Rockvale Road upgrade

Council identified the section of Rockvale Road near Boundary Creek for rehabilitation due to the slippery and steep road conditions during wet weather, which has restricted large B-double trucks from accessing livestock for transportation to markets.

Armidale Regional Council Administrator Dr Ian Tiley said it was important that Council continues to improve the rural arterial category roads.

“Good road access and maintenance is essential for people living and working in the more remote areas of the local government area,” Dr Tiley said.

“I inspected this project recently and was impressed with its scale and the commitment and energy of council staff completing the works.”

The project has included major earthworks to realign the road and road embankments up to the underside of the pavement. A substantial pavement has been laid for the 1.3 kilometres of road, and a final seal, construction of two pipe culverts for property access, and the construction of a 7.5 metre by 22 metre-long concrete causeway slab. Environmental works have also been completed.

“Council will continue to identify roads projects like this one that can be provided through programs like Fixing Country Roads,” Dr Tiley said. “Without the financial support of the NSW Government projects like this one would be far less likely to occur.” Work on 90 percent of the project is expected to be completed in August. A final seal with be applied to the pavement in the first half of 2017.

“This is one of several rural freight pinch-points in the Northern Tablelands electorate that have been fixed with funding from the NSW Government’s Restart NSW Fixing Country Roads program,” said local MP Adam Marshall.

“The $600,000 grant that Armidale Regional Council used to undertake the work, with $200,000 of Council’s own funds, is well spent.”

Council is also undertaking rehabilitation works along 900 metres of Rockvale Road, from Winter Irving Road to Pint Pot Bridge.