Summer road conditions.

[Anonymous]

#2820

Did a little odyssey around the Waikato and lower Coromandel with a couple of the whanau today. Lots of pieces of road starting to glint in the sunlight, ready to fail. Lots of places have obviously melted at least once this year, because they have been totally polished. Includes parts of the Mamaku, Pyes Pa Road, and Hikuia – Kopu, from the summit down to Kopu looks ready to fail dramatically again (so much so I was dumping speed for Justin (Justin Kase) coming down the hill this avo. There is a major seal failure around the junction of SH2 -SH27 where the road surface Auckland bound has just been demolished. Couple of kms of new seal in that stretch were busily giving up the ghost this afternoon. The vehicle wheel tracks have mondo good sized potholes. We came home from the Ngatea turnoff to past the Okaeria Road corner travelling mostly on the edge of the grass verge, undertaking stalled queues of cars. Could be a fun summer, especially when it rains on roads like that.What is the problem?Is it simply traffic density and global warming? Central Otago gets a bloody site hotter, and has longer sunlight hours, and they keep their roads.Is it a contractor rort - do half a job, then charge councils for the patchwork?Is Marsden Point bitumen just rubbish that's not up to the job (if so, why don't they import some better stuff?) (Whoever "they" are!)Anyone got any clues? 😕

[Clive Lawrence]

#11391

I found the same type of stuff on the Taupo to Rotorua Road last night. Lots of smooth seal… at least when heading back to Waiberia it was cost so could trust the road a whole lot more.And remember to watch out for the friendly fokes putting down the loose chip on that tar to make things a bit more grippy.Dave 😕

[Dave Ross]

#11392

It's the same every year. Surely it's got to be cheaper to do it right the first time.

[Jim Young]

#11393

Have to agree with you on the Kopu – Hikuia road Bwucie, six of us did the Whangamata loop today and there was lots of soft shiney stuff around and ready to catch people out if it rains, and of course loose chip with no warnings.So take care Guys and Gals.  🙂

[honeybear.2399]

#11394

Hi Bwucie. You must have almost gone past my door. I'd have given you coffee and Christmas cake, and we could have lined up the R1100's and had a photo shoot.  Maybe next time, feel we could have a lot in common.

[Dave Morris]

#11395

Dean we need your input here

[Anonymous]

#11396

Dean's probably asleep, but this is what he'd say:It's a conspiracy!  We've elected a new government and nothing has changed!  It's only cheaper to do it the first time when the roading contractors use substandard materials and cut corners.  The transit inspectors are being paid off to look the other way!  GS Adventures are cool! (but BMW can go spit)hehe

[Anonymous]

#11397

DTY said that Dean would said……………”It's only cheaper to do it the first time when the roading contractors use substandard materials and cut corners.”They use substandard materials, but apparently WE cut the corners, especially in the Coromandel. 😀

[honeybear.2399]

#11398

DTY said that Dean would said..............."It's only cheaper to do it the first time when the roading contractors use substandard materials and cut corners."They use substandard materials, but apparently WE cut the corners, especially in the Coromandel. 😀

A year or two ago I phoned Transit NZ about the melting roads on the Coromandel. and was told that it would be fine once the solvents had evaporated from the surface.I asked how long this would take and  was told it would depend on the temperature of the road surfaces.  At this point I will not tell you my reply because it was very very rude.Transit nz uses contractors who put in the lowest tender to maintain our roads.  So until the system changes I do not think we can expect to see an improvement in our road surfaces.  One just has to keep ones eyes open and stay alert.  Safe riding over the summer and indeed the winter keep our wits about us and we may all live to a ripe old age.  Regards Phil

[Anonymous]

#11399

Dean's probably asleep, but this is what he'd say:It's a conspiracy!  We've elected a new government and nothing has changed!  It's only cheaper to do it the first time when the roading contractors use substandard materials and cut corners.  The transit inspectors are being paid off to look the other way!  GS Adventures are cool! (but BMW can go spit)hehe

Your a lovely person. 😀

[Anonymous]

#11400

There has to be a problem with the tar. I have never sean tar melt like this any where else in the world 😕

[honeybear.2399]

#11401

There has to be a problem with the tar. I have never send tar melt like this any where else in the world 😕

"Tar" is a substance primarily derived from coal. It was formerly one of the products of a gasworks. coke was also a byproduct. ( not the sort that you sniff up your nose) 👿Tar made from coal or petroleum is considered toxic and carcinogenic because of its high benzene content, however, coal tar in low concentrations is used as a topical medicine. Coal and petroleum tar has a pungent odor. . Coal tar is listed at number 1999 in the United Nations list of dangerous goods.I think that in clean green New Zealand it is not used on the roads any more.  Regards Phil

[Anonymous]

#11402

I agree DeanIt's funny that Australia can make chipseal roads that don't melt in 45deg heat, but they can't figure it out here.  There aren't many secrets in construction.DTY

[Dave Ross]

#11403

I agree DeanIt's funny that Australia can make chipseal roads that don't melt in 45deg heat, but they can't figure it out here.  There aren't many secrets in construction.DTY

True, considering that out air temperature rarely hits 30 degrees. So what is it, do they leave out an essential ingredient? Is that ingredient very expensive? Or do they make extra money from the road repairs?Is it cheaper to do the roads like this and pay out for ACC, or is it just that the money comes out of a different budget?While I agree with Steve about the need to ride to the conditions, I don't think riding on black sludge or loose seal is particularly appealing.

[Anonymous]

#11404

Who do we send our questions to then.There must be a New Zealand standard which contractors have to follow, as well the contractors would have to provide a producer statement saying all there works complies with the relevant NZ Standards. We have to in the building trade.

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