Wellington Roads - your opinions on repairs

**Pwalo** · 3rd November 2005, 08:37

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.

Thanks,

Paul

**inlinefour** · 3rd November 2005, 09:00

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

**Uncle B** · 3rd November 2005, 09:17

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** · 3rd November 2005, 09:36

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** · 3rd November 2005, 10:31

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** · 3rd November 2005, 10:47

Originally Posted by 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.

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@** · 3rd November 2005, 10:54

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** · 3rd November 2005, 11:00

Originally Posted by 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?

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@** · 3rd November 2005, 11:17

Originally Posted by nudemetalz

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

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** · 3rd November 2005, 11:24

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** · 3rd November 2005, 11:53

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

**nudemetalz** · 3rd November 2005, 12:08

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** · 3rd November 2005, 14:20

Tarsnakes. the dreaded tarsnakes.

**Fryin Finn** · 3rd November 2005, 14:24

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** · 3rd November 2005, 14:45

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.