What is it with road repairs/fixing pipes. From what I have seen driving about they never seem to fix the problem first time. Driving to work this morning joined nice long traffic jam. Only to discover that there is a set of temporary lights again at the same junction to fix the same bit of road/pipes. They have now been trying to fix this same issue for a year now and this is there fourth attempt. I am sure there must be the appropriate people on this forum to answer these questions.
1. Why cannot road repairs be fixed first time?
2. Is it because the materials that are used are sub standard?
3. Why do they dig a hole put traffic cones round about it then leave it for weeks?
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It's the Great British way...
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I really think that in problem areas they should excavate an appropriate size hole and concrete in a protective chamber that can be accessed via an entry point on the pavement, with all utilities going through it. It seems primitive to dig a hole, fix a problem and fill the hole in, time and time again. Do it once, do it right.
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If road repairs are completed efficiently, ahead of schedule and under budget, the local council highways department will probably have it's budget cut the following year. Can't have that can we?
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let me be the last to let you down....
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Why don't they get things right the first time, or even the second?
There are now massive hold ups on the M57 at Switch Island. The sign says they are improving the junction, but it's not that long ago when there was major disruption there for the same reason. Why didn't the planners get it right the first time?
The A580 is another mess. They are now "improving" a stretch of the dual carriageway again. It's about two or three miles long and they have been at it since October. No sign of it being completed, and the east bound carriageway is closed from 8.00pm until 6.00am with a detour of about six miles.
The French can build a new motorway in less time.
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Would that be the section where they've decided to build a roundabout Robbie? Smack bang in the middle of the carriageway?
Oh yes - they're making a right mess of that one. They've even taken the time to adjust the speed "slow down" signs to the 40 limit that the section now is.
I went down it the other day and it looked no different to before Christmas.
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Would that be the section where they've decided to build a roundabout Robbie? Smack bang in the middle of the carriageway? Oh yes - they're making a right mess of that one. They've even taken the time to adjust the speed "slow down" signs to the 40 limit that the section now is. I went down it the other day and it looked no different to before Christmas.
Yes, it's the bit from the traffic lights at Kirkby to Catchdale Moss at Eccleston.
They seem to be doing something to that stretch every few years.
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If road repairs are completed efficiently, ahead of schedule and under budget, the local council highways department will probably have it's budget cut the following year. Can't have that can we?
If we're talking water pipes or gas pipes, those are the responsibility of the relevant utility company, not the council. The standards they work to are often the cause of deep despair to the council, whose powers to enforce standrads used to be rather limited -- I duuno if they have got more power recently.
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Everyones doing it on the cheap thats why. Council pay contractors as little as possible - contractors than pay subbies even less, subbies then have to provide material and labour for this lessor rate and so you get substandard work.
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It's not the temporary traffic lights marking an unattended hole that annoy me, so much as lights marking where they are intending to dig a hole, but not just yet.
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Time was they used to repair or excavate busy roads at night, with despatch, leaving the road at least passable during the day. Now roads and indeed whole areas are closed for weeks or months at a time, as if maintaining traffic flow had just been given up on. Or am I imagining things in old-buffer style?
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Two very busy roads in the centre of Oxford have recently been closed for upto a week for resurfacing. Once completed both have reopened for between a week and 2 months then been reclosed to have the complete surface ripped up and relaid and repainted all because of the new surface failing within weeks.
StarGazer
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Bhoy wonder, you don't live in Nantwich by any chance do you?!
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Time was they used to repair or excavate busy roads at night, with despatch, leaving the road at least passable during the day.
Excellent idea. Just not outside my house please....
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Our local council (West Berks) have a pathetic approach to road repairs. They just wait till the public complain and then send a contractor out with with a pile of tarmac to fill in the rain-filled pot-holes like a kid making sandcastles !
In fact I think they should be in the record books for the shorest ever lasting road repair, as I swear that one pothole they repaired down the road from my house was back as it was in about 36 hours !
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I feel I must praise Leeds Council Highways on their response to complaints I have lodged in respect of two heavily potholed roads. On both occasions the road was completely resurfaced within 3 months of the complaint. Either the work was already due to be done, or they do actually listen - either way the roads are better now.
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Oh just try Manchester City Centre!
There are at least three huge developments, that have closed off several access roads to car parks and they have demolished a major car park without completing the new one yet.
ARGH
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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Oh just try Manchester City Centre! There are at least three huge developments, that have closed off several access roads to car parks and they have demolished a major car park without completing the new one yet. ARGH -- Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
Alas, the same is true in Bristol. Bond St car park vanished to make room for Broadmead with no alternative.
Bath will be even more horrendous with the new Southgate Redevelopment. Although they're removing a 60's eyesore, the really useful multi storey in the centre (Ham Gardens) will be demolished and not be replaced.
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Worse still when the water company replace a pipe and make good then the gas come along 3 months later and dig up the same section to alter pipe work.
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I'll give it a go
1. Why cannot road repairs be fixed first time?
They're not all repairs. Some roadworks will be connections to new developments and have to fit in with the development programme (although from bitter experience trying to get Transco on site in time is like pulling teeth).
Other roadworks will be enhancement of the infrastructure: if 100 new homes are built up the road, the old water main will need upgrading.
Other roadworks will be straight forward failure or leaks.
Some other ones will be repairing faults in newly laid lines e.g. i had a case where some drains were relaid on a private estate, but we had two joints dropped through settlement. It happens. You get the contractor back to fix f.o.c and hang on to his retention until he does.
And of course some will be tired out roads.2. Is it because the materials that are used are sub standard?
Unlikely. Type 1 is type 1 is type 1. That's stone or hardcore to you. As long as it's compacted at the correct intervals. And the tarmac would need to be the correct mix and thickness. Otherwise, the contractor will be back and be picking up the tab.
3. Why do they dig a hole put traffic cones round about it then leave it for weeks?
Pass, unless they're waiting for something to cure or a third party to do their bit.
There are some roads which you can't dig up in the day, e.g. the main raod in Burnham on Sea cannot be dug in daytime from March to October because it's the only road for tourists to access the caravan parks and Brean Park.
Are you sure in your case that it is the same body that have dug up the road all four times? Give them a call and find out what's going on. They don't know they're causing a problem unless you complain....
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