HIGHWAYS chiefs have defended their decision to resurface half a road, dubbed 'the worst in Worcester'.

Highways chief Cllr Alan Amos has confirmed drivers will have to wait at least two months and possibly three for the rest of Brickfields Road to be repaired and even this will only be a 'small amount of patching' rather than complete resurfacing.

The 'third world' road has been compared to a 'rumble track' by readers because of its many potholes, cracks, lumps and bumps which are driving motorists round the bend. An exhaust fell off one resident's car and another complained that the vibrations were so heavy he feared he would lose one of his fillings driving over it.

However, what really incensed readers was that half of the road had been resurfaced while the remaining half, nearest the shops at the Blackpole Road end, had been left in an appalling condition.

Some even said the worst half of the road had been left untouched while the better half had been needlessly tarmacked.

Cllr Alan Amos, cabinet member with responsibility for highways, said: "Brickfields Road was assessed by engineers ahead of the works being completed.

"The results of their assessments showed that, structurally a section of the road needed to be resurfaced and part patched, on the most deteriorated section.

"The remaining length of road will have some small amount of further patching in the specific areas where cracking/deterioration has occurred. This will be completed over the next two to three months ahead of the winter weather setting in."

The engineering assessments are asset based and completed taking account of the structure of the road with a view to treating the most deteriorated sections, where appropriate say highways.

A county council spokesman added: "Whilst some sections may look older and have a number of utility trenches in them, if the majority of it is structurally sound then the focus of works will be on the other more deteriorated sections, as is the case with Brickfields Road.

"The road will receive regular inspections and will be reviewed each year. At an appropriate point further structural patching and/or resurfacing will take place as necessary."

Phisherman wrote on the Worcester News site: “Why on earth are these guys allowed to do so many things wrong unhindered? It's been going on for years, and people take more note of this since the Whittington Roundabout fiasco. And they didn't even finish that.”

Mrwrighty wrote: “They did the same with Kenwood Avenue, completely resurfaced the bottom half and patched the top half. I use Brickfields Road regularly and I would say that the lower area was considerably worse than the area that has been re-surfaced. The lumps, bumps and potholes down there are like a third world country. Who in highways accepted this solution? Yet another balls up from them.”

WJS1950 wrote: “Almost every road in Worcester is in a rubbish state, it's only the new road built by house builders that are very good."

Sam Wyard wrote: “I swear the person who is in charge of Worcester highways must not drive."

Michael Winters wrote: “Brickfields Road is so bad you need a motocross bike to get down it."

Mike Lane wrote: “All of the country’s roads are third world.”