We’ve made it through the Silly Season and with the start of the new year, we are back into Resealing Season! This means there will be an increase in chip sealing work being undertaken around the district.
Council’s Roading and Transport Manager Joanne McBride says the warmer weather over summer makes the perfect conditions to reseal roads.
“Roads don’t like moisture so fewer days of rain and warmer ground temperatures, provide the best opportunity to repair, reseal and rehabilitate roads around the District.”
The Resealing programme kicks off again on January 11 on King Street in Rangiora. Followed by Oxford Road and Loburn Whiterock Road. All details of this work will be posted on Council’s website and Facebook page a week before the works start.
Joanne McBride says as well as the resealing programme , council also needs to undertake rehabilitation works on some roads to reconstruct the road surface. This requires the road structure to be strengthened and takes longer to complete due to the nature of the work.
“Every year in the Waimakariri District, sections of sealed roads are scheduled for rehabilitation in both urban and rural areas.
This work involves digging out specific weak sections of road prior to the rehabilitation work. Then constructing a layer of basecourse over the full length to be strengthened. Drainage improvements will be carried out at the same time and then the road resealed,” Joanne says.
One of the major road rehabilitation projects coming up this year includes a 1km stretch of Tram Road in West Eyreton.
Starting on Monday 22nd January, CORDE will be carrying out road works on Tram Road. This work includes overlaying approximately 1km of the existing road with a new granular overlay and chip sealing.
The work will take approximately five to six weeks to complete - weather permitting.
To allow the work to be done as quickly and safely as possible, the road will be closed between Horrells Road and School Road, between the hours of 7am and 6pm.
The road will reopen to traffic with a reduced speed limit in place overnight and when no work is taking place on site.
During closure times, traffic will be detoured via Oxford Road and Earlys Road.
Joanne McBride says while disruption to routes and journeys can be frustrating to motorists, Council’s top priority is always the safety of all road users.
“Across the District Council maintains 980 km of sealed roads. We know safe, well-maintained roads are important to our residents and we are committed to supplying a high standard network to ensure our District remains well connected and easily accessible.
To achieve this, Council staff continually monitor all roads in the District and when need be they are scheduled for improvements.”