Chipseal resurfacing for road renewals

A policy to revert from asphalt to chipseal for some road renewals could save millions of dollars from Council’s roading budget over the next decade.

The Asset and Infrastructure Committee approved a road resurfacing reversion policy for the road renewals programme, after receiving a report outlining the significant cost savings it could achieve.

About 70 percent of the district’s 36km of urban asphalt sites are coming up for surfacing renewal over the next 10-years. Savings of approximately $770k could be achieved by reverting to chipseal for the 2018/19 roading programme.

Tairāwhiti Roads general manager Dave Hadfield said although there could be a lowered service level at some renewal sites, the redirected funds could lead to a general increase in service levels across the overall road network.

Council carried out a widespread asphalt-resurfacing programme approximately 18 years ago and while many of those streets are still in reasonably good condition, others are showing signs of deterioration and will require treatment in the next ten years.

Applying a chipseal coating over the asphalt will extend the site life expectancy by another 10 - 15 years.

Reversion trials carried out in 2015/16 in Aberdeen Road, the Esplanade and Reads Quay worked well. Reverting to chipseal for seven treatment sites in the 2017/18 programme saved approximately $450,000.

Not all asphalt sites are suitable for chipseal resurfacing due to factors such as the type of vehicle maneuvers on the road surface. Cul-de-sac heads, roundabouts, sharp bends are examples of this.

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