FAQs

Tracking budgets is important to the success of any program or initiative. One way to evaluate an initiative’s health is to track the difference between the original plan and what is actually happening. This gap is better known as variance, a comparison of the intended or budgeted amount and the actual amount spent.

In order to maximize the dollars committed to the Roads Resurfacing program, Town Council approves the annual budget early in the year; thus, allowing for early tendering and favourable pricing. Thereafter every Winter a list of sections of the Towns roadways, along with proposed treatment options, is drawn up for works to be carried out during the up-and-coming construction season.

In real terms though, sometimes construction does not always work out as they were planned. This can impact in both directions: Favourable weather and material costs can have a positive influence, allowing us to complete more works than we originally thought, and, likewise, unforeseen issues can increase costs beyond what was anticipated, leading to less sections of road being completed. 

In either case, this is why the Town always emphasises that the list produced is not hard fact, but rather ‘tentative subject to cost variance’.

• Hot Mix Overlay – A new layer of asphalt is placed on top of the existing road. 
• Hot Mix Mill and Overlay – A portion of the existing asphalt road is milled off and a new layer of asphalt is placed on the milled surface.
• Surface Treatment (aka tar and chip sealing) – Asphalt emulsion is sprayed on top of the existing road surface or other base material and is coated with a fine aggregate. 

• The existing asphalt roads are pulverized and replaced with new asphalt.
• The existing asphalt roads are excavated and replaced with a new granular base and new asphalt.
• The existing surface treated roads are pulverized and replaced with new double surface treat emulsion and fine aggregate. It may also include a layer of recycled asphalt pavement.
• The existing surface is pulverized, graded and compacted with a dust suppressant application.