Councillor slams roadworks as 'balls-up'

Higgins sweep shingle on the newly laid out intersection at Ponatahi Road, Kokotau Road and Millars Road, Carterton. PHOT/FILE

Work done on the Millars Rd/Kokotau/Ponatahi Rd corner has been described as a "balls-up worse than Dunkirk" by a Carterton District councillor.

Speaking at a council meeting on Wednesday, Bill Knowles, former chair of the roading committee, said he had never seen such a shocking job or design done, and that the work did "absolutely no credit" to the engineer.

Mr Knowles described the work done on the corner as a "balls-up worse than Dunkirk".

It was good the contractors were repairing it and he hoped for better consultation with council on improvements planned for Moreton Rd and Waihakeke Rd.

"I only hope that they give council a good opportunity to look at what they are suggesting," Mr Knowles said.

There were a string of crashes on the corner after new metal was laid on the road to prevent further tar melting.

Remedial work had recently been completed at the intersection after residents and truck drivers complained about the new layout earlier this year.

The changes to the layout have cost council $185,700 so far.

Mayor John Booth said there had been issues with tar melting on the road, which contractors were fixing. "It's not satisfactory and I imagine that the contractors will be paying for that to be rectified."