Pothole Management Program Boosts Circular Economy

Did you know the City of Greater Geelong is responsible for an extensive network of streets and roads including more than 2,040 kilometres of sealed streets and more than 330 kilometres of unsealed roads?

Our road management program uses sustainable materials and practices that reduce waste and support a circular economy. For instance, each year at our depots a crushing machine recycles about 12,500 tonnes of waste asphalt from our road and construction projects, transforming it into road base for future use.

The City has three grader crews working year-round, with inspectors proactively checking roads for issues in addition to responding to notifications from the community.

The City fixed 5,814 potholes in the 2023–2024 financial year.

On average, pothole repairs are completed within our Road Management Plan target response time 85% of the time for sealed roads and 88% of the time for unsealed roads.

We maintain a regular grading program for unsealed roads, ensuring they stay in good condition. When pothole repairs are reported, we prioritise them based on our Road Management Plan intervention levels, responding as quickly as possible.

The biggest contributor to road defects is rain, which seeps into the road through a small hole or crack in the asphalt and then causes the foundation to weaken and shift. Traffic on wet roads increases the amount of water seeping into minor cracks on the road network and creating potholes.

Roads throughout Greater Geelong are managed by three road authorities: VicRoads, Regional Roads Victoria and the City of Greater Geelong.

While we proactively inspect our roads, Geelong residents are encouraged to report potholes and other road issues to help us to prioritise our work.

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