Road rehabilitation


Current update

Road rehabilitation works for the Kings Highway and Monaro Highway are out to tender (more details below). Once the tender process is complete, this page will be updated ahead of work commencing.

Page last reviewed 21 Jan 2025

Roads ACT manages road pavements in the ACT. The road network is approximately 5,900 lane kilometres in length and about 20 million square metres in area.

Road pavements deteriorate over time due to the impact of traffic, heavy vehicles and environmental factors.

As the road surface wears and ages, small cracks develop in the pavement. This allows water to enter the underlying surface. Water infiltration, combined with the continual stress from traffic, weakens the pavement. This can result in potholes, major cracks, pavement deformation and ultimately road failure.

Pavement rehabilitation involves removing and replacing all road material. This work has been completed at sites across Canberra, including:

  • David Walsh Avenue
  • Isabella Drive
  • Northbourne Avenue.

Construction

  • Sulwood Drive (Athllon Drive to Tuggeranong Parkway), Kambah
  • Beltana Road, Pialligo
  • Monaro Highway (Hindmarsh Drive to north of David Warren Road), Symonston
  • Kuringa Drive (Tillyard Drive to Owen Dixon Drive), Spence
  • Kings Highway (Headquarters Joint Operations Command roundabout to NSW border), Kowen.
  • Pialligo Avenue (Molonglo Drive to NSW border), Majura
  • William Hovell Drive
  • Gungahlin Drive (Well Station Drive to Barton Highway), Mitchell.

Foam bitumen stabilisation

Throughout our rehabilitation program we are looking to use more environmentally sustainable products. We were the first jurisdiction in Australia to use foam bitumen stabilisation for this kind of work.

In this process, asphalt millings are sent to the asphalt plant and returned with the first layer of recycled asphalt. The remainder of the millings are mixed with the existing pavement layers below and stabilised with foam bitumen and lime. Once the work is complete, the recycled asphalt is placed followed by the final layer of road surface. This is a sustainable process where no materials are wasted.

We have used this on 2 sections of Northbourne Avenue and on David Walsh Avenue in Forde. See the completed projects page for more information about these projects.

Watch the video for more information.

Previous work

For information on previously completed projects, visit completed road rehabilitation upgrades.

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.

To see how we are building stronger relationships with the Traditional Custodians of the ACT view the Reconciliation Action Plan.