Road Maintenance & Grading

A road is made up of three layers: 

• The surface – the top level of the road (for sealed roads)
• The pavement – made up of one or more layers of gravel known as the base and sub-base to strengthen the road, and is generally 300-500mm thick 
• The sub-grade – a natural material beneath the pavement that consists of clay, ironstone and sometimes rock.

Roads are inspected based on several factors, including the number and severity of potholes, corrugations, ruts, drain conditions, road classification, traffic volume, and risk assessment. Roads with higher traffic volumes and worse conditions are prioritised to ensure safety and usability.

There may be temporary road closures during maintenance to ensure the safety of both the workers and the public. These closures are usually brief and well-signposted. We appreciate your patience and understanding during these times. Alternative routes will be provided where possible to minimize inconvenience.

It is not standard practice to install warning signs for potholes and corrugations as unsealed road conditions can change rapidly. Drivers are expected to drive according to the conditions. If you feel a road is in a dangerous condition, please report it via Council’s website. Alternatively, call our customer service team on 6264 0300 or send an email to hvc@huonvalley.tas.gov.au. Photos help prioritise maintenance works by providing visual evidence of the current conditions. This assists our crews in assessing and addressing issues more effectively. Only take photographs of the road or drain if safe to do so.

Council relies on the protection from liability under section 21(4) of the Local Government (Highways) Act 1982 and considers the principles of the Civil Liability Act 2002. Each claim made against the Council is considered on its own merits. If you have concerns, please contact us for more information.

Heavy traffic and natural ageing causes cracks in the surface or underlying pavement. Rainwater seeps through these cracks into the base material beneath. The vibration of traffic causes the wet base material to settle or shift, forming a cavity. Without base support, the pavement weakens further and ultimately caves in, causing a pothole. 

Potholes are filled with a mixture of asphalt and gravel. Potholes are repaired as a temporary solution in the winter to improve road safety for motorists. Potholes are also repaired as a temporary solution until the road is prioritised for major patching or reconstruction under the capital works program. 

Council relies on the protection from liability under section 21(4) of the Local Government (Highways) Act 1982 and considers the principles of the Civil Liability Act 2002. Each claim made against the Council is considered on its own merits. If you have concerns, please contact us for more information.

Major patching is used to repair multiple potholes and failures in the road surface and underlying pavement. This is where a larger section of road is removed, and both the surface and pavement are replaced. These works require dry weather and are usually carried out in the summer months. 

Re-sealing is a proactive road maintenance program that works to prevent potholes and small cracks starting to form in the road seal, which allow water to seep into the road pavement. Resealing involves spraying bitumen on to the road surface, providing a new waterproof barrier. Road sealing is carried out every 10 to 15 years to extend the life of our roads.

This is the full reconstruction of a road when roads are at the end of their useful life. The tell tail signs of a failing road include wheel lane rutting, potholes and edge breaks. A geotechnical investigation of the old road pavement determines the strength of the road and informs the new design that will ensure the road is built to cater for future demands and traffic loads.

When a vehicle travels at speed on a soft surface there will inevitably be small imperfections or undulation in the surface. When the wheel travels over the undulation it will bounce slightly, reducing weight on the wheel for a moment, then landing a moment later which compresses the surface. That creates a tiny crest and dip. The next wheel over does the same again, but worsening the problem. Every subsequent wheel makes the problem worse and worse and then you have corrugations.

It is difficult to provide a fixed schedule for road grading as the condition of unsealed roads changes rapidly depending on weather conditions and traffic volumes.  Council adjusts the schedule frequently to ensure that the roads in the worst condition and with the highest traffic volumes are graded as a priority.  A weekly schedule is posted on Council’s website but even this is subject to change. 

Distributor Roads like Pelverata Road, Lonnavale Road, North Huon Road and Mountain River Road are scheduled to be graded up to three times a year, while Local and Collector roads are generally graded once or twice a year, and minor roads are graded less often. Emergency works and pothole filling are done as needed between scheduled gradings. The grading schedule is flexible and adjusted based on road conditions, traffic volume, and weather events to ensure all roads are maintained as effectively as possible.