Damned pea metal: Again!

[FJRider]

How's the hip FJR? Giving ya jip?

Giving (back) as good as I get ...

[FJRider]

I believe you need to learn how to read?? The way I read the answer is no there was no sign seen but there are corner speed signs along the road??

I didn't see it/him is never a valid excuse in any court of law. Not (admitted as) seen does not mean it was not there.

I thought this statement by the OP might be a hint that a temporary speed sign might have been there ...

well they were quoted as stating it was their method - to NOT place suitable signage warning of road repairs - just to place a 50kph sign.

On a 75 km/hr (advisory signed) corner ... a 50 km/hr temporary speed sign takes precedence and any higher advisory speed signs are usually covered.

However ... The yellow advisory speed signs before corners are not enforcable ... temporary speed signs ARE.

This has the potential to be a long thread

No worries ... I have plenty of time on my hands ...

[Trade_nancy]

Is there an "FJRIDER" filter I can enable on this site..?

[pritch]

Road safety is divided into three main areas: Education, Engineering, and Enforcement. Two of those cost money, one brings money in.
Guess where the effort goes?

In a country with a lot of roads, some difficult topography, and not many people, I guess we can't expect perfect roads. I do believe though that a lot of accidents could be prevented if the roads were better maintained.

I trust I'm not too cynical, but if the contracts are continually awarded to the lowest tenderer the standard can be expected to continually decline. Sadly I have seen that process at work in other instances.

[sugilite:Me]

Is there an "FJRIDER" filter I can enable on this site..?

You can put him on your ignore list. It seems to me he pores over any post that dares to contradict his point of view to find any little chink in it (be it spelling, perceived left out info, anything at all really) and will relentlessly attempt to exploit any perceived chink to support his view point, taking it to dizzy heights of the absurd to do so. A good example is right here in this very thread, check out post #22 http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...post1130520402. I'd not be surprised if one googled "splitting hairs", it would defer to FJ's posts as being the very embodiment of the term

[Trade_nancy]

You can put him on your ignore list. It seems to me he pores over any post that dares to contradict his point of view to find any little chink in it (be it spelling, perceived left out info, anything at all really) and will relentlessly attempt to exploit any perceived chink to support his view point, taking it to dizzy heights of the absurd to do so. A good example is right here in this very thread, check out post #22 http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...post1130520402. I'd not be surprised if one googled "splitting hairs", it would defer to FJ's posts as being the very embodiment of the term

Thanks....a good case indeed. But he's probably a genuinely nice bloke under that hard southern trucker shell...just out to prove - he could have worked with his mind if he had chosen to - but didn't.

[Ocean1]

Road safety is divided into three main areas: Education, Engineering, and Enforcement. Two of those cost money, one brings money in.
Guess where the effort goes?

In a country with a lot of roads, some difficult topography, and not many people, I guess we can't expect perfect roads. I do believe though that a lot of accidents could be prevented if the roads were better maintained.

I trust I'm not too cynical, but if the contracts are continually awarded to the lowest tenderer the standard can be expected to continually decline. Sadly I have seen that process at work in other instances.

There's nothing wrong with accepting the lowest tendered price, as long as the job's done to an agreed standard. I suspect that if you actually went to the trouble of finding the facts you'd discove a sort of fuzzy collusion between an authority that knows damn well that the job can't be done properly for the price and a contractor that knows exactly how far short of the required standard he can get away with.

All it takes to fuck up that cosy little arrangement is for the public to have some idea of what those standards are and to ping the fuck outa every single transgression they encounter. Good work TN.

[Trade_nancy]

Another response from LTSA below.
This guy seems to be genuinely prepared to follow up on road condition complaints - if specific enough. Mine weren't and I didn't have photos to support my case. Next time I will. Check out the 1st link below...it may be of use to some.
PS: I'd suggest it is a tough ask to take a pic every time u see dangerous shit on the road. Often it is just too dangerous to stop and park up.

Hi Mark,
Re the Desert Road, my boundary ends about 20km north of Waiouru. So I apologise for wasting your time as the location of your incident is within the maintenance region looked after out of our Hamilton office. I have attached a link from NZTA’s website to give you the contact numbers of all our offices.
Re the Paraparas, it is a pity you cannot help anymore. As a possible way of improving the service NZTA provides to bikers, would it be possible for bikers to bring a digital camera on your travels and record the problems encountered. NZTA welcomes feedback and we are keen to make sure that our contractors are doing a good job. I did have a look at the thread discussion. Seems a mixture of opinion out there. I would concur that if these issues are raised with us (NZTA) we will investigate and implement improvements. The main reason why I ask about the camera is that it happens too often that someone says the signs were not there and the contractor says they were up. So we need to move away from hearsay and use more physical evidence.

About the 48hours thing- we set 48hours as a reasonable time for the chips to embed into the binder. After the 48 hours the contractor inspects the site and if he deems fit the road is swept, centrelines etc painted on and the speed restrictions removed. In areas of high traffic this 48 hours may be reduced, it may also be lengthened if warranted. So when the speed restrictions are removed the loose metal will have been swept away.

I have also attached a link to a new initiative NZTA are developing called “On the move”. Please have a look at the website and see if it is something you would be interested in. In essence it is a portal that allows NZTA to inform the travelling public of incidents on the state highway which may impact on their travel plans.


https://onthemove.govt.nz/
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/about/contact/our-offices.html
Regards
Barry O' Shea
Senior Asset Manager,

[cheshirecat]

By strange coincidence (providence) the recent resurfacing outside my door is pure tarmac - not a chip in sight

[Grizzo]

FJ, whats with the obsessive need to nitpick and argue so much.
Nothing wrong with a good debate, but for fucks sake dude!
I guess if you try really, really hard you can find fault in anything.
That must suck, pretty sad really.

[leathel]

By strange coincidence (providence) the recent resurfacing outside my door is pure tarmac - not a chip in sight

and Yesterday outside my house has fresh chip laid (no prep just chuck more over the bumps and dips), but on a strait road in a 50K area so they have signs for africa

[Trade_nancy]

I got another followup email (below) from LTSA - who are onto some specific roads that I photographed and sent them. Good to see they react positively.


Further to your email correspondence with Barry O’Shea regarding State Highway issues.
I deal with the East Wanganui network which extends as follows –

SH1 Hihitahi Bluffs (North of Taihape) south to Pukehou Rail Bridge (South of Levin)
SH2 Otawhao Road (North of Norsewood) to Mount Bruce
SH3 Whangaheu River Bridge to Woodville
SH54 all
SH56 all
SH57 all

I have passed on you concerns to our contractor and they will be dealing the issues they cover. I have received a query regarding the western Rangitikei line issue. Could you be more specific as to the location. The SH3/54 site is a work in progress with the whole intersection due for resurfacing shortly in conjunction with the safety improvement works. The contractor is expected to keep it swept and safe for road users. Is your comment regarding the visual appearance or are you referring to the condition of the road. The contractor is confused.

Please keep your observations coming and we will endeavour to fix what we can.

Cheers

Alex




Alex Drover
NZTA Region 8 - East Wanganui Network Team Leader

[sels1]

Another response from LTSA below.
... "So when the speed restrictions are removed the loose metal will have been swept away".

It would be nice if this happened. The term "swept " is where some of the problems lie. Todays contractors seem to just run one of those vaccum trucks up and down the street and call it swept. Actually what happens is they pick up a some of it, and the rest just gets re-arranged.The contract should read "REMOVE all loose chip",not just sweep it around.. Back in the MOW days they had blokes with brooms and shovels who would make sure it was done properly. Having had some of the streets around where I lived resurfaced recently, I have been watching the process. I did ring the council and they sent a bloke around to check it and he agreed it hadn't been done properly and sent the contractor back to sweep it again. Of course all the contractor did was drive the vaccuum truck up and down the street again....around the parked cars...but at least he got some of it.

So report it when you see it folks, the councils and TNZ generally respond well - and the more data they get the better picture they will have of which contractors are worthwhile and which need to lift their game.