Council’s roading contractors are turning their attention to winter jobs, including shingle road maintenance and high-pressure water cutting on some sealed roads around the district.

Infrastructure and Open Spaces Group Manager Neil McCann said repairs and reconstruction of sealed roads happened in warmer months.

“Now our contractors are re-shingling our unsealed roads where needed, as well as doing some general maintenance.”

Several sites around the sealed network are programmed for water cutting in the next month, to improve the road surface.

“That work involves using a high pressure water treatment to remove excess bitumen from the surface to improve skid resistance.”

Council’s roading network includes some 1102km of unsealed or shingle roads and these can be tricky for inexperienced drivers at any time of the year.

Mr McCann said it is important to lower your speed on shingle roads, especially at corners, to make it easier for drivers to react to the unexpected.

“The shingle is also usually thicker on the shoulder of the road and the slope can pull you towards the edge. If your car skids, don’t overreact and hit the brakes – steer in the direction you are travelling, and when you’ve recovered adjust your speed.”

Winter driving also includes hazards like black ice, icy roads shaded by trees and sun strike.

“While modern cars come with lots of safety features, the most critical element is the driver behind the wheel. You should always drive to the conditions and allow greater following distances on frosty and wet days.

“We do our best to keep the network as safe as possible, but drivers need to play their part too.”

Another hazard is a frosty windscreen and Council has free ice scrapers available at its Customer Services counter.