Road resealing
We carry out road resealing as part of our annual road resurfacing program across the Tweed. This is usually completed between September and April and at other times when needed.
Resealing keeps our roads safe, reduces long term costs and helps prevent major reconstruction in the future.
What is road resealing?
Road resealing is a preventative treatment that extends the life of bitumen roads. A thin layer of hot bitumen is sprayed over the road and covered with stone. This seals the road against water and sun damage and restores a textured surface for tyres to grip.
Because resealing relies on warm conditions to help the stone bond, most works are scheduled for spring and summer. Once the treatment is complete, vehicles can usually drive on the road the same day.
Why reseal roads?
Like repainting a house protects timber, resealing protects the road surface. Without it, roads become brittle, slippery and more likely to crack or form potholes.
Resealing:
- improves skid resistance and road safety
- protects the underlying structure from damage
- saves money by avoiding costly reconstruction
- causes less disruption than major roadworks.
How is road resealing done?
Resealing is carried out in short sections under traffic control. Crews move steadily along the road, repeating the process section by section until the work is complete.
Here’s what’s involved:
- Cleaning the surface – Crews broom/sweep the road clear of dirt and debris. If the surface isn’t clean, the bitumen binder won’t stick properly.
- Spraying the binder (bitumen) – A layer of hot bitumen is sprayed across the road. During this stage, traffic in both directions may be held for several minutes to prevent vehicles driving through fresh binder or overspray (especially in windy conditions).
- Spreading stone – Crushed stone is spread over the hot binder. This stops tyres from sticking to the bitumen and provides the textured driving surface. In cooler weather, the stone must be applied quickly before the binder cools.
- Rolling the stone – Heavy rollers press the stone into the binder so it locks into place. This stage makes the surface safe for vehicles to use.
- Reopening the road – Once the section is finished, traffic control allows vehicles through. Crews then move on and set up the next section. Safety is our priority – please do not drive or walk on the road while work is underway without approval from onsite crews.
Because resealing is done in moving sections, motorists may be stopped briefly, released and then managed again further down the road.
What does road resealing involve?
Resealing a road involves the spraying of a layer of hot bitumen and adding stone to the surface. This provides waterproofing of the underlying pavement and a wearing surface for vehicle tyres to travel on.
Bitumen resealing needs to be carried out in warmer weather conditions to help the stones grip to the bitumen. Once the treatment has been fully applied vehicles can drive over the road that same day.
Please do not attempt to drive a vehicle or walk on the road while the works are being performed without first obtaining approval to do so from onsite crews.
What can motorists expect during road resealing?
- Traffic delays: Lane closures are in place while works are underway. On wider roads this usually means short delays. On narrower rural roads, where the full width is sprayed in one pass, motorists may be stopped for up to 15 minutes until the surface is safe to drive on.
- Changing conditions: Expect stop/slow traffic control as crews move along the road. Delays depend on traffic volumes, weather and road width.
- Preparation works: Some roads may need patching, edge repairs, shoulder cleaning or tree trimming before resealing begins.
Your patience helps us deliver smoother, safer roads across the Tweed.
Which roads are being resealed?
We publish details of all current and upcoming resealing works on our roadworks and closures page at tweed.nsw.gov.au/roadworks.
The resealing program is also identified in Delivery Plan at tweed.nsw.gov.au/planning-reporting-to-community#delivery-program, which sets out the works and services we provide for the community each year.
Who do I contact if there’s an issue?
If you notice an issue during the works (such as access problems or safety concerns) or after resealing (such as loose stone build-up, potholes or pooling water), please let us know:
More information
To learn more about how we build, upgrade and maintain a safe and connected local road network, including how we prioritise road maintenance projects, visit our roads page.
Stay up to date with what's happening on our roads visit our roadworks and closures page.
Download our print-friendly fact sheet(PDF, 352KB) on road resealing.