Quality quarried materials are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive across Western Australia, creating challenges for local governments responsible for constructing and maintaining road networks. This project will develop a practical, regionally focused guideline to help local government practitioners confidently source, evaluate and use marginal materials in road construction and maintenance. Drawing on existing research, industry consultation and real-world case studies, the project will provide guidance on material selection, performance considerations, construction practices, quality control and risk management, while recognising the unique geological and operational conditions across WA. The project aims to build local government capability, improve the performance and sustainability of road assets, reduce material transport costs, and support more effective use of locally available resources.
This LG TRRIP project will develop a practical factsheet for Western Australian local governments and industry practitioners, providing clear guidance on the purpose, selection and application of seal treatments used beneath asphalt wearing surfaces.
Crumb Rubber Modified Bitumen (CRMB) incorporates recycled tyre rubber into bitumen, delivering enhanced performance and sustainability benefits. CRMB has been successfully used in Australian road networks and globally, offering improved durability and resistance to cracking.
This project provides a catalogue of pavement profiles for asphalt and sprayed seal applications for a range of traffic volumes and subgrade CBR values. Local Governments practitioners will be able to use these to select profiles for design and construction, check designs provided by external parties and reference when investigating road failures.
LG TRRIP developed an asset management practitioners’ guideline for unsealed roads from a whole of life cost basis. It provides local government practitioners with guidance regarding when an unsealed road (or specific section of road) should be sealed due to several factors, including increased traffic.
Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) is a sustainable and cost-effective material that can be incorporated into asphalt mixes for local roads. RAP has been widely researched and successfully implemented by road authorities across Australia and internationally. Its use reduces reliance on virgin aggregates and bitumen, lowering environmental impact and project costs.
