Goodbye Rimutakas as we know it now?

[bungbung]

MAJOR TRANSPORT PROJECTS

The government will spend $142.5 million on accelerating state highway projects and boosting road maintenance and renewal work.

Five large projects will be brought forward, with construction of four of them to begin this year.

Major transport projects:

* Muldoon's Corner (Rimutaka Rd), Wellington, $20 million total cost, brought forward 28 months.

Look at the attached picture the yellow lines are the proposed new section

[The Baron]

Hummm.. road works on the Rimutakas. Good and bad.

[White trash]

Lol. About time.

You dangerous Welly arseholes have been causing far too many problems on that road for a while now. Serves ya right :)

[Hitcher]

The issue with Muldoons Corner is trucks. The road is so narrow that if two coincide at that point, they can't both get around the corner or past each other.

These planned modifications take out three of the more dangerous corners for motorcyclists as well. Fortunately this work is the only modification likely to happen to the Rimutaka Hill Road for the next 50 years, so relax.

[yungatart]

Muldoon's Corner? Is that the U/H side or the Featherston side?
And why is it called Muldoon's corner...is there a dimple on it?

[Swoop]

Anything that gets rid of "Muldoon" and his evil memory, is a good thing.

[Str8 Jacket]

Story from Stuff:

It's no Transmission Gully, but news that a $20 million upgrade of a notorious stretch of Rimutaka Hill Road will be fast-tracked has been welcomed by the region.


Work was not scheduled to start on upgrading the narrow Muldoon's Corner on the Wellington side of the summit for at least two years, but it has been brought forward as part of the Government's Jobs and Growth plan.

Work on the one-kilometre stretch of highway begins in October. The cost of accelerating the project has been pegged at close to $12 million.

It is one of five big state highway projects in the plan, aimed at stimulating the economy and boosting employment as the recession bites.

"They are very much projects Government wants to complete, and wants to complete quickly," Prime Minister John Key said.

A further $100 million will be spent on road maintenance and renewal work on smaller-scale highway projects.

The funding is over and above that earmarked through the National Land Transport Fund.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce said most suppliers and subcontractors for the five projects were expected to be regionally based.

Roading New Zealand estimates the projects will create or protect 420 jobs.

More announcements on highway projects were imminent, but proponents of New Zealand's two biggest, most expensive plans Transmission Gully and Waterview should not hold their breath, Mr Joyce said.

[Trudes]

NO!!!!!!!!

Build a tunnel you bastards!!!!

[bungbung]

Have a look here for a picture of the projected work:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=92322

[gammaguy]

YES!!

build a tunnel for the cars,leave the hill to the bikes!!

and maybe while we are at it,a nice little cafe and bar at the top?:done:

[pzkpfw]

If they are going to chuck "unexpected" or "bonus" money at roads, I reckon they should do the stuff that normally doesn't make the cut, rather than bring forward work that would be done anyway.

Like make some decent bike-paths.

[Hawkeye]

Just think of all of the crap that's going to be on the road during the 2 years + it will take them to complete. Roadworks everywhere. Gravel, mud, not to mention the number of machines going up and down the hill during construction.

I'm with Tudes 'Build a Tunnel'.

[Finn]

Without the Rimutakas, what would be the point of Wellington?

[ManDownUnder]

NO!!!!!!!!

Build a tunnel you bastards!!!!

Women and their tunnels... Jees - I dunno... does make one think though :devil2::love::devil2::love::devil2:

[Trudes]

Women and their tunnels... Jees - I dunno... does make one think though :devil2::love::devil2::love::devil2:

I thought men liked tunnels, any hole is a goal, isn't that right?

[Hitcher]

I thought men liked tunnels, any hole is a goal, isn't that right?

Wrong thread (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=92383), Trudes...

[Sully60]

Without the Rimutakas, what would be the point of Wellington?

Point Jernigham
Moa Point
Ohau Point

To name but a few. It's quite a pointy place.

[MaxB]

I cannot remember a trip (and there have been heaps) where there wasn't a retard cage driver on my side of the road at some point over the Rimutakas. Most cage drivers (and some bikes sad to say) do not have the basic skill levels to get over the top safely.

I love that road but anything that makes it a bit safer is a good thing IMHO.

[Lonebull]

MAJOR TRANSPORT PROJECTS

The government will spend $142.5 million on accelerating state highway projects and boosting road maintenance and renewal work.

Five large projects will be brought forward, with construction of four of them to begin this year.

Major transport projects:

* Muldoon's Corner (Rimutaka Rd), Wellington, $20 million total cost, brought forward 28 months.

Look at the attached picture the yellow lines are the proposed new section



Damn that sux, I love that hill. Trashed by the bloody box dwellers again.

[Sully60]

Personally I would'nt miss the section from Muldoons to the top, it's a 'nothing' piece of that road. I'm disappointed that it looks like it comes back a bit further west though, there's quite a cool wheelie hump just before the left hand MX berm corner (like that one too but it leads directly to muldoons) It takes commitment but it makes for a nice loft, and a nice show if the fence sitting punters are watching.

[Stormer]

As long as the road is done in nice smooth hotmix and not that bloody coarse-chip-shit that they seem to be doing on all the Wairarapa road "repairs."

[Crasherfromwayback]

Those mods look pretty good!

[Weaver]

Is Muldoons corner that section very close to the top on the Upper Hutt side? The bit that has what looks like a Toby in the middle of the upward lane?

[James Deuce]

It's a good thing. I've met bull bars at head height on the worst of those 3 corners, well on my side of the road.

Counter steering hard toward a vertical drop isn't the best for your composure.

[Madness]

Looks like I'm riding to Welly some time before October then.

[wilber]

Looks ok will take out the worst bit of road so has to be better , works going to start in october so the paper said .

[DingoZ]

Anything that is going to make it safer for ALL road users has got to be a good thing....

[roadracingoldfart]

I thought men liked tunnels, any hole is a goal, isn't that right?


Funny that you dont see the pattern till its pointed out to you aye . :laugh::spanking:

[koba]

They managed a railway tunnel all that time ago.
It would be nice, expensive and labour intensive, just what Mr Key is looking for.
The road then would probably fall into disrepair tho.

[xxcbr69xx]

Personally I would'nt miss the section from Muldoons to the top,

Remember the GPZ..... :devil2:

They screwed over the Kaitokes and turned it into a straight line fest, I guess the hill is next. :(

[McDuck]

Remember the GPZ..... :devil2:

They screwed over the Kaitokes and turned it into a straight line fest, I guess the hill is next. :(

Is it really safe to be playing on that road given the traffic loading? In the HB i can ride for 25 min and get ontoany one of a dozen damn near endless curvy good roads, with bugger all cars and about the only thing to watch out for are rural road syndromes.

[MSTRS]

Is it really safe to be playing on that road given the traffic loading? In the HB i can ride for 25 min and get ontoany one of a dozen damn near endless curvy good roads, with bugger all cars and about the only thing to watch out for are rural road syndromes.

Turkeys of all types are everywhere

[Hitcher]

Turkeys of all types are everywhere

Except on Kiwi Biker. Obviously.

[Sully60]

Remember the GPZ..... :devil2:

They screwed over the Kaitokes and turned it into a straight line fest, I guess the hill is next. :(

Yeah that was just after I sold my 'spare' one too!

Should got off the turn before better eh?


Is it really safe to be playing on that road given the traffic loading?

Is it really safe to be questioning something you have absolutley no idea about?

[McDuck]

Is it really safe to be questioning something you have absolutley no idea about?

The only times i have ridden the tucks it has been full form arsshole to brakfast with slow, stupid cars.

While there is every possibility there are quiet patches, the crap the stupid cars (and some trucks) leave behind are still there.

[Sully60]

The only times i have ridden the tucks it has been full form arsshole to brakfast with slow, stupid cars.

While there is every possibility there are quiet patches, the crap the stupid cars (and some trucks) leave behind are still there.

Time and place, and most of all never get complacent.
I've seen as lot on that hill myself but the thing that sticks in my mind the most was the look of mixed anger and incredulousness of a former colleague who had just had to avoid a skateboarder coming down hill in his lane!
Remember that xxcbr69xx?

[Racin Jason]

Is it really safe to be playing on that road given the traffic loading? In the HB i can ride for 25 min and get ontoany one of a dozen damn near endless curvy good roads, with bugger all cars and about the only thing to watch out for are rural road syndromes.

I totally agree. Cool road but geeze. I was silly enough to get on the back of a fireblade 900 when they were newish, and ride from the top to upper hut. I fair shat myself! I have never been so scared in my life.

Needless to say the guy was a complete tosser. Passing on the outside on blind corners with bumper to bumper traffic going both ways!

The thing is, so many people are like this. Some people amaze me that they still alive! Oh yeah, they're all slow as arse on the track too.

Ride safe, and keep the rubber side down!

[MSTRS]

The only times i have ridden the tucks it has been full form arsshole to brakfast with slow, stupid cars.

While there is every possibility there are quiet patches, the crap the stupid cars (and some trucks) leave behind are still there.

Donald, Donald, Donald....
Cars (and trucks) are no stupider than motorcycles. In fact, none of them can even be considered to be IQ'able, so how would one be able to determine a scale a intelligence.
The operators of such modes of transport/fun, however...:Pokey:

[McDuck]

Donald, Donald, Donald....
Cars (and trucks) are no stupider than motorcycles. In fact, none of them can even be considered to be IQ'able, so how would one be able to determine a scale a intelligence.
The operators of such modes of transport/fun, however...:Pokey:

Yes but motorcycles are a LOT less likely to be droping fluids like anti freze and oil on the road and when they do they drop a lot less.

[MSTRS]

Yes but motorcycles are a LOT less likely to be droping fluids like anti freze and oil on the road and when they do they drop a lot less.

I don't know about less likely. Or even the quantities. A badly dropped bike may have a casing ground away and lose a fair bit of oil. But they sure don't drop diesel, which is a big problem on roads like the 'Takas.
I would have thought that truckies would be well aware not to have their tanks (over)full when about to drive such roads. It's the poor design of filler pipe-to-tank that causes spills. It sure doesn't fall out of the tank any other way.

[Stormer]

[QUOTE=
...who had just had to avoid a skateboarder coming down hill in his lane![/QUOTE]

HA!!
Gutsy.

[xxcbr69xx]

Time and place,

Agree, if that's the place you just gotta find the right time. 8 or 9am - 7pm out of the question. Outside of that, sometimes you get a cage free run right over!



had to avoid a skateboarder coming down hill in his lane!


That was a skateboarder with no interest in living too long! :bye: Both he and the "colleague" :scooter: got lucky that day.

[Madness]

Is it really safe to be playing on that road given the traffic loading?

Safe as preverbial houses. The traffic adds to the "atmosphere" of the road.

Particularly safe as you're less likely to be ticketed on the Hill than any other part of the region.

God, I miss that Hill.

[mctshirt]

Muldoon's Corner? Is that the U/H side or the Featherston side?
And why is it called Muldoon's corner...is there a dimple on it?

Upper Hutt side and like Muldoon it's as tight as fuck ::):

[Strider]

What or who is a Muldoon?:puke:

[riffer]

from Wairarapa News...

<img src=http://wairarapa.co.nz/times-age/news2004/images/040116a.jpg>

MULDOON’S Corner it’s called, but where it is and why it’s called Muldoon’s is not as easy to find out as you might think. There are actually two corners just down the Wellington side from the Rimutaka summit that are exceptionally tight and difficult for trucks to get around, the first and third left-handers as you descend. Both seem to be known as Muldoon’s Corner.
It turns out, according to government road builder Transit NZ, it’s actually the third left-hander down from the summit, but it took calls to Transit, hill road committee members Masterton Mayor Bob Francis and former Wairarapa MP Wyatt Creech and Opus Consultants before that was established.
Mr Francis said the corner was named after former Prime Minister the late Sir Robert Muldoon but said he wasn’t sure why. The rumour mill has it the corner is known as Muldoon’s because it’s tight and to the right (as you drive up the hill) but Mr Creech had another theory. “I always thought it was that bluff (the first left-hander down from the summit) because it had that craggy hard look that he used to have but it’s not even that corner.”

[riffer]

I'm in two minds about this upgrade.

On the one hand (or mind...) it's going to mean on the climb up the hill you won't get the nasty slowdown for that last bit on the way up, and going back down from the summit on cold tyres you're less likely to lowside on the first corner (eh Drew...)

and on the other hand... will they kill the bit where you have the fast transition from left to right which invariably lofts the front wheel - that has to be one of the best bits of the takas going up.

One things for sure - it's going to make the summit corner interesting if you're carrying another 30km/hr around that bend - that'll catch a few out.

But on reflection... does it look like the summit corner (and the summit park) will be bypassed?

[James Deuce]

But on reflection... does it look like the summit corner (and the summit park) will be bypassed?

It does rather. There'll be no toilets and no cafe, and no real need to stop. There'll be a lot of Wellington riders for whom a ride is simply to the top of the hill and home again who are going to be left rather bereft.

Look's like Skelstar's corner will be less agressively bent as well.

[riffer]

It does rather. There'll be no toilets and no cafe, and no real need to stop. There'll be a lot of Wellington riders for whom a ride is simply to the top of the hill and home again who are going to be left rather bereft.

But... but... that means that a quick ride to the takas has to be all the way to Featherston.

and no stopping to talk shit at the top any more.

Not impressed. At all.

[xxcbr69xx]

That's a shitload of rock to remove!:ride:

[Laxi]

nah its cause it likes to f you over every chance it gets
Muldoon's Corner? Is that the U/H side or the Featherston side?
And why is it called Muldoon's corner...is there a dimple on it?

[Hitcher]

The carpark and viewing area at the top of the Rimutakas stays.

It is quite unbelievable the number of people who, when busting for a dump, drive to the top of the Rimutakas so that they can crap in the bushes, or in close proximity to vegetation. Then, having wiped their finger on their jocks, get back into or onto whatever it was that transported their defecating arses there in the first place, and go on their way.

It only takes 40 minutes to drive from Upper Hutt to Featherston. What is going on here?

[Sully60]

The carpark and viewing area at the top of the Rimutakas stays.

It is quite unbelievable the number of people who, when busting for a dump, drive to the top of the Rimutakas so that they can crap in the bushes, or in close proximity to vegetation. Then, having wiped their finger on their jocks, get back into or onto whatever it was that transported their defecating arses there in the first place, and go on their way.

It only takes 40 minutes to drive from Upper Hutt to Featherston. What is going on here?

So you've taken the first right off the track behind the toilets then? :puke:

[The Pastor]

when is construction due to start? I have to get down to that road.

[James Deuce]

when is construction due to start? I have to get down to that road.
You're seriously going to miss the 3 worst paved corners with the worst sight lines on the hill?

You guys have gone mental.

Hitcher - special request as GWR rate payer. Please blow the carpark on top of the hill up.

Yours,

Concerned of Lower Hutt.

[Bonez]

The carpark and viewing area at the top of the Rimutakas stays.

It is quite unbelievable the number of people who, when busting for a dump, drive to the top of the Rimutakas so that they can crap in the bushes, or in close proximity to vegetation. Then, having wiped their finger on their jocks, get back into or onto whatever it was that transported their defecating arses there in the first place, and go on their way.

Wondered why welly bikers hung out there. And here I was thinking there wasn't much worth seeing.

[ducatilover]

i love the takas. :love:

but im sure a new section wont ruin it, yet....
its a great road to ride if you ride safely and at a reasonable pace [no elbow down] :scooter::done:

[The Pastor]

You're seriously going to miss the 3 worst paved corners with the worst sight lines on the hill?

You guys have gone mental.

Hitcher - special request as GWR rate payer. Please blow the carpark on top of the hill up.

Yours,

Concerned of Lower Hutt.
I count 7 corners cut out. and i'd be surprised if that was just the extent of works for the project.

[Hitcher]

Please blow the carpark on top of the hill up.

There would be shit everywhere then.

Sincerely, Noxious of Ngaio.

[Hitcher]

I count 7 corners cut out. and i'd be surprised if that was just the extent of works for the project.

You're a foreigner, aren't you.

[Number One]

while we are at it,a nice little cafe and bar at the top?:done:

AND SOME FRICKEN TOILETS THAT WORK!!!! It reeeks up there now with people pissing all over the place because the loos aren't in order :puke:


Just think of all of the crap that's going to be on the road during the 2 years + it will take them to complete. Roadworks everywhere. Gravel, mud, not to mention the number of machines going up and down the hill during construction.

I'm with Tudes 'Build a Tunnel'.

Me too - dammit I am just starting to enjoy that place!

[Hitcher]

AND SOME FRICKEN TOILETS THAT WORK!!!! It reeeks up there now with people pissing all over the place because the loos aren't in order

There are many places in the Greater Wellington Region that don't have public toilets, like almost every roadside rest area for instance, yet people don't drive for over half an hour from any direction to squat and shit in those.

The toilets at the top of the Takas are closed and will be demolished, together with the Cafe, in the fullness of time. Bowel-driven bikers and others need to better plan their journeys.

[Trudes]

But my riding gives me the shits!!!:blink:

[Hitcher]

But my riding gives me the shits!!!

Wear gaiters.

[Number One]

Bowel-driven bikers and others need to better plan their journeys.

Tell that to my Woolworths Signature Range bladder :eek:

[Rev DJ]

The NZTA has confirmed that the :devil2: straightening :devil2: of the Rimutaka Hill Road will commence in the spring.

As alluded to in other threads, the road will increasingly be subject to speed restrictions, roadworks (for THREE years), heavy vehicles throwing gravel all over the road, mud and dust, and delays for those who commute over the hill.

I do understand the need for minor upgrades for safety reasons - but taking the character out of the road is certainly the death nell for one of the most interesting roads in the Wellington region. RIP Rimutaka Hill 2009.

Rev

P.S. next they will have a go at the Paekak Hill Road!!

[boomer]

so why didnt you just continue that thread..??!

u should be hung.. bloody hyobag riders !

[325rocket]

P.S. next they will have a go at the Paekak Hill Road!!


paekak could do with it!

[James Deuce]

That Hill has been shit for years, but you guys just didn't want to see it. If you want a good run over there try leaving earlier than 11:30am-3pm.