Tauranga City Council begins annual road resurfacing

The weather-dependent works are expected to take six months. Photo / Supplied

Tauranga City Council is beginning this year's resurfacing programme, which will cover 60 roads and approximately 20km of road surface.

The weather-dependent works are expected to take six months, according to a written statement from the council.

Every year, 4 to 5 per cent of all of the council's roads are resurfaced with hot mix (asphalt) or chip seal, the statement said.

Treatment with chip seal is also known as resealing.

These maintenance works ensure a safe surface for vehicles by providing texture and protect the underlying road layers by waterproofing.

Residents and/or businesses along roads that are scheduled for resurfacing will be advised of works in advance.

Hot mix versus chip seal

Asphalt is approximately five times more expensive than chip seal.

This resulted in a change to the Resurfacing Programme in 2011/2012.

From then on existing "hot mix roads" on low volume local roads have been overlaid with the more cost-effective option of chip seal. Hot mix remained the standard surfacing material for main, high-volume roads.

However, following community concerns about the resealing of local "hot mix roads" with chip seal, the council has revised the Resurfacing Programme for 2019/2020.

Roads that currently have a hot mix surface will not be resealed with chip seal this financial year while a review of the resealing policy is undertaken. Roads that already have a chip seal surface will receive a new layer of the same material.

Funding of resurfacing

The council spends approximately $3 million each year on resurfacing roads.

This is partly funded by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA). This funding partnership requires the council to adhere to NZTA's requirements for resealing roads.

Visit the council's website for more information about the resurfacing programme.