Pavements to lose red colour when resurfaced

Officials acknowledge that the red material looks better, but it is more expensive

Pavements within St Helier's ring road will be resurfaced with black instead of red asphalt.

Parish officials said that, while the red material looked better, it was more expensive, less durable and not as easily available.

They said the price of red asphalt had increased "significantly" in recent years and was almost 60% more expensive than the black equivalent.

In 2022, the parish roads committee agreed the coloured material would no longer be used. It has now formalised that policy in its latest meeting.

Jason Lagadu says different patches of what is supposed to be the same colour material can show "quite a stark difference"

For the last 15 to 20 years, pavements in the area have been finished with the red asphalt, which parish officials said was "more aesthetically pleasing".

But now, when walkways need to be resurfaced, black asphalt was to be used, with it expected to last at least twice as long, officials said.

Jason Lagadu, from the roads committee, said: "The problem with the red asphalt is it oxidises quite quickly and, even from two separate batches, overnight it can actually change in colour.

"When it's had a few years to weather and you put a new patch in, it tends to show quite a stark difference."

Recent resurfacing projects have re-laid the pavements with black asphalt, such as beside Pomona Road and Le Breton Lane.

Lagadu said: "We've used black asphalt for that because it's a more durable product, and, when it's being patched, it gives a better match.

"On the rates side of things, we want to make sure we're looking after our ratepayers."