ORANGE City Council’s plans to resurface 20 blocks of the central business district and beyond with hot mix asphalt will take at least a decade to achieve.
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The main driver of the policy, Cr Glenn Taylor, said council’s report to gradually resurface every bitumen street in Orange was a “good start”.
“We can’t do this overnight but it’s definitely a step in the right direction,” he said.
“It’s managerable and it’s not going to blow the budget.
“We’ll reap the benefits in the long run.”
Car enthusiast Denis Gregory welcomed the move towards hot mix, saying the smoother surface is safer and more cost-effective.
Council will not spend more on roads but will instead fund a 2.5 per cent increase in hot mix resurfacing each year by cutting 25 per cent of bitumen reseal programs, technical services director Chris Devitt said in a report.
Bitumen at $4.50 per square metre is expected to last 10 years, meaning it costs council 45 cents per square metre a year over its life. Hot mix, at a cost of $24 per square metre with a 25 year lifespan, costs the council 96 cents per year.
“[Hot mix] is around twice as expensive as a bitumen reseal from a lifecycle cost viewpoint, but provides a much higher level of service due to the superior ride quality, reduced traffic noise and less ongoing maintenance,” Mr Devitt said.
Mr Gregory said potholes appearing days after roads are resurfaced with bitumen could be a thing of the past if hot mix became the norm.
“There’s potholes everywhere now, Woodward Street is like a minefield,” he said.
“[Hot mix] is safer if someone wants to stop suddenly because it grips better than bitumen.
“It’s an excellent surface.”
Cr Taylor said the community applauded council for every street that was resurfaced and understood the costs.
“In the foreseeable future we’ll have a much better road network,” he said.
“It’s a step that’s affordable and hopefully future councils would find more funds somewhere.”
clare.colley@ruralpress.com