Road engineers - Tar snakes?

[swbarnett]

Yes they have. The reason they have is because of the big dry that we have just experienced. The ground under the roads has dired out and shrunk making the road surface subside and break open.

I'm no engineer but this sounds to me like they didn't compact the ground properly when the road was built?

[Houseman]

I was coming back to Auck from Taupo last weekend and met one just leaving Gordonton (back road from Cambridge to Huntly). Not speeding, just a mild corner with no power being applied then *kick* my tail is all over the road. Held on thankfully but you could have cracked a wallnut between my arse cheeks.

[shrub]

So you're saying that they'd be justified if installed permenant black ice over the whole road simply because we make mistakes now and then?

It is not unreasonable to ask that the road surface at least be one that is suitable for every legal mode of transport.

I was being facetious, there is absolutely no justification for road repairs that place a significant group or road users in danger. I was having a none too subtle dig at the faction that believe that as long as motorcyclists have at-fault crashes we have no right to demand our safety be considered by TPTB.

[Pixie]

Yes they have. The reason they have is because of the big dry that we have just experienced. The ground under the roads has dired out and shrunk making the road surface subside and break open. They have had to remedy this quickly before the rains came and really opened up the road surface, hence the tar snakes. I went crook at the local council for it, this the explanation given.

And no, they do not equate them with danger for road users.

Wouldn't be a problem if half arsed NZ didn't make roads by rolling the clay flat and painting it black.

[Ocean1]

Wouldn't be a problem if half arsed NZ didn't make roads by rolling the clay flat and painting it black.

Flat? as in... flat?

Fookin' looxury, when I were a nipper...

[Mom]

I'm no engineer but this sounds to me like they didn't compact the ground properly when the road was built?

That and the fact that a lot of our roads up here are built on Onerahi Chaos soil. Moves constantly.

[mashman]

Maybe you should have had your eyes open.

What for. The road isn't dangerous enough for me, so I close my eyes for straight line riding

[Rogue Rider]

Back in the dark ages, when life was rosie, and riding was what you did to hang out and reek havoc on the weekend on your bonnie 750..... Roads used to be made properly, with solid seal. If there was a damaged piece they would correct the whole section of road, usually once properly..... rather than below average patch ups that would need 4 or 5 re hashes every 1 months.....
Roading today under the contract buiso is a corrupt buisness that costs the tax payer copious amounts of money for very average workmanship.
I look at road works today and it amazes me how so useless we are at efficiency and economics.
I look at the Warkworth roadworks on SH1, and the new section of the toll road and I really wonder how LTSA can make such a hash of roading. Over seas in Croatia, in the same time as it took to build the pathetic exension for the northern gateway, they built a 25km 6 lane hiway with 2 tunnels twice as long for nearly the same amount of money...... go figure.

Our roads suck, and we get ripped paying for them. LTSA wake up and manage contracts better. Build roads right the first time.

[Big Dave]

We were talking about this - and we actually had an motion at one of the BRONZ meetings to register our concerns - but it got swept aside by the ACC imbroglio.

What would be good is a standard form letter we can copy and paste our concerns to the relevant authority.

Who would that be and what should it say?


All of these people or their organisations should be on the mailing list too.
http://krnewsroom.blogspot.com/2010/...ion-group.html

[swbarnett]

I was being facetious, there is absolutely no justification for road repairs that place a significant group or road users in danger. I was having a none too subtle dig at the faction that believe that as long as motorcyclists have at-fault crashes we have no right to demand our safety be considered by TPTB.

Obviously my sarcasim detector is on the blink. As you were...

[Berries]

Who would that be and what should it say?

If it is a state highway then the local NZTA office - http://www.nzta.govt.nz/about/contact/our-offices.html. If it is not a state highway then the local council.

What should it say ? Just a simple question as to why they are using repair methods that make the road more dangerous for two wheel users. Get an explanation then you have someone to complain to, send photos of shoddy non standard work etc etc. In my short time on KB it seems as if there is a lot of complaining on here and going round in circles rather than complaining to the people who can do something about it. Generally they will.

[shrub]

If it is a state highway then the local NZTA office - http://www.nzta.govt.nz/about/contact/our-offices.html. If it is not a state highway then the local council.

What should it say ? Just a simple question as to why they are using repair methods that make the road more dangerous for two wheel users. Get an explanation then you have someone to complain to, send photos of shoddy non standard work etc etc. In my short time on KB it seems as if there is a lot of complaining on here and going round in circles rather than complaining to the people who can do something about it. Generally they will.

Exactly. TPTB actually want motorcyclists to be safe, but as long as we listen to the idiots who think nobody will listen to us until we're all riding flawlessly nothing will happen. As I discovered, a couple of calls was all it took to set up a meeting, and the guy didn't raise the behaviour of the powerrangers on the Akaroa GP or the noobs on 250s and never will.

[Big Dave]

I agree that In the normal course of events they are momentary pucker inducers to an experienced rider.

Mostly a matter of WTF and ride it out - when you hit one at night in the face on oncoming traffic - and they are invisible - if you know what you are doing. Hell, I aquaplaned with no control on one of those 240 section rear tyre mosters for the best part of 50 meters through Mangakino once - and stayed upright. (You just have to wait till friction sinks it :-))

I've also picked up the bikes for less experience rider who felt it all going wrong and grabbed a handful of brakes.

In the next street over towards the city - it runs down to the main road past a school. It's now virtually impossible to pick a line through them. With mum in her 3 tonne remuera taxi pulling u-turns.

Obvious answer is don't go that way. The principle of the repairs adding another element of danger narks me.

Still where I'd like my $30 levy invested. Or most of it anyway.

[Ocean1]

Still where I'd like my $30 levy invested. Or most of it anyway.

That's very generous of you dude!

I'd like some of mine invested in a nice beach.

With sand. And beach chairs and shit.

With a bar, and barmaids.

And a more or less continuous supply of approved beverages.



Reckon I've got a chance?

[shrub]

I agree that In the normal course of events they are momentary pucker inducers to an experienced rider.

But not all of us are experienced riders, and I wonder where the cause of crash would be attributed? For a car driver they're not even a minor issue, so our car driving masters and constabulary would no doubt assign blame to excessive speed resulting in a loss of control.