Unique tidal road in Morecambe Bay successfully resurfaced

The tide comes in and closes off the road making it an island for a few hours each day, making it a tricky job to repair.

Work must be carried out quickly while conditions are right and the material can set fully before it is immersed underwater again.

Due to the way that the tide flows, the ideal opportunity to resurface the road only arises during one week each month. As well as this, it needs to be a warm, dry day.

With the conditions just right, the county council moved quickly to seize the opportunity to carry out the work.

Toby Fitzsimmons, business development manager at Miles Macadam said: “We were delighted to partner with Lancashire County Council to create a tailored, site-specific solution to the Sunderland Point Causeway.

“Our specialist grouted macadams are a durable, hard-wearing material reinforced with a secondary sealing process, thus considerably less susceptible to the damage caused by tidal flooding. Once again, it’s been a pleasure working collaboratively with Lancashire County Council to enhance their highways network.”

The unique location is home to Sambo’s Grave. It is rumoured that Sambo was the servant of a ship’s captain and legend has it that he was set ashore whilst ill, believed himself abandoned and refused to eat, passing away. He was said to have been buried in unconsecrated ground above the high water mark with verses added later.

The scenic visitor attraction, which offers tranquil walks, also boasts a stone sculpture, bird hide, shoreline audio trail that visitors can enjoy and interpretation boards that tell you more about the area’s links to the slave trade.

Councillor Rupert Swarbrick said: “It was very important to us that this work was successfully carried out at this time of the year as this is the most effective time to repair it due to the tide times. It’s a very tricky job to undertake as the conditions have to be just right, so we took an urgent decision to ensure we didn’t miss this small window of opportunity.

“The area is beautiful, with stunning views. It is important that the families living there are able to access the mainland all year round, as well as visitors, despite the high tides affecting wear and tear on the road surface.

“Visitors can enjoy a stroll on the shingly beach in complete peace and quiet, plus there is a lovely stone sculpture, bird hide and interpretation boards that tell you more about the area’s links to the slave trade.

“Visitors now accessing the area will benefit from a safer road, which is smoother and pothole free.”