Road repairs a crack-up

By Ashleigh Fielding | posted on April 19, 2018

ROADWORKS along Albany’s Middleton Road have come under fire after a Middleton Beach resident said his car was damaged due to the road’s poor condition and poor traffic management.

Rory Laurens said he used Middleton Road every day to get to work, and recently hit a large unmarked pothole filled with water that he said was not visible until “it was too late”.

Mr Laurens said the impact cracked one of his tyre rims, leaving him $400 out of pocket.

“I was pretty angry,” he said, reinspecting the damage during an interview with The Weekender.

“I still am. It’s frustrating and really disappointing that it’s taken them this long to do anything about this road.

“I have to replace bushings and tyres on my car because of how much wear and tear the potholes on this road have caused.”

He said he doubted the $2 million resealing project would improve the state of Middleton Road.

He pointed out a series of exposed inspection lids along the road that do not sit flush.

The worst one, he said, is located on the corner of Middleton Road and Suffolk Street – the main exit from Albany Primary School.

The inspection lid is unavoidable when turning left off Suffolk Street, as it is located close to the centre of the lane.

Mr Laurens said drivers would be forced into the oncoming lane to avoid the unmarked hazard.

“It’s so dangerous, it’s definitely a safety hazard,” he said.

“Can you imagine if a moped hit that?

“You could fall off or crash.”

The roadworks project began in January and the City had expected it to be finished by the end of this month.

Now, Executive Director for Infrastructure and Environment Matthew Thomson says works will not be complete until mid to late May.

“Unforeseeable conditions with respect to the drainage infrastructure have resulted in a delay,” he said.

“The improved road will include a new asphalt surface, with 1.5 to 2m wide cycle lanes [that] will be red to provide improved delineation for cyclists.

“The existing surface had reached the end of its life and the new surface will extend the expected the life of the road by 30 to 40 years.”

Mr Thomson said a 40kph speed limit and roadworks signs were in place in the area.

He said the exposed inspection lids would be made flush with the road once roadworks were complete.