Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Central Coast Council is powering ahead with its usual road maintenance and construction program, and the region this week became the first in Australia to make use of a revolutionary new technology.
Council is using road stabilising and paving technology to lay foamed bitumen in a way that reduces construction time, increases use of recycled road pavement, reduces greenhouse emissions and delivers a more consistent road surface.
Council’s Director, Roads Transport Drainage and Waste, Boris Bolgoff, said the innovative technique would revolutionise road construction.
“The technology essentially combines a series of machines into one interconnected production line spanning 50 metres,” he said.
“Existing damaged road pavement is ripped up and mixed with new bitumen before being discharged onto a conveyor at the back of the machine.
“The final steps see a paving machine lay the road pavement at a precise height and then rollers work along behind to compact the material.
“The entire process happens in one continuous ‘train’, which significantly minimises truck movements and the need to grade the road into its final shape.”
Council is working with contractor, Stabilised Pavements Australia (SPA), to deliver the technology, with its first roll-out occurring at Wisemans Ferry Rd, Kulnura, and Chain Valley Bay Rd, Chain Valley Bay.
Mayor Lisa Matthews said Council was establishing itself as a leader in the use of new road construction technologies.
“During this extremely difficult time for our community, Council is committed to delivering essential services and this includes maintaining and developing our 2,200 kilometre network of roads in line with State and Federal legislation, whilst adhering to physical distancing requirements,” Cr Matthews said.
“The use of this fantastic new road construction system, a first in our country, is another example of Council and its stakeholders thinking outside the box to deliver for our community.
“This machinery produces a more consistent finish in less time whilst also being better for our environment, all big wins for our community.”
Source:
Media release, Apr 21
Central Coast Council