Better Road Seal ‘May Reduce Delays’

LONG delays for motorists caused by roadworks could be avoided if Government road builder Transit used better materials, contractors say.

Drivers were gridlocked for two hours one day and faced a week of delays when State Highway 1 passing lanes near Waikanae were resealed with bitumen and gravel chip last month.

The problems showed the need for more sophisticated road sealing materials, such as asphalt, which was more expensive but much quicker to lay, Roading New Zealand chief executive Chris Olsen said.

The higher cost could be justified because asphalt lasted longer and the reduced maintenance work would cause fewer delays for motorists. It could also be laid at night.

Transit regional manager Graham Taylor said there had been mistakes with the resealing work near Waikanae. However, asphalt was not always suitable in New Zealand because many roads were built on soft ground and asphalt was less flexible.

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