New Roads & Street Works Act 1991

Investigation of a number of highway third party insurance claims has identified skidding on overbanded patches / reinstatements as being a possible cause.

Overbanding is permitted within the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 approved "Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in the Highway" Code of Practice. The application of any overbanding is at the discretion of the undertaker subject to the following;

Where excavations have not been delineated with pavement saws, some problems may arise, however, the working methods adopted are at the discretion of the Undertaker.

S6.5 (1) of the above mentioned Code of Practice states:

All bound edges shall be essentially straight, smooth, vertical and parallel to the line of any trench. All openings shall be "squared off" as necessary to give a reasonably regular plain shape when viewed from above

S6.5 (3) of the above mentioned Code of Practice states:

At any interim stage and at the time of permanent reinstatement all bound vertical edges, kerbs and exposed ironwork shall be painted with a bitumen-based edge sealant or prepared with an equivalent edge sealing system or material. Tack coat solution shall not be used as an edge sealant. There should be no significant spillage, splashing or any deliberate overpainting of the adjacent road surface, subject to the requirements of Section 6.5 (6).

S.6.5 (6) of the above mentioned Code of Practice states:

Any overbanding or coating of the road surface, at the interface between the existing road and the reinstatement edge, shall not exceed 3mm thickness nor 40mm width. The minimum skid resistance value of the material used shall be 55 SRV, as determined by the TRRL portable Skid-resistance tester used in accordance with Road Note 27 : 1969.(to be found through HMSO)