TRC fixing some roads
Council ramps up major road repair program
Approximately $10 million will be spent repairing roads in the Tamworth region over the next 12 months, with Tamworth Regional Council contracting four extra graders and four road crews in addition to Council’s maintenance crews to tackle the extensive damage to the region’s 3000 kilometre road network.
Unusually high rainfall and regular flooding over the past 18 months has resulted in the rapid deterioration of roads across the region. It is estimated that the wet weather during this period caused roads to deteriorate at twice the rate usually experienced annually.
Northern parts of the Tamworth region have been particularly badly affected due to the granite sand soils around Moonbi, Watsons Creek, Bendemeer and Barraba.
Most of the road damage sustained is scattered and patchy, with potholes appearing sporadically across the road network. As a result, road repairs will be prioritised based on safety risks, extent of damage, and the amount of traffic regularly using a road. Council will also ensure road crews are working efficiently by tackling multiple jobs at a location where possible.
The local community can now find weekly grading and sealed road repair schedules on Council’s website, as well as major roadwork projects being undertaken as part of the flood recovery program. Find this week’s repairs schedule here: https://www.tamworth.nsw.gov.au/explore/getting-around/roads-in-the-region
Manager, Operations Murray Russell said that Council will be doing its very best to repair the damaged road network as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“While it’s no small task, returning our road network to a safe, accessible and comfortable state is Council’s top priority this year. The extra road crews and graders should help us to work through the huge program of repairs as quickly as we can,” he said.
Stimulus funding totalling $7 million has been allocated to the Tamworth region by the NSW Government since November 2022 under their Regional and Local Roads Repair Program ($5.9 million) and Fixing Local Roads Pothole Repair Round ($1.1 million).