The commencement of major heavy road works on Cootamundra’s heavy vehicle bypass, Hovell Street will start from 10 March 2025 with the closure of the Campbell Street, between Sutton and Hovell Streets, as Stage 1 of the upgrade project begins.
Hovell Street has been identified as a critical thoroughfare for heavy vehicle movements within Cootamundra, and the road surface has deteriorated significantly with the increase of these movements over the years.
Notices will be issued to residents and businesses along Hovell Street as the project progresses advising of road closures, partial road closures and any disruptions to property access.
The Hovell Street upgrade project has seen a considerable amount of preliminary work undertaken with service locations such as gas, water, sewer main, and telecommunication cables identified and marked. Survey works have been ongoing to identify and map out the physical features of the street area including boundaries, elevations, contours and storm water flow.
The current road pavement consists of natural pit gravel, completed with a two-coat seal, a traditional pavement method used for urban streets. However, with the increase in vehicle traffic and type of vehicles using the street this road surface can no longer stand up to the demands placed on it by those increases.
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (CGRC), with the assistance of Geotechnical Engineers and Road Pavement Designers, CGRC have decided on a plan that will increase the design life of the road pavement from 25 years to 100 years. Using a design that consists of 470mm thick road base material and capping with a wearing course of 40mm asphalt. This design is an investment into the long-term maintenance and repair issues associated with the street and with heavy vehicle movements expected to increase and will cut costs significantly for ratepayers over the long term.
Regular road maintenance programs should be limited to repairs and maintenance of the road surface, whilst the foundation pavement stays intact.
The street will also receive new kerb and guttering to alleviate road damage.
To stay up to date with the Hovell Street Upgrade Project please visit the CGRC website and follow this link:
HOVELL STREET UPGRADE PROJECT – COOTAMUNDRA – Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council
Picture and caption:
Stage 1 of the Hovell Street Cootamundra Upgrade project will see the closure of Campbell Street, between Sutton and Hovell Streets from 10 March until 28 March, weather permitting. Detours will be in place advising alternate route.
