Good progress is being made in Balranald to kick off 2025

INFRASTRUCTURE REPORT

Gravel construction works of a further 3.9-kilometre section of Marma Box Creek Road started early this month in the Balrandald Shire, with the section projected to be sealed this coming autumn.

On completion of this section, Marma Box Creek Road will be sealed all the way to the intersection with Magenta Wampo Road.

Heavy patching works of Balranald Ivanhoe Road will be continuing this month.

Heavy patching is used when large sections of the road are badly damaged or deformed.

Heavy patching explained:

A road is made up of three layers: the surface and two layers of foundation; the PAVEMENT the FORMATION or SUBGRADE.

During heavy patching, the damaged SURFACE is removed.

The PAVEMENT gravel is pulverised by road reclaimer machinery.

A binder is mixed into the pavement gravel for strength.

The pavement is then watered and re-compacted before a surface seal of either asphalt or sprayed seal is applied.

The binder being used on MR67 is called triple blend, which is a mixture of lime, cement and fly ash.

This binder strengthens the pavement, helping it to hold together, resist moisture and cope better with the demands of today’s larger, heavier traffic.

MAINTENANCE CREWS

Council’s maintenance crews have also been busy on MR67 with pothole patching.

They are doing an excellent job during the hot conditions.

They have also been busy installing and replacing guideposts on Council’s unsealed road network making the area safer for visitors and locals.

In addition, old, outdated road signs are being replaced new updated signage.

This will continue across the Shire until all signage has been updated with more compliant signs