Road infrastructure maintenance

The RTA Infrastructure Maintenance Program delivers economic benefits to the community via savings in vehicle operating costs through the provision of improved ride quality of pavements. This results in a reduction in fuel and oil consumption, vehicle maintenance, tyre wear and vehicle depreciation.

In allocating maintenance funds, the RTA gives priority to programs which:

• achieve the best overall return on maintenance investment (given that smoother roads cost more to provide, but offer savings to vehicle operators)
• provide community-wide benefits from reduced accidents and travel time
• reduce environmental impacts of road infrastructure maintenance.

The RTA is responsible for maintaining approximately 20,738 km of State Roads; 4,928 bridges and 9 car ferries. The bridges include major internationally recognised structures such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Anzac Bridge.

Federal funding is also allocated to maintain major routes under the AusLink National Network.

The RTA also provides financial assistance to local councils to manage about 18,500 km of Regional Roads and to a limited extent, local roads, through funding and other support.