Summer weather aids road works

This summer’s fair weather has resulted in a bumper season for road works.

The construction season, which runs from October to April, has run to plan, with Council contractors able to work on time and to budget and get through a huge amount of work around the district.

Franklin District Council GM Works and Services, Barry Bergin says, “We’ve been fortunate to be able to take advantage of the good weather this year which has helped our contractors immensely. Aside from some bleeding issues with newly laid chip seal due to the extreme heat, the construction season has gone very well. Thank you to the community for being patient during road works and helping us make Franklin roads safer.”

“We’ve also been fortunate this year with some cost reductions. Last year 98km of roading was resealed, however due to favourable pricing because of a reduction in the cost of bitumen, Council is able to complete around 140km this year. Ideally we would be resealing 150km per year to maintain our roading asset, however cost increases in the past has hindered this.”

Barry says, “Roading is the largest item of expenditure for Council, with our large district needing around 1320 kilometres of sealed roads maintained, along with the addition of new roading. More than $16 million was budgeted for roading this season, and we aim to spend around the same amount in the next season.”

One of the most significant projects completed in the district this year was the installation of a large roundabout and additional improvements at Waiau Pa, at a cost of more than $1 million.

The below work relates to the 2008/09 construction season;

Road rehabilitation/renewal and seal widening

Completed projects this season include; Logan Road, Queen Street (Waiuku), Karioitahi Road, Tuakau Bridge -Port Waikato Road, Gun Club Road and Taurangururu Road.

Project sites currently underway include; Pinnacle Hill Road, Kitchener Road (Pukekohe), Mangatangi Road, Queen Street (Pukekohe), Ostrich Road, East Coast Road, Highway 22 (near Niake).

Project sites starting soon include; Edinburgh St roundabout, Wesley Street/ Queen Street roundabout, Queen Street/Harris St roundabout, Waiuku Road, Awhitu Road, Boundary Road West, Mercer Ferry Road, Ridge Road, Batty Road, Morley Road and Barriball Road.

Seal extension
Completed seal extension (turning metal roads into paved) includes; Parakau Road, Muir Road, Rewarewa Road and Chapman Road, and is currently underway on Coe Road.

Safety improvements
Sandspit Road – pedestrian facility near school (now completed), Racecourse Road – road widening near Kitchener Road, River Road (Tuakau) – Les Batkin Reserve entrance, Weighpit – River Road north of Les Batkin Reserve, Kingseat Road – seal widening near Waiau Pa Road, Buckland Road – Logan Road intersection upgrade and pedestrian facility across rail corridor, King Street (Waiuku) – pedestrian facility, Kitchener Road (Waiuku) – pedestrian facility.

In addition to the above works, around $300,000 has been spent of maintaining existing footpaths and the addition of new footpaths, with a further $200,000 spent on kerb and channel.