A break in the rain this weekend will see Council staff out in force to fill potholes and make our roads safer this Friday and Saturday.
After a typical rain event, Council crews move through the region filling potholes in high-speed roads, then move onto lower speed roads. This strategy targets high-risk areas first to keep road users as safe as possible.
Since March this year however, we have had anything but a typical rain event. Ongoing wet conditions have made the effort on high-speed roads a constant focus.
Mayor Amanda Findley said the two-day blitz on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 July would help get on top of the worsening road conditions and give attention to the town and village streets, as well as the high-speed roads.
“With the break in the weather we’ve called upon extra teams and equipment from across Council’s services so it’s all hands-on deck for a massive effort,” said Clr Findley.
Clr Findley implored motorists to keep an eye out for signage, reduce speed, and be prepared to stop if traffic controllers are on site.
“The safety of our people and road users is paramount, making it critical to employ temporary speed limits while works are being done on or near the road,” said Clr Findley.
“Slowing down allows our crews to get the job done safely and efficiently and ensures that everyone gets home safe to their families at the end of the day.”
The two-day blitz will focus on roads that are most in need of repair, based on registered resident feedback and assessments by Council engineers.
“We have more than 1770 km of roads in the region so while we can’t get to every pothole right away, the aim is to make a really good start on the damage and put us in a better place for ongoing works,” said Clr Findley.
The preferred method for pothole repairs is to carry out the repair when the gavel in the road is dry – this produces a longer lasting fill. However, during extended wet weather periods, repairs need to be done in less-than-ideal conditions just to keep the road safe. The re-work this generates is challenging for all but a necessary cost to keep road safety as high as possible.
“Despite filling more than 35,000 potholes since March, persistent rain has resulted in more damage. I know it’s been frustrating for residents, motorists and visitors and I thank them for their patience.
“Like many businesses in the Shoalhaven, Council crews have been impacted by COVID and are doing their best to undertake programmed works, including this blitz.
“I’d like to thank Council’s road work warriors for going that extra mile and helping to make our community a safer place to live.”
Extra road works ramp up from 7 am Friday 15 July and finish around 5 pm on Saturday 16 July.
