The current state of a Cheltenham town centre street is not the finished product according to highways chiefs.
Part of the Strand area has been resurfaced with a dark asphalt raising eyebrows for visitors and residents alike.
But Gloucestershire County Council say the work is not finished and it will be completed ahead of this year’s Cheltenham Festival.
The final finish of asphalt will be of a “natural” colour similar to that on Cambray Place.
“It looks pretty grim as a sea of black tarmac”, one town resident said.
“But hopefully it will be acceptable once Gloucestershire County Council’s contractors add the top coat of sandstone grit to match the upper part of Cambray Place.”
A spokesperson for Gloucestershire County Council confirmed that work to complete the resurfacing on the Strand will start next week.
They said the works will be completed before the start of Cheltenham Festival which starts on March 11.
“Work will start next week on the Strand area of the High Street in Cheltenham to put the final finish on the tarmac,” a spokesperson said.
“The natural colour finish will be similar to that on Cambray Place.
“The work will be completed before the start of Cheltenham Festival.”