Helston Road issues update (Welly bikers)

[nudemetalz]

Greetings,

I attended a surfacing meeting this morning (just to remind, I work for WCC).
Helston Road sealing joints were brought up, I think one of the KB'ers lodged a written letter regarding it.

WCC are going to look into it, and it looks like doing sand sealing on them, to make the less slippery.
I added my 2c saying that it is very dangerous on a hot day, and they said "what, like riding in the rain?" I said " Get real, riding in the rain offers far more traction!!.."

So, anyway, just to let you peoples know, something will be done about it.

Cheers
NDZ

[DemonWolf]

Good stuff nudemetalz... Interesting comment they made.. Dont they do surveys\road testing to establish how safe these materials they are using on New Zealand roads...

I can remember a time where they use to road test different gradient metals on stretches of road.. guess it costs too much to do this eh?

[Str8 Jacket]

Greetings,

I attended a surfacing meeting this morning (just to remind, I work for WCC).
Helston Road sealing joints were brought up, I think one of the KB'ers lodged a written letter regarding it.

NDZ

Just out of interest, what part of the road are you talking about? Im heading up that particular road tonight....

[Mrs Old Farts]

Hey thanks for taking the time to put that 2 cents worth in, every bit of action to help make the roads safer for us bikers helps.

[nudemetalz]

Just out of interest, what part of the road are you talking about? Im heading up that particular road tonight....

There is a particularily bad part through some twisties (close to the Grenada turn-off) where it is joint sealed quite extensively.
Just ride very cautiously through there.

I'm just glad I can help to keep more bikers stay upright.

[Str8 Jacket]

There is a particularily bad part through some twisties (close to the Grenada turn-off) where it is joint sealed quite extensively.
Just ride very cautiously through there.

I'm just glad I can help to keep more bikers stay upright.

Cool, thanks dude! And thanks for doing something about it!

[nudemetalz]

Nah worries

[Drum]

Demonwolf, the testing and surveys are still done. Transit undertakes SCRIM testing of all the State Highways every couple of years - not sure if WCC do this though (NM may help there). The test results are used to determine what sites need resealing first. Road surfacing materials have specified micro and micro textures to ensure they meet given standards. These are tested using various methods, most commonly the sand circle and standard british pendulum tests.

The problem here, I believe, is the 'road snakes'. These are not a road surfacing material as such, merely a way of sealing cracks that form in the road (to stop water infiltrating and wrecking the structural layers beneath).

As an aside, ever seen those patches of funny markings on the road with a whole lot of dots and some crosses etc - these are the calibration sites for the testing machines

[Pwalo]

Greetings,

I attended a surfacing meeting this morning (just to remind, I work for WCC).
Helston Road sealing joints were brought up, I think one of the KB'ers lodged a written letter regarding it.

WCC are going to look into it, and it looks like doing sand sealing on them, to make the less slippery.
I added my 2c saying that it is very dangerous on a hot day, and they said "what, like riding in the rain?" I said " Get real, riding in the rain offers far more traction!!.."

So, anyway, just to let you peoples know, something will be done about it.

Cheers
NDZ

Thanks for that mate. I had a call from a lady from WI (I think) regarding my call about Helston Rd. She seemed surprised that there had been so much patching done in one location.

As I understand they are looking at putting sand on the 'snakes' when the weather is a bit warmer. I hope that this will provide a reasonable solution as I sure won't be riding that piece of the road if I can avoid it in the meantime.

I suggest that anyone who rides along Helston Rd takes care, especially if it's warm, or wet, or both.

[nudemetalz]

No worries.

Trish, who you dealt with is a very nice lady and very efficient.

Things are happening as we speak. The WCC Engineers inspected Helston Road today and are examining various options to rectify it or at least make it safer. The sand-sealing as you mention is an option.

Drum - SCRIM testing isn't done by WCC but there was talk today of pendulum testing the road.


I will keep you all up to date as I receive further information.
It's not often I stir a hornets nest up at work, but as I've just bought a house in Newlands (yesterday), I'll be using Helston Road more and more now and can give reports back to WCC.

Cheers
NDZ

[Toast]

Sorry people...we're talking about the little black 'snakes' on the road which are slippery as ice (literally) in the wet? Are these dangerous in hot weather too? I never noticed.

And putting sand on them helps how?

[nudemetalz]

oh yes they are just as bad in the heat. They tend to melt and get very slippery.
Then it's bye-byes to the front-end !!!

Sand in the sealing joints gives it a surface not unlike sandpaper, which is a heck of a lot better traction.

[Ixion]

..
As an aside, ever seen those patches of funny markings on the road with a whole lot of dots and some crosses etc - these are the calibration sites for the testing machines

Oh is that what they are. i wondered about them, they've put a whole load of them on SH1 just out of Dorkland. Quite hypnotic riding down this mini-lane of dots.

[Toast]

oh yes they are just as bad in the heat. They tend to melt and get very slippery.
Then it's bye-byes to the front-end !!!

Sand in the sealing joints gives it a surface not unlike sandpaper, which is a heck of a lot better traction.

Ah...cool...I never knew that. Motorcyclist low-siding bastards them all.

Thanks

[riffer]

Good on you Nudemetalz. Bling awarded.

It's good to have you here.

Can you do something about Rimutaka Hill now? As in get the buggers to leave it the hell alone...