by John Prince
Essential resurfacing work costing £250,000 is to start this week in Hornsea, which will close one of the main roads along the seafront for up to two months.
The road surface on South Promenade has been in dire need of repair for some time.
The persistent bad weather we have experienced over the past few weeks has caused large potholes to appear in the road, which have made it dangerous for people driving along it.
Temporary fills were made a couple of weeks ago, but they were churned up in a matter of days, leaving the road in the same hazardous condition as before.
The road is one of the main thoroughfares in the town, with the entrance to Hornsea Inshore Rescue and cafe being situated along it, as well as the slipway and access ramp to the beach.
East Riding Council has said the works to the road and pavement are essential, and diversions will be in place for both motorists and pedestrians. It has apologised for any inconvenience.
Assurances have been made that lifeboat services will not be affected.
A spokesman for the council said: “We need to close the road from Thursday, February 19, to carry out initial preparation and drainage works before the main road surface scheme can start.
“The main works for South Promenade are scheduled to start on Monday, February 23, subject to weather conditions, and will take between six to eight weeks to complete.
“This programme includes inlaying the existing road and completing drainage improvements to provide a more durable, long-term solution.
“We carried out some temporary repairs earlier this month to address the most recent issues, in order to keep the route as safe as possible before the main scheme can begin.
“The damage to the road surface has been caused by the prolonged period of severe weather and cold temperatures.
“The Hornsea Inshore Rescue slipway will remain open to allow the boat to access the beach at all times.
“When the footpath works are to be carried out, a suitable diversion will be in place for pedestrians to follow.
“Thank you in advance to drivers and pedestrians for bearing with us while we carry out these improvements along South Promenade.”
A fresh layer of material will be laid on top of the current road surface, rather than digging up the road and rebuilding it from scratch. It will strengthen and smooth it while keeping the original structure underneath.
This approach is quicker and cheaper, and it’s hoped will be less disruptive than a full reconstruction.