On the road to greater safety

From City Scene, published on 23 September, 2007

Night works - The council tries to minimise the disruption caused by resealing by working at night where possible. Any noisy activities are programmed for early in the night to limit the effects on local residents. Often working at night can reduce the period of disruption. Details of current projects can be found online. Find out more.

Maintaining infrastructure - Auckland City Council is investing $150 million on rebuilding, resealing and maintaining the city's roads in the current (2007/2008) financial year.

Upgrading our city's road network is part of Auckland City Council's efforts to improve transport choices for Aucklanders. While the upgrades are an ongoing process, most take place in the drier spring and summer months. The work may cause some temporary inconvenience but we try to minimise the disruption to residents, businesses and motorists while we are busy providing safer roads for all users.

The council is responsible for maintaining the city's 1420km road network. Resealing the road surface helps strengthen it and provides better grip for motorists and cyclists. Reseals also stop water entering through surface cracks, so the lower layer of the road is protected and stays in good condition for longer. In the current financial year, the council will upgrade around 100km of our city's roads currently identified as being in poor condition or having a limited lifespan. Resealing work, involving the removal and replacement of the roading surface, is typically carried out in a 10-year cycle. It usually takes about one day to reseal 1km of road with chip seal, followed by sweeping to collect any loose chips.

The deal on seal

When a road is to be resealed, residents are notified in advance about the type and timing of resealing to be done and how it may affect them - some work may require temporary road closures and detours. In non-residential areas where resealing is planned, signs are used to inform people and prevent parking around the site.

The road's shape, as well as the type and number of vehicles using it, help determine the type of seal chosen. Chip seal, a cost-effective treatment that suits Auckland's ground conditions, is a good choice for local roads and can last for more than 10 years. Asphalt requires a firmer base than chip seal and costs about five times as much to lay. However, its durability means it can cope with higher traffic volumes and is well suited for use on tight corners and cul-de-sacs. Asphalt is often used on CBD roads and the city's main routes.

Sometimes resealing is not enough to provide a safe surface, and a section of road needs to be rebuilt. When a road is reconstructed, both the surface and a portion of the underlying road are removed and replaced. Road work planned for this year includes Pah Road, Union Street and Mt Albert Road.

Keeping Auckland's future bright

The council regularly investigates innovative new solutions to help achieve its commitment to sustainability and increased efficiency. One method that is being considered is using cost-effective alternative material (such as crushed concrete, recycled glass and ashphalt mix) and foam bitumen for road upgrades. This would reduce construction time, and stabilise and strengthen the road.