vital for achieving the best results.
Hazell & Jefferies Ltd has over 50 years’ experience in providing seasonal road maintenance services for councils and local authorities throughout the UK.
Our expertise reduces the risk of failed applications, ensuring high-quality road surfaces and delivering greater value for the public purse.
Seasonal timing for roadworks is one of the biggest factors in cost, quality and efficiency.
So it’s essential to plan around weather patterns and daylight hours to make the best use of budget and support smooth travel for road users.
Hazell & Jefferies Ltd is a trusted road surfacing and maintenance partner for councils and local authorities throughout the UK. From our headquarters in Oxfordshire, we provide expert surfacing, sealing, dressing and repair in Oxford, Berkshire, Reading and beyond.
Contact us today to discuss public roadworks scheduling and create an efficient plan for preventative road maintenance.
