Northside road resealing

[Ross]

There are a few roads around the northside that are getting resealed at the moment with the crappy loose rocks and a token layer of tar on top so take care if riding in the area or avoid it all together if you can.

Flemington Rd Mitchell/Gungahlin
Gungahlin Dr Mitchell (between Sanford St and Wells Station Rd)
Northbourne Ave Mitchell (from now closed Shell Gateway up to Formule One hotel)

[Andrew]

Gungahlin Dr Mitchell (between Sanford St and Wells Station Rd)


And signs are up for resealing between Sanford and Barton Hwy from the 6th.

Fortunately there's a bike path next to it =\ (That desperately needs a flyover!)

[SimonD]

What's the rationale behind the rough new surfaces they're putting down over beautiful smooth roads? Is it cheaper, longer lasting or what?

[bosworth*]

What's the rationale behind the rough new surfaces they're putting down over beautiful smooth roads? Is it cheaper, longer lasting or what?

stanhope you asshole!!!!!!!!!!!!@!@!@!@!@!@!@!@


:tongue2:

[j_young_80]

Yes, Lyn and I concur....Why Stanhope...WHY!

[Adam]

Cheaper. The cars do all the work pushing the loose metal into the tar. Bicycles are pretty crap at this though which is why the shoulder becomes a death zone.

[Hoops]

They spray seal if the foundations are still solid cos there is no point ripping up the base if it's ok.

[Bean]

This new policy on roads is beginning to piss me off as a cyclist. I wonder if Pedal Power is onto this?

[Ross]

Cheaper.

I refute that. The materials may be cheaper but factor in extra labour costs and it being an inferior product and not lasting as long then I don't think there is any cost saving.

They resealed the road outside of my work recently and I had a good opportunity to see what was involved. It was a two and a half day job including the linemarking.

Day one they sweep the old road in readiness for the new surface. A layer of tar is then sprayed on the road to give the gravel something to stick to. Then a truck comes and tips the gravel onto the fresh tar. Then another layer of tar is sprayed on the top. Then a larger roller is driven along the new surface in an attempt to make the gravel stick.

Day two the truck with the large vacuum attached drives over the new surface and sucks up all (most of) the loose gravel. Then the linemarkers come and do their thing.

Day three is basically a repeat of day two. Different size areas would of course take different lengths of time to do. This particular area was only about 1km in length and two lanes across.

Now for the costings, I'll admit I have NFI how much the gravel and tar or indeed the nice smooth hotmix costs but I would estimate they would save at least a days labour for twenty or so workmen and use half the amount of machinery to do the same job if they used the smooth hotmix instead of the gravel. The smooth hotmix would last heaps longer than gravel as well, especially on corners where trucks rip it up - cnr of Flemington Rd and Lysaght St Mitchell is a good example of where the gravel surface was worn away within weeks of being laid.

[MatthewL]

Not to mentin the cost to the community of all the damaged windscreens!!
By the way Ben, I don't think there's anything new about the procedure - it seems to be pretty much the way it's been done for years - everyone complains about it, but it seems nothing changes.

[Ross]

Windscreen damage and paint chips are of course not expenses that the government has to worry about...

Governments, both federal and local, are very short sighted these days and only focus on short-term solutions for things because they know they will only be in power for a few years and then it is someone elses problem.

[j_young_80]

How long has labor been in power in Canberra now for?

[Andrew]

How long has labor been in power in Canberra now for?

Apparently since November 2001... =\

[Steven]

Apparently since November 2001... =\

D'rather have Stangers any day over the developer's cronies on the other side of the Assembly. Just sayin.

Wait, how did we get onto this subject?

[j_young_80]

Just making the point that from the team that delivered the Gungahlin Expressway - we probably shouldn't be too surprised that they're taking the cheapest option in road works.