Managing the state highway network

Specifying maintenance requirements

All our contracts for state highway maintenance work specify levels of service that must be achieved. These are expressed as either:

• response times to events, such as flooding or
• standards/intervention levels, such as how easy it is to read or see signs and paint lines, the height of the grass and the amount of roadside litter.

We also manage New Zealand's roading standards and guidelines on behalf of all 74 road-controlling authorities.

New Zealand's roading standards and guidelines(external link)

Monitoring maintenance costs and asset data

Through our maintenance contracts we collect information on the costs of maintenance per year and per kilometre. This is stored in the roading assessment and maintenance management AWM (Asset & Work Manager) database.

AWM (Asset & Work Manager) (external link)

The types of data held in AWM include:

• condition data – how rough the road is, its skid resistance under wet conditions, the strength of the pavement and defects such as cracks, rutting and flushing
• a register of the assets on the state highways such as road structure (surfacing and pavement layers), signs, railings, retaining walls and drains
• records of routine maintenance activities
• a plan of work for future maintenance of the roads.

Working with our consultants and contractors, we use this AWM information to identify the sections of the state highway network where we may have to do renewal and strengthening work. If it costs less to replace or strengthen the road than to continue maintaining it, the renewal work becomes a high priority.

Local authorities also use AWM to manage the inventory and maintenance of their networks. This has the advantage that a consistent national comparison and compilation of asset data and condition is possible. The Road Efficiency Group Te Ringa Maimoa (REG), a collaborative partnership between

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Local Government NZ and all road controlling authorities across New Zealand, supports asset management excellence across all road controlling authorities.

Road Efficiency Group Te Ringa Maimoa (REG)

Identifying maintenance locations

To describe locations along the highway for maintenance work, we use a distance-based reference station system. All highways have a nominated 'zero' point (for example, Cape Rēinga is the zero point for State Highway 1 in the North Island) and any point can be described using intermediary points called 'reference stations'.

For example, if you're travelling south on State Highway 1 in the North Island, you cross the Waikato River at Ātiamuri at 01N-664-0079 – that is, 79 metres past Reference Station 664, which is roughly 664 kilometres from the start point at Cape Rēinga.

Although we’re increasingly using spatial locations and GPS equipment in some areas, the distance-based reference station system is still a cost-effective, efficient and useful option.

The Location referencing management system (LRMS) manual (SM051) provides a one-stop shop for location referencing, including our locations system, the signs used and what they mean.

Location referencing management system (LRMS) manual (SM051)

Related links

• State highway maintenance wall planner
• Roading standards and guidelines(external link)