Canberra’s roads are set for a revamp over summer with almost a million square metres of new pavement to be laid.
Announcing the road repair program, Minister for Transport and City Services, Chris Steel said smart city technology and recycled material would be employed to improve the state of ACT roads.
“Road repair has been a high priority following the La Niña weather pattern, which has seen Canberra’s seventh wettest winter on record,” Mr Steel said.
“The rain has had a big impact on our roads with almost four times as many repairs undertaken this year compared with previous years,” he said.
Mr Steel said 925,000 square metres of roads would be resurfaced across Canberra to make them safer, smoother to drive on and to extend their lifespan.
“As part of the re-surfacing program, the ACT Government is undertaking a trial of innovative new defect detection technology with the start-up Frontline Data Systems,” he said.
“Cameras attached to vehicles will scan and automatically photograph road surfaces, with the artificial intelligence software identifying and classifying areas in need of repair.
“We are piloting this AI technology to test if the data can improve both the efficiency and accuracy of the ACT’s road maintenance program going forward.”
Mr Steel said the major roads planned for renewal over summer included the Monaro Highway; Tuggeranong Parkway; Long Gully Road; Ginninderra Drive; College Street; Mirrabei Drive; Mawson Drive; and Cooyong Street in the city.
The Minister said road resurfacing treatments included road resealing, asphalt resurfacing and microsurfacing, which would help to waterproof roads and stop the formation of potholes; improve the skid resistance of the road surface; and fill cracks in the pavement.
Mr Steel said signage would be erected in advance of road resurfacing and affected residents and businesses would also be advised by letterbox drop at least two days before the start of resealing works on their street.
