Monday, 10 August 2026
Most people rarely think about what lies beneath the road surface they drive on each day, or what keeps a bridge protected from decades of weather, traffic and environmental exposure. Yet the performance of those assets depends on thousands of technical decisions, from the composition of asphalt and the design of sprayed seals to the safe management of painting steel bridges.
To support the consistent construction and maintenance of transport infrastructure across Australia and New Zealand, Austroads has released three updated technical specifications and one new specification covering asphalt pavements, sprayed bituminous surfacing, site management for painting of bridges and high modulus asphalt (EME2) design.
Together, they form part of the Austroads Technical Specifications suite, which now includes more than 120 specifications covering the materials, treatments and infrastructure that underpin the region’s road and bridge networks.
Tara Manning, Austroads Technical Specifications Manager, said technical specifications play an important role in delivering infrastructure outcomes.
“The performance of transport infrastructure relies on robust technical requirements. Austroads Technical Specifications help create consistency across jurisdictions, support industry best practice, and provide confidence in the long-term performance of road and bridge assets.”
One of the most significant additions is the new ATS 3420 Design of High Modulus Asphalt (EME2) Mixes, which establishes requirements for the design of EME2 asphalt mixes. EME2 is a high-performance asphalt that combines very high stiffness with strong durability and resistance to deformation and fatigue. It can also enable thinner pavement structures than conventional asphalt, making it particularly valuable in urban environments where space constraints or existing infrastructure can limit pavement thickness options.
The release of ATS 3420 is supported by updates to ATS 3410 Asphalt Pavements, which now incorporates requirements for the manufacture and placement of EME2 asphalt alongside dense graded asphalt, stone mastic asphalt and open graded asphalt. The updated specification also introduces a range of improvements relating to asphalt production, testing and quality assurance.
Austroads has also released updated ATS 3460 Sprayed Bituminous Surfacing, a major revision covering the design, application and maintenance of sprayed seals. Sprayed seals form a common wearing surface on thousands of kilometres of roads across Australia and New Zealand and play a critical role in protecting pavement structures from water ingress and deterioration.
The updated specification strengthens requirements across the entire sealing process, including design, material selection, application, testing and defect management. Its focus on consistent practice and quality outcomes supports longer-lasting surfaces and more effective asset management.
The fourth release, ATS 5453 Painting of Steel Bridges – Site Management Edition 2.1, addresses the complex work involved in painting steel bridges outside of a workshop or repainting an existing bridge. Bridge painting often requires careful management of scaffolding, containment systems, environmental controls and hazardous materials.
The specification provides updated requirements for site management, environmental protection, emissions monitoring, waste management and worker safety, helping agencies and contractors undertake bridge maintenance works while protecting surrounding communities and environments.
According to Tara Manning, the specifications demonstrate how standards support practical decision-making throughout the asset lifecycle.
“These specifications translate industry knowledge and experience into clear, consistent requirements that can be applied across a wide range of projects. They help agencies and contractors deliver infrastructure that performs as intended, both today and over the long term.”
The releases continue Austroads’ work to provide technical guidance that supports safe, reliable and durable transport infrastructure across Australia and New Zealand.
Download the specifications