A seven-week programme to resurface roads in Plymouth, part of an ongoing project, is to begin on Monday.

Operation Upgrade will be targeting another 29 sites that have suffered damage during the unusually harsh winters of the last two years.

The work is being carried out by Plymouth Transport and Highways (the partnership between the Council and Amey), which last year delivered the first £1.82m stage of the programme, laying more than 8,000 tonnes of tarmac over four months.

The success of this programme led to the Council allocating an additional £1.3m for this latest stage of works, bringing the total investment to £3.1m this financial year. This next phase of work will see 88,000 square metres of road resurfaced before the end of March, making a big difference for people travelling on some of the city’s main routes.

Councillor Kevin Wigens, Cabinet Member for Transport said: "Operation Upgrade is making great improvements to Plymouth’s roads. Residents have made it clear that having roads in good repair is a priority for them, which is why we’ve allocated further funding this year and will continue with the programme next year.

"It’s impossible to resurface every road, but we’re working hard to tackle those in worst repair and thank residents for their patience while the work takes place. We’ll always coordinate works so there’s as little disruption as possible, including night working when ever possible."

Sites have been prioritised for resurfacing according to user safety, the number of potholes, the degree of cracking and ride quality (bumpiness). Traffic sensitivity, bus punctuality, the number of complaints received and the needs of local businesses, amenities, schools and public transport are also taken into consideration. Works sites are then coordinated to ensure that other excavations for example by utility companies are completed prior to the resurfacing, and that disruption for road users is kept to a minimum.

Most sites will require road closures for short periods of one or two days only. Roads due to be resurfaced include South Hill, Seymour Road, Wolverwood Lane, Beechwood Avenue, Clifton Avenue, Fitzroy Road, Belgrave Road, Eggbuckland Road, Waterloo Road, Deer Park Drive, Novorossiysk Road, Martin Street, Ridgeway, Mutley Plain, Alexandra Road (Mutley), Tavistock Place, Clovelly Road, St Andrews Cross, The Crescent, Union Street, Western Approach, St Levan Road, Tavistock Road, Devonport Road, Budshead Road and Crownhill Road.

Phase two of Operation Upgrade is currently being planned for 2012 to 2013.