Roadworks that closed part of a Hamilton street were vital for public safety, the city’s assistant engineer said.Charles Waters said that the work on Tills Hill was assessed as an urgent part of the city’s paving programme for the year.He added: “Each year, we assess all city roads within Hamilton and rate them on a number of condition-based factors. Budgets are set aside for this critical task and safely protected. “The lowest-scoring roads become priority roads to resurface the following year, which we generally do in the first part of the year, to reduce traffic issues.” Mr Waters said the work on Tills Hill meant the surface was “milled” down to create a smooth surface. He added that molten asphalt was later “applied, smoothed, compacted and allowed to set”. Mr Waters said that smooth roads were safe roads. He added: “Once a road surface begins to degrade, it quickly becomes dangerous, costly to maintain, increasing the wear and tear on vehicles traversing it. “Roads are a general indicator of the health of a city; good roads promote efficiency.” Mr Waters said that the city’s next road project would be North Street, between Angle Street and Dutton Avenue. He added: “From there, we will move to part of Cedar Avenue and Victoria Street, in accordance with our rating system.” The work on Tills Hill will be finished today.