Roads foreman outlines grading, chloride and material choices for Tunbridge roads

The board heard a detailed operational update from the town's roads staff (S2) about grading, material choices and dust-control practices. S2 said the town typically grades roads and applies chloride treatments about twice a year to set surfaces and reduce dust; S2 also noted experiments with different magnesium versus calcium products and ongoing efforts to reduce the price of granite used for repairs.

S2 warned that deep rework ("scratching") exposes fresh material and that no amount of chloride can permanently eliminate dust unless the surface is fully reworked and compacted. The board discussed grader strike depths, pothole patterns and the timing of flag removal; members also raised vehicle procurement timelines and the condition of bridges. "We usually have chloride at least twice a year because we try to get at least everything graded twice," S2 said when explaining the town's maintenance rhythm. The board asked staff to return with specific cost estimates for truck configurations and replacement timing.