Has the Government estimated the cost, if any, to local authorities of any required pavement strengthening or rehabilitation on roads classified below Arterial level to accommodate the proposed higher weight limits; if so, what is that estimate for each region? and 5 other questions

Asked by

Tangi Utikere

Member for Palmerston North · Labour Party

• 17975

  Has the Government estimated the cost, if any, to local authorities of any required pavement strengthening or rehabilitation on roads classified below Arterial level to accommodate the proposed higher weight limits; if so, what is that estimate for each region?

• 17977

  What assessment, if any, has been made of the accelerated rutting, fatigue cracking, and edge-break damage to chipseal surfaces on local roads arising from the proposed heavier axle loads, given NZ Transport Agency research finding that the damage exponent for thin flexible pavements may be as high as the fifth power for fatigue cracking and the ninth power for pavements near their structural capacity?

• 17979

  What assessment, if any, has been made of the impact of higher vehicle weights on Secondary Collector and Access roads in rural areas, given that the majority of New Zealand's local road network consists of thin-surfaced chipseal pavements not designed for increased heavy vehicle loading?

• 17980

  What is the estimated total additional annual road maintenance and rehabilitation cost, if any, to the national roading network arising from the proposed weight limit increases, and how does that cost compare with any estimated fuel savings?

• 17982

  What is the Government's estimate, if any, of the per-kilometre increase in annual maintenance costs for each One Network Road Classification category — National, Regional, Arterial, Primary Collector, Secondary Collector, and Access — resulting from the proposed higher vehicle weight limits?

• 17989

  How much fuel per week, if any, is it estimated the proposed Vehicle Dimensions and Mass weight limit changes would save if implemented immediately?