Forbes Shire Council is looking at a road work program five times its typical annual works after flooding - and that's only on major roads covered by the Transport for NSW contract.
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A report to the February council meeting, the first for the year, says there is more than $1 million worth of work to be done under the Transport for NSW road maintenance council contract.
That's in addition to local shire roads: 400 damage sites have been identified with less than 20 per cent of the road network inspected.
"Wide spread flood damage on the road network will take considerable resources and time to rectify," the report to councillors says.
"Summer storm events have only made the situation worse, with roads not damaged by the flooding late last year, being impacted by localised storm damage.
"Impassable roads or locations severely damaged are being made safe with temporary repairs.
"Flood damage data is currently being collected so that funding for repairs can be finalised."
Under the million-dollar Transport contract the council is undertaking heavy patching works on the Newell Highway, Escort Way, Lachlan Valley Way and Henry Parkes Way.
"Due to extensive pavement deterioration as a result of wet weather and flooding, the program size and budget is more than five times the size of a normal annual program," the report said.
Forbes Shire Mayor, Phylis Miller OAM, wants the community to know roads are Council's top priority in Council's 2022 workload.
"We hear the community's frustration with the condition of the roads currently but rest assured we are working as quickly as we can to remediate the situation," Mayor Miller said.
"Heavy patching is happening on our main arterial roads, the Newell Highway, Lachlan Valley Way, Henry Lawson Way, and The Escort Way with the next priority our regional roads.
"Local roads and gravel roads to follow after this.
"Patching the major potholes and making temporary repairs is how we are tackling the workload initially.
"We will then prioritise roads with the highest traffic volumes, and start re-construction and re-sheeting works on roads right across the Shire.
"Our assessment team is still collating all the information on the road conditions with nearly 2000km roads to assess it is a very large task to complete."
The council has asked for motorists' patience - and appeal to everyone to always drive to conditions.
"A flood can come and go quite quickly but the ramifications from it last for months and years afterward," Mayor Miller said.
The flooding also disrupted scheduled resealing programs in the urban area and on regional roads, the report to councillors said.
"These have been rescheduled to be completed late in February or in early March 2022," the report said.
"Preparation for the urban reseals has been undertaken, which includes the trimming of overhanging branches and pavement repairs."
There are also works under the NSW Road Maintenance Council Contract to be completed in February.
These include the resealing of the asphalt section on the northern entrance to Forbes and areas of the Lachlan Valley Way - travellers will have noticed the shoulders on curves have been widened in preparation.