What is our road made of?

[red mermaid]

So what do you suggest they build our roads out of then, and if this is more expensive, are you prepared to pay though higher rates, taxes, and probably registration fees.

NZ has one of the highest costs per km to build roads because of our terrain, bridges, hills, etc.

[ManDownUnder]

So what do you suggest they build our roads out of then, and if this is more expensive, are you prepared to pay though higher rates, taxes, and probably registration fees.

NZ has one of the highest costs per km to build roads because of our terrain, bridges, hills, etc.

Anything safe to ride and drive on seems to be an obvious answer. The chip seal we use is actually pretty good I personally think, with the odd exceptional slippery patch but you're going to get that with most surfaces I would imagine.

[ukusa]

Just as well it never gets hot enough to melt tar in the Wellington region. And with this global cooling trend you'll be glad for the nasty chip roads as the concrete ones in Aus are a fucking nightmare in the ice.

They have ice in Oz?

[MSTRS:Me]

You mean, we spent too much money on buying four times more cones than we need, now we have no money to actually build the road to a good standard. But we're safe as while we're working.

Don't get me started on those bloody cones...dangerous things, they are.
Ever noticed how when a bunch of them line a roadside, that a temporary speed sign (usually 30kph) is in attendance? Most of the time there's nothing there but the cones. Therefore road cones are dangerous...

[MSTRS:Me]

You mean, we spent too much money on buying four times more cones than we need, now we have no money to actually build the road to a good standard. But we're safe as while we're working.

Don't get me started on those bloody cones...dangerous things, they are.
Ever noticed how when a bunch of them line a roadside, that a temporary speed sign (usually 30kph) is in attendance? Most of the time there's nothing there but the cones. Therefore road cones are dangerous...

[steve_t]

Don't get me started on those bloody cones...dangerous things, they are.
Ever noticed how when a bunch of them line a roadside, that a temporary speed sign (usually 30kph) is in attendance? Most of the time there's nothing there but the cones. Therefore road cones are dangerous...

Target fixation

[Mudfart]

My job WAS as a man in orange. I picked up hotmix on the back of trucks, then shovelled it off by hand, usually between 12-16 cubic meters a day.
Being an ex-roadworker, and studing roads where I live, the care of work that goes into roads is definately a lot higher in Dauckland.
Perhaps all the non big city quality control civil engineers that are passing jobs as finished need a big kick up the arse.
Notice you aint ever gonna be in the pub, and some guy admit he is a tertiary qualified council engineer?
Maybe its just the whole class division thing that makes uni grads soooo much better than us wage scum. Perhaps their beer tastes sooo much better, and is poured from pure gold, diamond encrusted taps. Oh yeah, did I mention their barmaids are ALWAYS virgins? After all, wage slaves are expendible, a dime a dozen, aren't we? OF COURSE WE ARE, TARD.

[Mudfart]

Don't get me started on those bloody cones...dangerous things, they are.
Ever noticed how when a bunch of them line a roadside, that a temporary speed sign (usually 30kph) is in attendance? Most of the time there's nothing there but the cones. Therefore road cones are dangerous...

As was mentioned on tv some months ago, young drunk people, (usually uni students), steal all manner of road signage warning us of dangers ahead, and are probably responsible for killing quite a few people. The number of times my bosses used to get called up at 2 AM, just to straighten cones that someone had vandalised on our worksites... But hey, like I said in the post above, don't expect better from your betters. If you make a wage, you don't count for nothing. Its the same situation in places like Dunedin. The fire crews are busy extinguishing couches that the students are having their memorable moments made, meanwhile there is a family with babies burning to death somewhere else, not being attended. And these responsible young adults, are going to be your boss, your judge, physician, polititian etc.... We can't blame them though, they need to blow off steam, what with all the pressure of so many parties, and trying to get money to drink.

[p.dath]

I guess you need to consider there are many road users, from small 50cc mopeds, to 40T trucks.

There are also competing needs. Grip, road noise, tyre wear, durability.

Its probably difficult to find a road surface good for everything. So they probably aim to satisfy as many people as they can.

On the whole, I would have to save I'm happy with the standard of seal around Auckland.

[Pixie]

Disgusting, eh/
We were headed around the lake the other day. A road that we have regularly driven/ridden over for the last few years was being resealed (Don't ask me why, because it was in pretty good condition). They had resealed two areas and were in the process of doing a third. There were whole strips of the first one they had done, where the chip had already gone.....after resealing it was in worse condition than before.

The section of road you refer to was obviously too safe so they had to do something to fuck it up

[Pixie]

I guess you need to consider there are many road users, from small 50cc mopeds, to 40T trucks.

There are also competing needs. Grip, road noise, tyre wear, durability.

Its probably difficult to find a road surface good for everything. So they probably aim to satisfy as many people as they can.

On the whole, I would have to save I'm happy with the standard of seal around Auckland.

Well you are easily pleased.
I wonder if the school teacher whose car slid off the road on tar flushing in Henderson,resulting in her death or the guy,riding in front of me, on the VFR who fell off while gently attempting to pass a car on a straight section of road with tar flushing or no doubt many others would agree with you.
Silly question of course,in the case of the teacher,SHE'S DEAD.

Tar flushing occurs because the roading authorities specify cheaper low melting point bitumen to SAVE MONEY.
Apparently the roads in Australia,Saudi Arabia and other hot countries don't melt.

It's the roading equivalent of leaky house syndrome.
Typical NZ "what they don't know won't hurt us and anyway they can't sue us in this wonderful country".

[MSTRS:Me]

I guess you need to consider there are many road users, from small 50cc mopeds, to 40T trucks.

There are also competing needs. Grip, road noise, tyre wear, durability.

Its probably difficult to find a road surface good for everything. So they probably aim to satisfy as many people as they can.

On the whole, I would have to save I'm happy with the standard of seal around Auckland.

Bullshit. Build a road capable of withstanding longterm 50 tonne trucks, and it will be good for every other road user too.

[p.dath]

Bullshit. Build a road capable of withstanding longterm 50 tonne trucks, and it will be good for every other road user too.

Does such a surface also offer reasonable tyre wear, and is not to loud for car users (being the highest number of public road users)?

I might do some Googling later about road surfaces. Do you know much about the choices available?

[MSTRS:Me]

Does such a surface also offer reasonable tyre wear, and is not to loud for car users (being the highest number of public road users)?

I might do some Googling later about road surfaces. Do you know much about the choices available?

No, I don't know 'much' about what is available. Some materials are, no doubt, better than others...but that' s not what I was meaning. Necessarily.
If a road is built sufficiently well, that the roadbed resists being compacted into wheel tracks, the surface being sufficiently robust that it doesn't breakup or loose chip from the bonding agent, etc...in other words, if years of coping with 50 tonne trucks doesn't cause the road to 'fail', then by extension, it must be a good road for all.
Let's face it, we'd like 'them' to build roads that are great for bikes...but heavy vehicles would destroy those roads quick smart. Look what happens to the asphalt on many roundabouts...lovely surface to ride/drive on...but give it a year or two, and look at how it 'creeps' into humps and hollows. That's trucks doing that.
Stands to reason that you build to withstand the worst factors. Pity 'they' don't seem to get that.

[Mudfart]

Ok, this is how the system works.
Auckland council civil engineers are given the task of building some infrastructure. The actual construction (including roads) comes under contract and the contract goes up for tender.
The big fish, (fulton hogan, works infrastructure etc..) make applications with the dollar figure they think they can complete the contract in.
WHOEVER APPLIES WITH THE LOWEST FIGURE, GETS THE JOB.
With having progress deadlines and penalties etc... the job is done at the lowest cost.
There you go, there's your cheap roads, that kill. Although the final inspection does require a passable standard.
There have been so many examples of people dying its just ridiculus, a car sliding out round a slow bend because car no warrant, because bald tyres, young drivers didnt care. That accident killed 1 mother and 2 children under 10y.o. The culprits all survived.
When people ignore road signs that offer smart advice, or ignore that your vehicle REALLY NEEDS TO BE OF WARRANTABLE STANDARD, or drive un der drugs or alcohol, or simply SPEED, they kill, and or die themselves.
I guess when you drive, be patient, calm down and go with the flow and for fuks sake, read the road signs and be observant to conditions etc..
The great thing about my bike, is when noone is around or looking I can give the engine a squirt, and have some fun. And if, IF I come off it, HOPEFULLY the only person hurt would be myself.