Roads and footpaths

Pavement maintenance is where we respond to faults in the road and undertake repairs that will make the road safe again and prevent the problem from getting worse for a time. These types of activities are reactive based on complaints, and our own routine inspections. They are undertaken with little to no notice to nearby residents and road users, as the faults usually require immediate actions to prevent it becoming a safety hazard.

We check for faults, like those listed below, to help us determine what is happening to the road, so we can select the best option for treatment: 

• cracks in the pavement, letting water into the pavement which can cause potholes 
• ruts, corrugations, and shoves, which is where the road becomes misshapen 
• tomos or holes in the road which appear when the road structure is washed away by something underneath or next to the road 
• texture loss in the surfacing which is normal over time, which can cause a rough ride and a skid hazard. 
  

These are the most common types of faults that we look for, but Hamilton has 630km of road network, so we also need your help. If you notice an issue such as those listed above that requires our attention, please let us know via the Antenno app or by emailing the details to info@hcc.govt.nz.   

The activities we undertake to repair these faults are varied. The repair we choose is based on the type of pavement we are repairing, the location of the repair, and the speed we need to undertake it and have the road open fully.

Common types of repairs: 

Mill and fill 

The repair process involves grinding (milling) the road surface down, then filling it with new AC (asphaltic concrete) material. Work is usually done at night, to minimise disruptions to traffic and ensure the safety of both road users and our construction crews. It normally just takes one night to complete the work.

Stabilisation 

The repair process involves applying cement to the surface of the road and then mixing the cement into the top layer of the road with a stabiliser or “hoe”, then shaping and compacting the freshly mixed material and reforming the road. The cemented or “stabilised” road is then left to go hard over a day or two, then it is sealed with chipseal.  

This work is generally done during the day, and from start to finish takes two to three days. 

Digout 

The repair process involves the pavement being dug out with a digger, and fresh material placed in the hole then shaped and compacted to reform the road. The digout is then typically sealed with either AC or chipseal as soon as possible or the following day.  

This work is generally done during the day, and from start to finish takes one to two days. 

Pothole repair 

The repair process involves clearing away any loose material, then placing an AC-like material that can be handled by hand and is compacted using hand tools instead of large machinery. This repair process is the quickest we undertake, but often doesn’t address the cause and we typically keep returning to these places until we undertake one of the other repairs listed above. 

This work can be done day or night, and from start to finish takes 30 minutes to 1 hour. 

This type of activity is done mainly in response to a customer request, but we do pick them up during our own routine inspections. These items are mostly damaged from vehicle incidents and vandalism. In these events, the team will make the site safe within half a day, and then organise repairs and replacement for a later date as we do not keep stock on hand. 

This work can be done day or night, and from start to finish it is typically done within a day. 

This type of activity is done mainly in response to a customer request, but we do pick them up during our own routine inspections. These items are mostly damaged from vehicle incidents and vandalism. In these events the team will make the site safe within half a day, and then organise repairs and replacement for a later date as we do not keep stock on hand.

This work can be done day or night, and from start to finish it is typically done within a day.

This is designed to “re-waterproof” the surface of the road, similar to re-painting your house. It can be broken down into two common types: 

Chipseal renewal - chipsealing 

This is where we apply a layer of bitumen then a layer of chip (small stones) is placed over this. Sometimes we apply multiple layers of bitumen and chip during this process. This layer is between 5-15mm thick. 

This can be done during night or day, as long the weather is dry and the temperature is high enough. Most sites are completed within a day. 

AC (asphaltic cement) renewal - asphalting 

This is where we will remove the existing road surfacing through a process called milling. We then replace the surface by paving fresh asphalt. The AC surfacing is between 40–55mm thick.  

This can be done day or night but is typically done during the night. As it is a complex process, some sites can take multiple days. 

These are done when: 

• the road has come to the end of its life, and we need to rebuild the entire road, or 
• if there is no kerb and channel, we can place more layers on top.  

Rehabs can be finished in chipseal or AC (asphaltic cement). 

The work can be done day or night but is typically done during the day. It is a complex process, and some sites can take multiple weeks. 

Whenever we work on a road resurfacing or rehab, we try to incorporate as much work as possible such as drainage improvements, other repairs, and safety upgrades and changes to line marking. This approach meets the expectations of Hamilton City Council’s Access Hamilton transport strategy. The aim is to be as cost efficient as possible across multiple projects. 

A week or two after the new road seal has settled in, it’s time to paint it with new line marking.  At some locations, for safety, line markings are painted as soon as possible after resealing the road. The lines are then redone where necessary when the new surface is fully settled in. The line marking also gets renewed periodically with the network having a fresh coat every three years.