Unsealed Roads
Cassowary Coast Regional Council is responsible for maintaining over 514 km of unsealed roads and has annual budgets of approximately $1.8 million dedicated to unsealed road re-sheeting and 1.6 million on maintenance grading. Unsealed roads are a highly dynamic asset as the condition of the road can change rapidly due to traffic movement, weather, and variability in terrain. Soil types and gravels also add to the complexity of maintaining unsealed roads.
Council has four grading crews that are used for maintenance grading, re-sheeting, and road reconstruction works. We also regularly hire contractors to supplement our fleet.
Council generate an "Unsealed Road Report" each week based on the routine inspections and maintenance grading that occurred during the period. It is advised that all roads listed or not listed within the report may not have been inspected at the time of this release and conditions are constantly changing.
Unsealead road repairs:
- Potholes
- Blocked drainage
- Blocked inlets and outlets (culverts)
- Scours
- Corrugations
- Loss of gravel due to water overtopping
Prepare the following before you report
- The location of the issue – near which intersection/landmark.
- Whereabouts on the road - edge, shoulder, centre, runs the width / length of the road?
- The date and time of when the issue occurred.
- Other details that will assist us with your specific issue.
Grading Process
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Grader
The Grader's purpose is to shape the road and mix the material as it is laid.
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Water Truck
The Water Truck sprays water on the road to allow the material to be compacted.
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Roller
The Roller – compacts the material and provides a smooth running surface
Key Unsealed Road Information
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The main purpose of a maintenance grade is to provide a good running-surface and to reform cross fall in the road so that water runs off and does not pool or cause scouring and potholing. This process includes the use of a grader, roller and water truck. If the road is too wet, the grader can cause more damage to the road. On these occasions, it is beneficial for the grader to leave the road unfinished, though in a safe and passable condition and return once the weather permits.
Council also generally only grades roads when grading is required. This means that when we are in an area, we only work on the roads that have reached intervention levels for maintenance. Grading roads that don’t require grading, just because we are in an area, is not efficient nor cost effective and prevents the grader from moving to other roads that require intervention.
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Over time, unsealed roads become corrugated, potholed, rough, muddy and/or dusty. All of these are normal and unavoidable conditions that change often, and drivers must remain vigilant when driving on unsealed roads, i.e. travel at lower speeds and expect the unexpected.
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Cassowary Coast Regional Council’s routine inspection frequency on our unsealed roads is based on the road class as highlighted in the table below could be table below. During an inspection, the roughness, and ultimately the safe driving speed of the road. A visual inspection is undertaken to identify any defects/hazards. This information is used to determine if the road has met the intervention level for maintenance grading and/or if isolated gravel patching is required.
To get an accurate reading of the roughness it is essential for the inspector to maintain a constant speed along the entire length of road being recorded. If you see the inspection vehicle, please give way to allow the inspection to be completed.
The factors that are used to determine if a road is to be re-sheeted include gravel depth, road profile and the cost of maintenance spent over the last few years. Re-sheeting is generally undertaken where it will provide the greatest reduction in maintenance.
ROAD CLASS INSPECTION FREQUENCY HIERARCHY RISK A 6 Weekly High B 8 Weekly Medium C 3 Monthly Medium D 4 Monthly Low E Half Yearly Low F Yearly Low -
To help in managing its unsealed road network, Council has divided its roads into segments. Each unsealed road segment is classified into a road class based on criteria that dictate the level of service that the road provides to the community. This also forms a risk-based approach to maintenance which allows Council to prioritise works according to the risk profile. Roads that are used at a higher frequency generally deteriorate quicker and therefore require intervention more frequently.
ROAD CLASS ESTIMATED AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC (ADT) SERVICE (GUIDE) FUNCTION NETWORK LENGTH UNSEALED ROAD NETWORK A >120 ADT >15 houses Major movements between population centres
Part of the primary network11.77KM 2.24% B 75 - 120 ADT 11 - 15 houses
May have less houses but connects to other roads >500ha bananasRoads that link to primary network
Connecting local centres30.025km 5.71% C 40 - 75 ADT 7 - 10 houses
>1 industry
>250ha bananasMinimum standard for school buses
Minor roads
May have packing sheds and farms135.364km 25.73% D 20 - 40 ADT 2 - 6 houses
1 industry
>100ha bananasProvides access to low use areas (e.g. boat ramps) Minimum standard access to National Parks 170.13km 32.34% E 8 - 20 ADT 1 - 2 houses
Small industry
>50ha bananasProvides access to properties Only 1-2 residences
Very low use Access to minor tourism site112.34km 21.35% F <8 ADT 0 houses
Very small to no industryUsed for infrequent recreation May provide access to rivers or paddocks 4WD tracks 66.489km 12.64%
Re-Sheeting Program
Council is responsible for maintaining over 514 km of unsealed roads and will resheet up to 17 km of unsealed roads this year.
Council officers inspect the unsealed road network across the region and perform an assessment on the road based on the frequency and type of vehicles using the road, grading history, gravel condition, and how the road services the greater network. This assessment allows Council to prioritise its resources to ensure the roads are effectively repaired and maintained.
The re-sheeting process involves applying an additional 100-150mm of compacted gravel on top of the existing road, drainage maintenance, and repairing any other roadside infrastructure such as signs and guideposts. Council uses machinery including graders, water trucks, and various types of compaction equipment to carry out these works.
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Please see below the list of roads and suburbs scheduled to receive re-sheeting.
Please note: Only sections of these roads will be re-sheeted, and all roads may not be fully completed in 2023/2024 due to resources and weather.
Council would like to advise the community and residents to drive responsibly and safely on unsealed roads while work is carried out. We ask that you allow some extra travel time and obey all onsite road signage.
Road Name
Suburb
Midgereebar Road
Bingil Bay
Ranch Road
Davidson
Tea Plantation Road
Jarra
Barretts Lagoon Road
Rockingham
South Davidson Road
Davidson
Rankin Road
Palmerston
Patrick Road
Palmerston
Evered Road
Wangan
Granadilla Road
El Arish
Jones Road
El Arish
Newman Road
Cowley
Silvio Road
Mourilyan
Tanner Road
Kurrimine
Waldock Road
Kurrimine
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF UNSEALED ROADS
They will be rough and muddy or dusty at times; does the road really need grading now?
DRIVE TO SUIT THE CONDITIONS
Drivers are responsible for their own safety and that of other users of the road. If a road is known to be rough or muddy, drive at an appropriate speed.
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
Never assume an unsealed road is going to be the same as it was the last time you drove on it, even if it is the same day.
Unsealed Roads Resources
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