Swan Hill Rural City Council has commenced significant road maintenance works across the municipality, with crack sealing recently completed and the annual resealing program set to begin shortly.
Director Infrastructure, Leah Johnston, said the works demonstrate Council's continued investment in maintaining a safe, reliable and sustainable road network for residents and visitors.
"These preventative maintenance programs are essential to ensuring our roads remain safe and efficient for everyone who uses them," Ms Johnston said.
The crack sealing program has now been completed across 18 roads in Robinvale, Swan Hill, Tyntynder, Manangatang and Wemen, with 56,505 lineal metres of cracks sealed.
"Crack sealing may not always be highly visible to the community, but it plays a critical role in preserving our road network.
"By sealing cracks early, we prevent water from entering the pavement layers, which is the leading cause of road failure," Ms Johnston said.
She explained that without early intervention, minor surface cracking can quickly escalate into major pavement damage requiring costly reconstruction.
"Preventative maintenance like crack sealing significantly extends the life of our roads by several years and delays the need for full reconstruction, which is far more disruptive and expensive," she said.
With preparatory works now complete, Council's resealing program is scheduled to commence this month and be finalised in March. More than 250,000 square metres of road surface will be resealed during this period.
"Our resealing program builds on the crack sealing works and provides an added layer of protection to the pavement.
"Together, these treatments strengthen the road surface, improve safety and ensure long-term value for our community," Ms Johnston said.
In addition to pavement treatments, contractors have undertaken roadside tree and vegetation pruning to improve visibility, safety and overall road longevity.
The program has also delivered positive environmental outcomes. The crack sealing material used in this year's works incorporates recycled tyres, diverting the equivalent of 24 tyres from landfill.
"We are proud that our maintenance practices not only improve road safety but also contribute to sustainability outcomes.
"Extending the life of our pavements reduces the need for carbon-intensive reconstruction works," Ms Johnston said.
By prolonging pavement life, the program achieved measurable carbon emission savings equivalent to removing tens of thousands of kilograms of CO₂ from the environment or planting approximately 1,069 trees.
Council appreciates the community's patience during these works and reminds motorists to observe all traffic management signage to ensure the safety of road users and work crews.
