Wellington Roads - your opinions on repairs

[Pwalo]

One for the Wellington riders, and in particular those based in J'ville, Newlands, Paparangi, and Grenada.

I've been a bit disappointed with the 'repairs' that have been carried out on Helston Rd, namely the excessive overbanding. The worst section seems to be between the southern end of Beazley Ave and Stewart Drive. I had the dubious pleasure of riding over it for the firts time last night (usually travel home through Newlands), and it was a wee bit scary.

Obviously it was quite warm and that probably made the overbanding strips a bit slippery but it wasn't nice. The worst thing was that there is so much of the stuff that you can't pick a line through it.

I've already had the joyous experience of the front and rear ends slipping on this stuff up in Bracken Road, by the college, in the wet, so I can imagine that this will be a nightmare come winter.

I've already got a call in the the Council, and Works Infrastructure are going to get incontact with me, but I was wondering if any of you chaps (and chapesses) have had any problems with this stretch of road. It would be good to get any feed back.

I must admit I can't see the point of paying rates and taxes so that our roads can be made more dangerous. :argh:

Thanks, :niceone:

Paul

[inlinefour]

the pople that are responsible for NZ roads are cheap bastards who are well known for doing things poorly

[Uncle B]

I was thinking the other day how the art of road making is long gone.

Local the councils have to use up their budgets by resealing roads that dont need it. And the ones that do need to be repaired, all they do is make a big fucken mess everywhere, dont fix the potholes and just reseal it spreading loose chip all over the place and not sweeping it up for a month, and by that time their "new" road has started to fall apart again.

They could learn a few things from the Romans.

[madboy]

I saw a doco on how they make the autobahns in Germany. I can now fully understand why you're allowed to go fast on some of those roads, and yet 80k is risky on our goat tracks.

[nudemetalz]

Ummm,.... I guess now is not a good time to say that I work for Wellington City Council Roading Department and work closely with Works Infrastructure.....

Seriously, if you need me to follow up with anything specific, just let me know.

[Pwalo]

Ummm,.... I guess now is not a good time to say that I work for Wellington City Council Roading Department and work closely with Works Infrastructure.....

Seriously, if you need me to follow up with anything specific, just let me know.

Thanks for that mate. This is not supposed to be a bitch about roading contractors. Understand the economics side of it. Just concerned that the overbanding on this section of road is pretty severe and not too much fun in the dry, let alone when it's wet.

[XP@]

then there is that bit of overbanding on SH1 southbound left lane just before the Tawa turn off. it is about 2m square, in the wet it is lethal. I am in a beligarant mood, what is the telephone number to complain about these things?

[nudemetalz]

then there is that bit of overbanding on SH1 southbound left lane just before the Tawa turn off. it is about 2m square, in the wet it is lethal. I am in a beligarant mood, what is the telephone number to complain about these things?

Best thing to do is to put it in writing and send to PO Box 2199 Wgtn, or email to me (chris.cattermole@wcc.govt.nz) and I will pass on to the relevant people and also follow up.

I've voiced a few issues already about the conditions and safety of motorcyclists.


Cheers
Chris

[XP@]

Best thing to do is to put it in writing and send to PO Box 2199 Wgtn, or email to me (chris.cattermole@wcc.govt.nz) and I will pass on to the relevant people and also follow up.

I've voiced a few issues already about the conditions and safety of motorcyclists.


Cheers
Chris
Ah, great, someone in the know :niceone:
Would it be better to submit one at a time or possibly collect a few examples and post them together?

Is there any special info required to make their life easier? eg photo's etc?

[nudemetalz]

well, photos aren't entirely necessary as the engineers will go and check it out anyway, but do provide as much info as you can.

I must state that the WCC Roading Dept takes customers letters very seriously and we do action on them. I looked up on the computer and saw Paul's complaint has already been logged and passed onto the relevant people.

[Drum]

What the hell is overbanding? Are you talking about a reseal?

[nudemetalz]

The overbanding Paul refers to is actually the soft black strips that patch up pieces of seal on the road surface. You know, the ones that are slick in the wet and slick in the hot weather !!!

[Ixion]

Tarsnakes. the dreaded tarsnakes.

[Fryin Finn]

Our street (Ruskin Rd) was resealed a few years back but almost immediately the stone chips come out and all we are left with is bare seal. In the rain it is extremely slick - slick I can handle but can the dickheads in their cages - I fear not.

[riffer]

I used to live in both Ruskin Road and Christopher Way (off Catherine Crescent) so I know these roads. I'll check them out when I pop around to the ex's house on Sunday to pick up the kids.

Haven't ridden them lately but the messed up Middleton Road a bit with those works so I guess it's par for the course for them.

[Drum]

Ah yes I do know them Nudez (I was previously a roading/ traffic engineer myself), just never heard them referred to as overbanding. A cheap way of preventing water entering longitudinal cracks (their only redeeming feature). Good at hiding the markings during wet weather too.

[nudemetalz]

I had a look at the sealing programme and unfortunately doesn't look like Ruskin Street is being done just yet.

Middleton Road is getting a good shake up though !!

You're quite right Drum, but boy are they a pain on the bike !!!

[fritter]

One for the Wellington riders, and in particular those based in J'ville, Newlands, Paparangi, and Grenada.
... I was wondering if any of you chaps (and chapesses) have had any problems with this stretch of road.

Yup - the last time I took Helston to Jville on my bike they'd been doing some work and had kindly spread sand and dirt over that black shit to make it even more slippery. There was barely one corner where I didn't have both ends slide, and that was in the dry lol :crybaby:

One of the corners just before you get to the park has less road visible than it does repair work.

It's not so bad coming the other way - but they should ban the use of that stuff regardless!

[Charlie]

Ahhh, I live in Grenada Village and drive this road EVERY day. Until now didnt know specifically what banding was; but I knew you were referring to what only looks like a giant 2 year old took to the road with a big black crayon!
I hope its as inexpensive!!! Cause it sure looks tacky.....

[fritter]

looks like a giant 2 year old took to the road with a big black crayon!

Great description man - I was just thinking something like that when I was on it today hehe

[limbimtimwim]

Ummm,.... I guess now is not a good time to say that I work for Wellington City Council Roading Department and work closely with Works Infrastructure.....
Seriously, if you need me to follow up with anything specific, just let me know.Ahh.. My pet peeve with road works (Or rather, marking) is when they 'remove' old marks by painting over them with black paint. Dodgy. Can't see that in the wet well, or at night. Our un-motorised bretheren on two wheels also might also take issue with it. Also, don't paint over the old cats eyes, rip them off too.

Scrub off the old paint with some giant beltsander or something. I have noticed that this does happen sometimes, but not others.

I know this isn't your doing, but could you see if it could be added to the manual. If you like I could make a more formal submission.

[nudemetalz]

I'll print off this whole thread and take it to the next surfacing meeting.
Unfortunately , us motorcyclists are quite a way down the foodchain (like usual).

[mstriumph]

i lived in churton park then brooklyn for a number of years

the roads were always crap

sounds as though they haven't improved

sorry for you guys -- sounds dangerous

[riffer]

Okay, as per my previous post I checked out Helston Rd yesterday on my way to pick up the kids.

There are so many tarsnakes on that road I wouldn't hesitate to call it dangerous for a bike. Okay in my 4WD Odyssey, but I would not take the bike over it happily.

I'll be sending an email to WCC about it. If a biker hurts himself on that road I believe they should take WCC to court for damages.

DON'T USE THIS ROAD GUYS. :argh:

[Swoop]

I'm amazed that there is money around to work on other areas of the countrys roads apart from Auckland! They must be spending gegabucks throughout the country on roads - and about time too since they have been taking our tax dollars for the roads and NOT spending those dollars on the roading problem. Why did we have a 5cent petrol price rise "to fix the congestion on our roads"??? Why not charge cage drivers 5cents per litre and allow bikes to get a discount of Xcents per litre?? Would that help ease congestion on the roads perhaps???
I'm sure the bike dealers would like that. They sure are selling a few scootahs at the moment...