Dry summer puts brakes on grading work

Dry summer conditions are restricting grading work on the Far North’s unsealed roads and normal activities are unlikely to fully resume until later in the autumn.

Northland Transportation Alliance (NTA) General Manager, Calvin Thomas, says a minimum level of ground moisture is needed to bond gravel and clay to the road’s subsurface, and this is in short supply during the summer months, making grading work challenging and often counterproductive.

“Sections of unsealed roads often become loose and break down during the summer because of the lack of moisture which can cause ravelling and corrugations,” he says. “However, attempting to grade the roads in dry conditions can do more damage and usually only makes a difference for a few days, often resulting in increased complaints to the council.”

Alternative solutions, such as deploying water carts, are not only expensive, but come at a time when many parts of the Far North are experiencing water restrictions.

The current grading restrictions are expected to remain in place until mid-April, depending on weather conditions, noting that in the case of a rainfall event bringing enough moisture, content crews are ready to be deployed to grade as many identified roads as possible before things dry back up.

Council contractors share the community’s frustrations, but road users are urged to be patient, drive to the conditions and keep reporting dangerous road conditions to the council on 0800 920 029 or visit our website to find out more about Far North roading.

The NTA is a collaboration between Far North District Council, Kaipara District Council, Whangarei District Council, Northland Regional Council and NZ Transport Agency, and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.