Surface types
We use a combination of asphalt and chipseal road surfaces across Hamilton.
Asphalt tends to be used on roads that have high volumes of traffic (i.e. over 15,000 vehicles per day) or areas that have high turning stress (for example, cul-de-sac heads and certain T junctions).
Chipseal tends to be used on roads with lower volumes of traffic, which are less affected by heavy traffic.
Our surfacing process for these are different and this is detailed further down the page.
Planned work - January 2020
The chipseal resurfacing work programme for January 2020 can be viewed at the bottom of this page. This year we will be resealing 40 roads, covering around 18km over the month of January.
The sites are selected based on age and condition of street. We generally chipseal every 10-15 years, depending on the condition on the road. Chipseal renewals are completed over summer when there is less traffic on the roads, and when sunny and dry weather is more likely.
Why reseal?
The seal on a road is like paint on your house – it keeps water out of the structure underneath. Like paint, the seal breaks down over time and starts to let water in.
When the surface of a road starts to break down it indicates that it is time to reseal. The ideal time to reseal is just before any damage occurs, so your road may still look to be in good condition when we complete the reseal.
Roads are generally resurfaced with a chipseal except where the traffic volumes or pavement conditions justify otherwise. Roads that have previously had asphalt surfacing may be resealed with chip seal.
The chipseal process
- Minor repairs are carried out prior to resealing.
- The contractor will contact residents in the street about a week before work begins, which is done in one day.
- Hot bitumen is sprayed and stone sealing chips are spread and rolled in.
- Traffic is then allowed on the road to bed the new seal.
- Excess sealing chips are regularly swept away, and road marking will be repainted if the markings disappear due to chip loss. Temporary traffic management will be removed a couple of weeks after the chipseal takes place.
- As many as three additional sweeps may follow in the next six months to remove loose chip.
The asphalt process
- Minor repairs are carried out prior to resealing.
- The contractor will contact residents in the street about a week before work begins, which will confirm the intended dates of work.
- Excavation (milling) of existing surface is undertaken.
- Laying of new asphalt surface is completed. This work may be done at night as these are generally streets with high traffic volumes.
- Line markings, traffic loops and special surfaces (for example, green cycle lane markings) are reinstated.
- Temporary traffic management is removed.
January 2020 Chipseal Programme
| Day of Week | Day of Month | Month | Site(s) |
| Thursday | 13 | Feburary | Exelby Rd |
| | |
| Silverdale Rd |
| |
| Hall Rd |
| | | | Nixon St |
| |
| | Grey St |