Ruapehu roads stand up well, says council

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 569, 17 January 1995, Page 3

Ruapehu roads stand up well, says council

The Christmas period saw only a few problems encountered on local roads, the Ruapehu District Council reports. Apart from rocks failing on two roads there were only the usual problems with unsealed roads. Contractors maintaining the roads had only a small crew of workers to attend to faults. From mid-January the road maintenance contractor planned to have all staff back from

leave and routine maintenance activities were to be back to normal. Over the next two months vegetation control work is planned to be completed with high regrowth on main roads attended to in February. All unsealed roads should have a heavy grade completed by the end of April. The council advises that motorists should be aware that there can be problems

associated with this operation. Heavy rain failing immediately after the work is completed causes the road to become difficult to drive on. Wheels sink into the pavement and it can be slippery. In this event the problem usually resolves itself when the carriageway dries out. Sometimes a light grade and an application of metal is also required. Dry weather following grading can

hinder the pavement from binding up and the stones separate and end up in rows along the road. Prior to the stones separating it can be like driving on "marbles" and particular care is necessary. Road marking The Council' s contractors who paint the road markings started work early in January to carry out a full remark on the district' s roads except state high-

ways. Work should be completed by mid-February. A higher quality paint system is being used this year in an endeavour to provide a longer lasting mark which does not fade as quickly as standard road marking paint, reports council chief executive Cliff Houston. Flood damage Good progress is being made in completing outstanding flood damage restoration works recently, reports the council. Two sites on Pipiriki Road have finally been completed after the contractor was held up

for six months because of wet weather. Repair work on five sites on Mangaturoa North and South Roads which are off Pipiriki Road near Raetihi have been put out to tender. Council staff are presently preparing contract documents for the completion of remaining flood damage restoration work. Tenders for the works should be invited by mid February at the latest. These works include one site on Ohura Mokau Road, two sites on Kawautuhi Road, four sites on Kaitieke Road,

two sites on Waitaanga Road, one site on Tanga Road, one site on Kururau Road (north of Otunui), one site on Mangahutu Road and tw'o on Makakahi Road. Contracts for the construction of road improvements approved by Council are currently being prepared. Work involving seal extension should be tendered in January and the