RoadWatch: Roundup

June 2026

Welcome to our monthly Austroads RoadWatch: Roundup for June. Discover our latest news, published reports, Guide updates, webinars and events.

Updating pavement technologies across Australia and New Zealand

Austroads has updated its Guide to Pavement Technology Part 4K: Selection and Design of Sprayed Seals, with Edition 1.4 introducing targeted improvements to support more reliable, cost-effective road sealing across Australia and New Zealand.

Ongoing changes in traffic loads, pavement structures and materials have driven the need for timely updates to ensure the Guide remains fit for purpose. Earlier this year, Austroads published AP‑T384‑26: Technical Basis for the Update of the AGPT, which identified priority areas to refine sprayed seal design methods and provided the technical foundation for this update.

Edition 1.4 incorporates findings from that technical report, along with insights from workshops held across Australia and New Zealand and a targeted literature review involving industry practitioners.
The update introduces practical improvements that can be implemented immediately, alongside areas identified for further research. Key changes include:

• corrected ‘seal’ definitions and updated technical figures
• removal and standardisation of certain treatment types and binder classifications
• expanded guidance on binder selection, including new advice for S9R/S9RF binders
• improved guidance for geotextile reinforced seals, including binder retention considerations
• simplification of design methods through the removal of the Average Least Dimension (ALD) nomograph option

“The goal is to align the Guide with modern practices, the current operating environment, and evolving selection criteria, and to develop strategies that would allow the Australian and New Zealand design methods to be integrated,” said Austroads Transport Infrastructure Program Manager Ross Guppy.

Read more | Watch the webinar
Download AP‑T384‑26: Technical Basis for the Update of the AGPT
Download Guide to Pavement Technology Part 4K, Edition 1.4 (February 2026)

Austroads updates national Guide to Temporary Traffic Management to strengthen roadwork safety and consistency

Austroads has released updated editions of nine parts of the Guide to Temporary Traffic Management (AGTTM), a key resource underpinning the planning, design and implementation of temporary traffic management practice across Australia.

Used by road agencies, contractors and practitioners working in and around roadworks, the AGTTM provides a structured framework for delivering safe and efficient temporary traffic management, supporting compliance with legislative obligations and promoting greater consistency across jurisdictions.

Patsy Thomas, National Temporary Traffic Management Operations Manager, said the Guide provides a shared foundation for temporary traffic management across the country, helping practitioners, road agencies and project teams work from a consistent set of principles regardless of where they operate.

Upcoming webinars

To support implementation, Austroads will host a series of free webinars to help practitioners understand the updates and how they apply in practice. Participants who register will receive recordings after the session. Register below.

Download the Guide

The updated editions cover Parts 1 to 7, 9 and 10 of the AGTTM. Key changes include revised requirements for traffic management planning, enhanced guidance for different worksite types, additional direction on supervision during training, and expanded material on temporary traffic management assurance practices. Amendments to sample layouts and other refinements have also been made to improve usability for practitioners.

Guide parts

• Part 1: Introduction
• Part 2: Traffic Management Planning
• Part 3: Static Worksites
• Part 4: Mobile Works
• Part 5: Short Term Low Impact Worksites
• Part 6: Field Staff – Implementation and Operation
• Part 7: Traffic Controllers
• Part 8: Temporary Traffic Management Categories and the National Training Framework
• Part 9: Sample Layouts
• Part 10: Supporting Guidance

A supporting report is also available, providing a comprehensive record of the content and referencing changes made across Parts 1 to 7, Part 9 and Part 10. It offers a single, detailed source for users seeking to understand the full scope of updates introduced in this release.

Read more | Download all parts

Have your say on the review of the Assessing Fitness to Drive Standards

The National Transport Commission (NTC) has commenced the 2026–2028 review of Assessing Fitness to Drive (the Standards).

Developed in consultation with health professionals, licensing authorities, road safety experts, as well as industry and community stakeholders, the Standards help ensure decisions about health and licensing are fair, consistent and evidence based. The Standards are reviewed regularly to ensure they remain current and fit for purpose.

Austroads plays a key role in supporting the development, publication and ongoing maintenance of the Standards on behalf of its member agencies, and is encouraging stakeholders across Australia and New Zealand to contribute to this process, given the importance of the Standards in supporting consistent approaches across jurisdictions.

Initial consultation is now underway to help identify key issues, opportunities for improvement and evidence to inform potential changes to the Standards.

The NTC is currently seeking submissions on:

• issues relevant to the review, including opportunities for improvement
• implementation challenges
• emerging evidence and areas requiring further investigation

Feedback received during this consultation will help inform the next stage of the review.

Stakeholders are invited to provide a submission via the NTC website before Friday, 17 July 2026.

Read more 

XXVIII World Road Congress call for papers

The XXVIII PIARC World Road Congress will be held in Vancouver in 2027. The call for papers is now open, with abstract submissions closing on 31 August 2026.

Austroads is an active member of the World Road Association (PIARC), contributing technical expertise through its participation in PIARC committees and supporting the exchange of knowledge across international road agencies.

The Australia and New Zealand National Committee invites authors from member organisations, partner agencies, industry and academia to submit papers through PIARC’s international process. This is an opportunity to showcase practical experience, applied research, policy development and innovation, and to contribute to the global exchange of knowledge on roads and road transport.

The national competition provides a pathway for strong Australian and New Zealand papers to be recognised locally and, where applicable, nominated for the international PIARC Prize Competition.

Submission process:

• Step 1: Submit abstracts via PIARC (closes 31 August 2026)
• Step 2: Successful authors notified in November 2026; full papers due by 31 January 2027
• Step 3: Papers reviewed by the Australia and New Zealand National Committee (February–May 2027), with top papers nominated for PIARC prizes

The winner of the Australia and New Zealand National Competition is likely to be supported to attend the Congress. For international PIARC Prize winners, one co-author may receive registration, travel and accommodation support.

Papers must be original, technical in nature, and not promotional.

The Prize Competition spans 10 categories, including road safety, sustainability, resilience, innovation and future workforce talent.

Learn more and submit abstract
Learn more about the Vancouver World Road Congress

PIARC Australia & New Zealand National Committee Newsletter

The latest edition of the PIARC Australia & New Zealand National Committee newsletter has been released, providing updates on international PIARC activities and contributions from the Australian and New Zealand road transport sectors.

This edition covers key topics including major technical reports, leadership updates, outcomes from recent executive committee meetings, and planning for the Vancouver 2027 World Road Congress.

As members of the PIARC community, Austroads contributes to international collaboration, standards development, and the exchange of knowledge across road infrastructure and transport policy.

Read the newsletter
Subscribe to receive future editions and stay up to date with PIARC’s global work.

Austroads and TCA to support MegaTrans as Industry Engagement Partners in 2026

Austroads and its subsidiary, Transport Certification Australia (TCA), will support MegaTrans as Industry Engagement Partners in 2026, recognising its role in bringing together the people, ideas and technologies shaping the future of freight and supply chains across Australia and New Zealand.

“MegaTrans brings every part of the supply chain into the same conversation,” said Gavin Hill, General Manager, Strategic Engagement and Performance at Austroads. “It provides an important opportunity for Austroads and TCA to share information on nationally consistent approaches, data and telematics initiatives, and to engage directly with operators, technology providers and decision‑makers on how these can support safer, more productive transport outcomes.”

As part of its involvement at MegaTrans, TCA will host the Telematics Industry Group (TIG) meeting alongside the event. Gavin Hill will also deliver a keynote address at MegaTrans, providing attendees with insight into the work of Austroads and TCA across freight, infrastructure and transport innovation, and highlighting how nationally consistent frameworks and trusted data can be applied in practice. The session will offer a valuable opportunity to connect policy, research and technology with the operational realities facing industry. Learn more.

Read more | Register for MegaTrans (free)

Enabling Accessible EV Charging Guidelines | Register
Tuesday 23 June 2026, 1 pm AEST

This webinar will highlight key themes from the Enabling Accessible EV Charging Guidelines, which provide guidance on improving the usability of EV charging infrastructure for people with disability.

Investigating New Performance Testing of Unbound Granular Materials | Register
Thursday 25 June 2026, 1 pm AEST

Join this webinar to learn about research into unbound granular materials, including a review of performance characterisation methods and recommended new performance tests to support future Austroads pavement design and specifications.

Use Cases for Fibre Optic Sensing Technology in Roads and Transport | Register
Thursday 30 June 2026, 1 pm AEST

Register for this webinar which examines how fibre optic sensing technologies can be applied to support improved road agency services and functions.

National Harmonisation of Road Safety Auditors Practices | Register
Thursday 2 July 2026, 1 pm AEST

This webinar will provide an update on the national harmonisation project, including what has been agreed to regarding harmonisation and the deliverables and timelines for the operationalisation of the national framework.

Updates to the Austroads Guide to Temporary Traffic Management in Edition 1.2 | Register 
Monday, 6 July 2026, 1 pm AEST

Join this webinar for a practical overview of the key changes, their intent, and what they mean for those involved in the planning, approval and delivery of temporary traffic management.

Charting a Path to Eliminating Road Death and Serious Injury | Register
Wednesday, 8 July 2026, 1 pm AEST

The session is designed for road safety leaders and practitioners, and general road and transport professionals, seeking clear, evidence-based guidance to move from road safety ambition to implementation — combining technical planning, change management, and stakeholder engagement to deliver sustained reductions in death and serious injury.

Determining the Minimum Data Requirements to Progress Pedestrian Safety | Register 
Thursday, 16 July 2026, 1 pm AEST

The session will explain how the research identified and prioritised pedestrian safety data sets, distinguishing between “ideal” and “minimum” requirements based on cost, effort, and contribution to safety outcomes. It will highlight the recommended minimum data framework, covering exposure and demographics, crashes and injuries, and physical environment data across strategic, tactical and site levels.

Using and Understanding the Austroads Guide to Temporary Traffic Management for Traffic Management Designers | Register
Tuesday, 4 August 2026, 1 pm AEST

The webinar is suited to both practising and aspiring TMDs, and professionals working within or alongside the TTM industry who are looking to strengthen their understanding of the AGTTM and apply it more effectively in their day-to-day work.

Using and Understanding the Austroads Guide to Temporary Traffic Management for Road Infrastructure Managers | Register
Tuesday, 1 September 2026, 1 pm AEST

This webinar is designed for professionals working within or for RIMs, especially those responsible for managing TTM access to the road network for works, events, and emergencies. 

MegaTrans and Telematics Industry Group (TIG) Forum — September 2026, Melbourne (in person and online) | Register
Wednesday 16 September, 2026 10.30am - 12.30pm

The forum will bring together key stakeholders to explore how new technologies are being integrated and managed across the transport sector. The discussion will focus on three priority areas shaping the heavy vehicle landscape: the growth of the Electronic Work Diary (EWD) scheme, recent telematics developments in New South Wales, and progress on the Heavy Vehicle National Law. 

View recent webinar recordings

Work with us

Current vacancies

Austroads and Transport Certification Australia (TCA) employ staff across a range of specialised and technical disciplines. We pay attention to maintaining a safe and welcoming work environment, where all staff have equal access to opportunities. We encourage our staff to participate in external and internal training to make sure their skills and knowledge are continuously improved. We take inclusion and diversity seriously. We embrace difference and diversity of identity, experience and thought, and actively strive for inclusive behaviours across our company and our work.

We currently have positions open for:

• Program Coordinator Transport Network Operations
• Procurement Administrator
• Materials Compliance Administrator
• Senior Project Manager
• Legal Counsel

View current vacancies here.

Tenders

Are you looking for an opportunity to work on an Austroads project? The following projects are open for tender:

• APT6654 Assessing Impacts of Proposed Increased Axle Loads for Low Emission Heavy Vehicles on Pavements and Surfacings. Closing Tuesday 30 June 2026, 3 pm AEST
• SAG6410 – Psychometric Validation of Hazard Perception Tests Through User Testing. Closing Wednesday 24 June 2026, 3 pm AEST.

Find out more

Upcoming industry events

ALGA National General Assembly, 23 - 25 June, Canberra

13th Australian Small Bridge Conference, 28 - 29 July, Adelaide

Engineering, Innovation, and Technology Forum, 18 - 20 August, Brisbane

Bridge and Geotechnical Conference, 24 - 25 August, Auckland

MegaTrans, 16 - 17 September, Melbourne 

Australasian Road Safety Conference, 26 - 29 October, Sydney

IPWEA International Asset Management Summit, 22 - 23 October, Melbourne