Almost 200 km of Shire roads received attention during the 2018-2019 financial year.
That total included resurfacing of 85 km of sealed roads, resheeting about 100 km of gravel roads, and rehabilitation of 9 km of the local sealed road network.
The works program also saw 1.2 km of new footpath installed and 800 m of kerb and channel replaced across the Shire.
Director Works & Services Brooke Love said Council’s roads program for 2018-2019 financial year included $1.86 M for resealing, $1.7 M for resheeting and $1.4 M for rehabilitiation.
“Council undertakes a road rehabilitation program between November and April each financial year,” Mrs Love said.
“This involves reconstructing the whole pavement, from the sub-base up. A first seal is applied at this stage and the final seal will be done a year later, to bed it down.
“This is generally done with our resealing program between January and March.
“In 2018-2019 we have completed $1.4 M in rehabilitation works on stretches of Timboon Curdievale Road, Shenfield Lane, Eastern Creek Road, Cross Forest Road, Boorook Road, Curdievale-Port Campbell Road, Walshs Road, Vite Vite Road, and Urches Road.
“Finishing Timboon-Curdievale Road was a real milestone. The last 2.9 km in Timboon West was rehabilitated and widened from one to two lanes, making it safer for users – not only heavy vehicles and tankers, but there’s also a lot of tourist traffic in that area.”
Mrs Love said Council’s sealing program was a joint contract with Warrnambool City Council, which has been in place for four years.
“This partnership allows for cost savings which means our 85 km of resurfacing still costs the same as in 2014-2015, when we contracted it out on our own.
“The sealing of the roads helps to preserve Council’s local roads for the long term and again reduces ongoing maintenance costs.”
Mrs Love also highlighted the work on Council’s gravel road network included a $1.6 M resheeting program which increases the pavement depths of the gravel roads to provide a better ride quality as well as protect the sub-base from deterioration and future maintenance costs.
Kerb and channel replacements on Walker Street, Cobden, Oman Street, Lismore, and Desailly Street, Port Campbell, have upgraded those parts of the road network which will minimise the detrimental effects of future rain.
Footpath extensions with high community benefits were installed in Dover Street in Cobden, Prince Street in Terang and High Street in Lismore.
“Our outdoor workforce, engineers, technical officers and administration teams are all focussed on ensuring Council’s road and other infrastructure are safe for our residents”
Other highlights include:
- Completion of the $5.2 M Castle Carey Road Bridge Upgrade Project with a new bridge and realigned approaches;
- A new concrete bridge replacing a deteriorated timber bridge on Bones Access Road across the Gellibrand River at Chapple Vale;
- A concrete bridge deck replacing an old timber one on Thorntons Road, Tesbury; and
- Securing $1.56 M from the State Government’s Fixing Country Roads Program for upgrade to Old Geelong Road/Depot Road intersection, widening of 6 km of Foxhow Berrybank Road and rehabilitation of Lismore-Pittong Road.
