Rural roads in disrepair

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

Our local rural roads are rapidly falling in to disrepair as a result of many years of inadequate maintenance and increased heavy traffic, especially logging trucks.

Some of these roads are now dangerous to drive on, especially at night and when it is wet.

In many cases recent repairs are rapidly failing.

There appears to be a lack of quality control from council staff over the road contractors.

There is already a 10 metre section of the Wharekopae Road that has been reverted to gravel — a sign of things to come?

Would Gisborne City residents be happy to drive out to the Eastwoodhill Arboretum and the Rere Rockslide on a gravel road?

Meanwhile our existing gravel roads are reverting to dirt!

This raises the question about whether funding for repairs and the significant money spent on traffic control is being spent efficiently.

I believe it is time the road construction industry moved into the 21st century.

I invite readers to go to this website to view an example of a modern road repair machine (the Python 5000 Pot Hole Patcher) in action: https://youtu.be/1RG23iWqqsE

I also suggest less use of road cones, which often obscure signage. These cones are often left on the roadside well after repairs have been completed. There could be a vehicle at each end of the work area with flashing signs, electronic “stop/go” lights and a speed camera. This would allow some of the current staff to be upskilled.

Trevor Brown