Opus wins $3m project to waterproof NZ roads

Opus International Consultants (Opus) has been awarded $3 million by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment to undertake a research project to reduce annual maintenance and construction costs to water damaged roads.

The funding, over four years, will enable a team of researchers from Opus Research, the University of Auckland and the Australian ARRB Group to create and test a type of impermeable membrane that will prevent water from entering gravel layers and causing damage. The group will also look at ways to modify chip seals so there's less chance of them being damaged by water.

Opus Research Leader Peter Benfell says New Zealand’s road network is highly susceptible to water damage with more than 90% constructed from chip seal construction and new road surfacing technologies have good potential to extend the life of New Zealand’s roads and save the government millions over the next decade.

"New Zealand’s economic growth, travel safety and social wellbeing is absolutely dependent on maintaining a high quality road transport network. The government spends about $1.3 billion a year on road maintenance and up to a third of that is caused by water damage. Within 10 years, the success of this research could save the country as much as $80 million dollars a year," said Mr Benfell.

The project has strong support from the NZ Transport Agency and senior construction industry leaders will also be part of the project team. Opus hopes that the research will lead to a new industry standard for road surfaces in New Zealand and overseas.

"Opus is proud to be working alongside other research and industry leaders. These new products could generate export revenues for New Zealand and reduce domestic road construction and maintenance costs to free up resources that the transport agency could use to further optimise and modernise the road network." added Mr Benfell.