Traffic controllers and signs are in place to maintain a safe work zone. Temporary impacts you may experience:
- noise (minimal) from the street sweeper or construction vehicles
- possible temporary restricted access
Parking, access and detours
Will I be able to access my property?
You will always have access to your property, even if the area is signed as ‘road closed’. You may be asked to wait for 15 to 20 minutes while crews make the road safe to drive on, and they may need to escort you through the work zone. Detours will be in place for all other traffic.
We will notify you if local access will be fully closed for any length of time.
Please advise the contractor if there are occupants with health conditions that could require emergency response or healthcare services needing access. Traffic controllers will be made aware, and arrangements will be made.
The contractor contact details will be included on the second notice you will receive. These are sent out approximately one week before works begin. You can also contact our road communication team.
Where should I park my car?
Vehicles and / or trailers should not be parked in the work zone when resurfacing commences. Where possible, you will need to park your car on your driveway or on another nearby road. Please contact Council if that is not possible.
You will receive a notice with the start date and duration of the work approximately one week before works commence. Cars parked in the work zone will delay or prevent works from commencing or being completed. Any delays can be costly and are ultimately paid for by the rate payers. Please help us by moving your car and reminding your neighbours to move their vehicles as well. This will ensure the timely and efficient delivery of these vital works and reduce the overall impact on the community.
Will I have to detour around the work zone?
Detours are sometimes in place for through-traffic (motorist who are not accessing their residence). Electronic signs may be in place leading up to the work zone approximately 1 to 2 weeks before works begin. Detour signs will also notify residents of closures or detours. If a detour is in place, please follow signed directions and traffic controllers for your safety and the safety of crews.
Timing and duration
How will I be told about the works?
If you are a resident or business in the impacted area, you will receive a notification of works at least 4 weeks before those works commence. This notice will contain a general month range of when the package of works will occur, Council contact details, and a work zone map for your area.
You will receive a secondary notification of works from our contractor about 1 to 2 weeks before works begin in your area. This notice will include specific dates, contractor contact details, and a fact sheet about the resurfacing process.
While works are underway you may also see:
- ongoing signage at the work area
- electronic variable message signs (VMS) leading up to the work zone on some streets.
How long will it take?
Residents and businesses impacted by works will receive a notification of works with the anticipated work dates. The duration of works can vary and depend on factors such as how long the road is, and the type/complexity of the work required to resurface it.
For example, primary work on short sections or short streets could be completed within 1 to 2 shifts. However, for longer streets or areas that are heavily trafficked, works may have to be conducted in stages that could take a couple of weeks or more.
Occasionally, after works have started, the engineers uncover areas that require more repairs than previously anticipated. These types of issues may only become apparent after the wearing course (surface layer) has been profiled (removed).
If this occurs, contractors may require additional work shifts to complete works to ensure we are delivering a safe road for the community. You will be notified of works extending more than 5 days beyond the original completion date.
Will there be delays for weather?
Unavoidable or unforeseen circumstances can sometimes cause delays. Wet weather forecasts can delay work as new road surface must be constructed on a dry road base. Crews occasionally experience machinery or equipment breakdowns, or site conditions which temporarily prevent or delay the completion of works on the day. Local businesses and residents will be re-notified in the event of delays exceeding 5 days.
When leaving or returning to your home or business within a work zone, you may experience short delays of no more than 15 to 20 minutes. Crews must ensure the road is safe for you to drive on, and traffic controllers may escort you through the work zone.
When will line marking and other finishing works be completed?
Stage 3 finishing works will usually occur 1 to 2 weeks after Stage 2 works are complete. In some cases, it may take up to a month. Finishing works include things like line markings, reinstalling concrete splitters and rumble strips, setup of traffic signal loops and access to infrastructure pits and valves.
Line marking cannot be completed too soon after the seal or asphalt has been laid because it can cause the white paint to turn yellow or brown.
Why are some works at night or only during school holidays?
Some roads are more heavily trafficked than others, such as streets nearby to schools and main roads. To help minimise community impact, we only allow works during certain hours or days in those areas.
There are different work hour restrictions for different roads. We typically do night works on roads that receive heavy traffic during the day, or to reduce impacts on business activity. Some roads have works scheduled during school holidays to avoid impacting student drop-off and pickup times.
Process and street selection
Why are these works happening?
Resurfacing roads is like painting your house – it protects and waterproofs it from the elements to keep it in good working order. When that surface layer starts to deteriorate, it needs to be repaired and maintained to ensure the more vulnerable lower layers are protected, keeping our roads safe and driveable.
My street looks alright. Why is it being resurfaced?
Your street has been inspected by our engineers and has been identified as requiring repairs.
Although a road may look fine, over time the surface deteriorates. Small cracks allow water to get under the road surface. If left untreated, potholes or more serious damage can occur. This can happen rapidly, especially in significant weather events.
Sometimes the softer lower layers may shift or move too. This can occur in places that see both wet and dry periods, where the ground can expand when it absorbs water, and contract when it begins to dry. The surface layer is much more rigid, and this movement can cause cracking or failures that are not yet visible on the road.
Resurfacing prevents further damage and more costly repairs later on.
How are streets selected to be part of the resurfacing program?
We consider all roads. Our road planning and traffic engineers use computer-aided technology to help select and prioritise streets that need resurfacing. They consider things like:
- traffic volume
- type of vehicle use
- road hierarchy
- existing and predicted condition of the road
- funding availability.
An inspection of the street then confirms if repairs and treatments are required.
Finally, the streets are put forward for endorsement to the Logan City Council Infrastructure Committee. This is known as a Statement of Intent (SOI). The committee must endorse the roads for inclusion in the SOI packages (the list of streets to be resurfaced). Endorsement of the roads can happen up to 3 years before the works take place.
Should a road become more damaged or deteriorate before it is scheduled to be resurfaced, teams can reinspect areas to ensure that roads remain safe to drive on, or if it requires more urgent repairs.
Can I suggest a change to the road or line markings?
We require contractors to complete works as ‘like for like’. You can suggest a new change by contacting us. We will pass your ideas on to our road planning or traffic team for review. We cannot guarantee when or if a proposed change will occur as it may not be possible to action during current works.
How often will you do resurfacing on my street?
Road resurfacing on a street typically takes place every 7 to 14 years. Busier roads may need more frequent resurfacing while a quiet cul-de-sac may need less.
What are the types of resurfacing treatments?
The two most common types of surfacing are:
- Spray seals – a film of bitumen we spray on the road and cover with aggregate.
- Asphalt – a bitumen-based concrete-like mixture of stone and bitumen.
The treatments we use depends on the condition and composition of the road, the traffic volume, and the desired design life.
After works have occurred
Why do I have loose stones on my street?
After a road is spray sealed, it may seem as though there is a bit of loose stone left over. This is normal and a part of the process.
To spray seal a road, a layer of aggregate (loose stone) is laid over a film of hot bitumen (a glue-like binder). This combination creates a harden wearing course on the surface of the road. Some stones may not immediately compact down into the bitumen, and these can be moved around by traffic. This could create the appearance of more loose aggregate than there really is.
After the spray seal is laid and has cured enough for a heavier vehicle, the contractor will return with a specialised street sweeper. This sweeper cannot return too soon after works or it will damage the new treatment. After the sweeper has cleaned the area, any loose stone that remains will compact down over time and become embedded in the road surface as cars drive over it. This will create a smoother surface the more cars drive over it.
However, roads treated with asphalt should not have loose stones remaining after work is finished.
If construction debris is left on the verge in front of your property after works take place, please contact us to let us know.
How can I avoid black marks on my driveway?
Roads treated with bitumen need time to cure and harden. On spray sealed roads, hot days can soften the road and turn over stones, exposing bitumen. To avoid track marks, enter and exit your driveway using a gentle turn at a slow speed.
Why is there sand on my driveway?
Workers may place sand on concrete driveways to protect them from bitumen over-spray. The sand should wash away with water. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us.
Emergencies, property, and environment
What if I have an emergency and I need access to my house during the works?
If you have an emergency, please speak with one of our traffic controllers who will assist you.
What if I have an allergy?
If you are allergic to petroleum-based products such as bitumen, kerosene and diesel, please speak with our contractor. They will be able to give you more information about the exact timing and nature of the work near your property. You can close your windows and stay inside or consider being elsewhere while the vital work is undertaken.
How will this affect my pets?
On working days, please take extra care to secure your pet. If your pet has an allergy, keep them inside with the windows closed and / or consider keep them away from the works.
If your pet walks in bitumen, please let the onsite contractor know. It can be removed with baby oil or a citrus based solvent and then washed with warm soapy water.
I have bitumen on my car, how do I get it off?
Please let the onsite contractor know if this has happened to you. They can suggest methods to help you clean your vehicle.
My property has been damaged by the works. What do I do?
Please let the onsite contractor know if this has happened to you.
Contact us
For more information about road resurfacing works, call us on 07 3412 3412 or email roadcomms@logan.qld.gov.au.
