Selwyn District Council asset manager transportation Andrew Mazey said in his monthly report to district councillors at their fortnightly meeting that escalating costs around roading activity, mostly related to bitumen, were starting to become evident in claims from contractors and prices for projects.
The rising costs are expected to become a national affordability issue for road control authorities.
The increases would have a “considerable impact” on the district council’s roading maintenance programme going forward, particularly for bitumen-related works.
“The conservative estimate for the 2021/22 escalation cost is $1.2 million,” Mazey said.
To accommodate this, resurfacing in the district has been cut back from 75km to 60km and the sealed pavement rehabilitation programme reduced from five sites to three.
General maintenance work would also have to be reduced.
“When coupled with the continued under-investment in roading maintenance and renewals, this will have a significant effect,” Mazey said.