Introduction ( or, still talking about bituminous mixtures for surface course )
It appears that the gentleman or lady (that's for June) who manages the great Materials Laboratory in the sky may have read the February newsletter, because we have certainly had a prolonged spell of quite cold overnight temperatures, with some areas of the country having significant snowfalls.  This continuing period of winter weather will further put to the test bituminous surfacing mixtures and the thickness at which they are laid.
It is my opinion that it is far better to discover, as soon as possible, which materials are unable to cope with the full range of weather conditions that can be experienced in the UK rather than to continue current policies regardless.
I am quite happy to continue to support initiatives to gain extra funds to improve the total road network in the UK. But I am distinctly uneasy when I see road maintenance and construction strategies being encouraged which I believe are going to demand an extra increase in budget allocation to provide little if any benefit in the overall quality of the road network. If the funding increase is not forthcoming, while continuing with current road surfacing proposals, it is my belief we will actually see a decrease in the standard of roads throughout the UK in the years to come. 
This is completely ignoring the disruption that will be caused by an increased frequency in the  surfacing programme.
How much more I would prefer to see knowledgeable engineers and technicians being allowed to make considered decisions on what surfacing material is appropriate for a particular individual road, rather than to replace such engineering responsibility  with "blanket" options largely dictated by marketing initiatives rather than materials suitability.  
It is my opinion that it will all hit the fan when the lawyers get involved with some high profile claim, and with the amount of "problems" I am hearing about from around the country I foresee that not being too far off. 
When this scenario happens it will be very interesting to see who is regarded as "liable", will it be consultant, contractor, supplier, auditing body, local authority, government agency, or the engineer/technician at the "pointy" end. 
I bet there are none of them who are not at least a little concerned.

 Surface dressing
It is hard to believe, but a new surface dressing season will begin again next month in many parts of the UK, and this is another warning of the changes in the way chippings are specified.
If you are still not up to date on these changes may I suggest you read the item
Special Note for the 2004 Surface Dressing Season  
to be found on the page A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO SURFACE DRESSING. 

Motto of the Month
"An expert is a man who has stopped thinking. Why should he think ? He is an expert."