A bitumen blitz worth $62 million and targeting almost 4000km of local roads is coming to Moreton Bay communities this financial year.
The ‘blitz’ involves almost 100 resurfacing projects and 32 rehabilitation projects, city council says.
Topping the projects list will be road resurfacing at Old Gympie Road, Caboolture ($4m), road rehabilitation at Old Toorbul Point Rd, Caboolture ($3m) and resurfacing work at Redcliffe Gardens Drive, Clontarf ($1.8m).
Moreton Bay City Mayor Peter Flannery says the bitumen projects should extend road life, prevent deterioration and reduce frequent, and costly, repair work.
“As Moreton Bay continues to grow, so too does the need to invest in our roads to make sure they can withstand increased traffic and weather events, especially with severe weather season coming up,” he said.
“We’re also delivering greener, more sustainable roads by using recycled asphalt, crumbed rubber and recycled plastic materials to give roads a new lease on life.”
NEW BITUMEN SURFACE
A recent resurfacing project at Kremzow Rd in Brendale saw the trial use of ‘bio-binder’ asphalt technology that uses recycled material in the asphalt mix that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 60%.
The project reused the equivalent of more than 211,000 glass bottles, 112,000 plastic bottles and 11,500 tonnes of repurposed construction materials and avoided 238,091kg of carbon emissions compared to conventional asphalt.
“All of these road works are essential to keeping travel safer and smoother for our growing community,” he says.
“Constant improvements are one of our ongoing responsibilities.”
BITUMEN WORKS EXPLAINER
There are three types kinds of road maintenance projects: road rehabilitation, road resurfacing and pothole patching
- When a road reaches the end of its life, rehabilitation work involves deep structural work to rebuild it to prolong its life.
- Road resurfacing is a lighter treatment used when roads are starting to show wear. As fresh surface is laid over the top, potholes are filled or line markings renewed to extend its life before major repairs are needed.
- Pothole patching involves ongoing repairs by filling in the hole and sealing the surface to keep the water out.
