We all know road quality in NZ has gone downhill in the last 10 years, increased traffic, funding shortfalls, and heavier than average rain events have taken their toll. Now NZ councils are categorically stating that some sealed roads may have to revert to gravel as they can no longer maintain them.
From Radio NZ, read the full article here: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/540168/will-sealed-roads-become-a-luxury-in-the-south
A report prepared for Southland District Council said it had the second largest road network in the country with close to 5000km of roads, But with a small ratepayer base – and unable to secure enough funding from the National Land Transport Plan – it was now having to make sacrifices. That included reverting sections of three sealed roads back to gravel because it was not economical to maintain them.
Southland isn’t the only region struggling to maintain its roads network due to a funding shortfall.
In October, Tasman District Council also expressed concern road safety and hazard mitigation work would go by the wayside amid a NZTA funding gap, while Gisborne District Council has compiled a list of 86 sealed roads that it is struggling to maintain.
Sounds good to me
Sounds good to me too