The Queenstown Lakes District Council?s commitment to trial a new roading innovation on a challenging section of alpine road, has paid dividends, QLDC general manager utilities Mark Kunath said.

Hiway Stabilisers New Zealand Limited and Works Infrastructure were last night awarded the Shell Bitumen National Supreme Award for their joint project for the council on the rehabilitation of the Coronet Peak Road.

"It's extremely rewarding for the council to see our trial of a relatively new product called foamed bitumen recycling pavement has received the national recognition it deserves. We are delighted for the contractors concerned in this deserving win," Mr Kunath said.

The project, which was carried out in a challenging alpine environment above Queenstown, combined the skill of Works Infrastructure in draining, trimming and compaction, together with the stabilising technique developed by Hiway.

"The end product is designed to withstand temperatures ranging from minus 20 to 40 degrees Celsius. The application benefits to this community are obvious and the ongoing road quality of the Coronet Peak Road," Mr Kunath said.

In particular the Roading New Zealand Roading Excellence Awards judging panel credited the bitumen recycling element of the technique.

"It's certainly an application that has a number of benefits and one that we are already looking at implementing more widely in the Queenstown Lakes District," Mr Kunath said.

ENDS

For further information please contact Mark Kunath 03 441 0499

By: Sarah