Council has said that it plans to go out to tender for the sealing of the Towamba-Burragate Road in September, with the result to be considered at the council meeting on October 28.
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However there is a risk that the $10m funding for the road, announced by Bega MP Andrew Constance in January 2019, will not be sufficient to seal the 25kms of currently unsealed road.
In a response to a question from Cr Kristy McBain, council's director of assets and operations Anthony McMahon said there was community expectation that all the unsealed sections of the Towamba and Burragate Roads would be sealed as a result of this project.
"It has become apparent that there is a risk this may not be achievable for the full length, within the current funding, if the minimum design and safety standards specified in the AUSTROADS design standards are to be met," Mr McMahon said.
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"During the site investigation phase, it became apparent that meeting these guidelines would have budgetary impacts due to the site terrain, topography and narrow road corridor to deliver on all of the project outcomes," he said.
Mr McMahon explained that simply just sealing the existing gravel road formation would not meet the requirements of the funding deed and experience had shown that simply sealing the road invariably results in many drivers driving faster.
The project funding was based upon the stipulation that the upgrade is to include road sealing and resealing, pavement stabilisation, new guardrails and drainage works and improve the safety and drivability on the roads.
The Towamba Road has a number of fairly sharp bends and sections where the road falls away quite steeply to one side. It's condition has been exacerbated by the bushfires.
Council staff are working with GHD Pty Ltd which was commissioned by council to provide project management, site investigation and design services for the project. However the combination of the state of the road, the bushfires and the minimum road design requirements needed to fulfil the funding conditions has meant $10m may not be enough.
"To mitigate this risk and ensure as much as possible can be achieved it is intended to go to tender to seal the full length of road with a separable section and schedules of rates that could be used if required to vary the scope of what's delivered but still deliver as much as achievable if there is a final funding shortfall," Mr McMahon said.
