Work started this week on the first of five road rehabilitation projects, with a section on Ashburton Staveley Road at the head of the queue.

Two other sites on Ashburton Staveley Road will be rehabilitated, along with one on Forks Road and another on Pudding Hill Road.

The tender for the work (a total of 4115 metres) was awarded to Fulton Hogan Ashburton, at a price of $1,050,000.

Rehabilitation involves digging out the specific weak sections of pavement, constructing a new layer of basecourse of crushed gravel and then sealing the road.

Other work to be tendered later in the year is for rehabilitation on Seafield Road, two sections on Beach Road East and Maronan Road.

Group Manager Infrastructure and Open Spaces Neil McCann said rehabilitation was the most extensive and expensive type of roading repair and Council had increased its roading budget to achieve more.

“We also engage contractors to reseal roads and undertake heavy maintenance, which involves digging out failures and refilling. We’re looking forward to getting this first project under way and hoping for good weather to allow the work to be done in a timely manner.”

The first section of Ashburton Staveley Road to be rehabilitated is 520m near Walkhams Road.

“This involves digging out sections that have failed and replacing them with good gravel and then building a new road,” Mr McCann said.

“No detours will be in place but there will be delays as portable traffic lights will be used on site to control vehicle movements. We urge motorists to stick to the reduced speed in place at the worksite, for the protection of the crews that will be working there.”

All three sections on Ashburton Staveley Road will be completed before Christmas with 1210m section of Forks Road and 1220m section of Pudding Hill Road programmed for next year.

Mr McCann said sites chosen for rehabilitation had more sections of failures or potholes than others in the district.

“Our aim is to make these roads better and safer for all who use them.”

The forward works programme, with details of the roads to be rehabilitated, can be found here on Council’s website.