Roadworks a nightmare

Sleep-deprived Bundall residents say machinery noise is as loud as a rock concert

SUE Elliott and dozens of her Bundall neighbours say they have spent the past month in a zombie-like state unable to sleep because of loud night roadworks.

A number of complaints have been lodged with the Department of Transport and Main Roads but the noise from the roadworks on Bermuda St between Vespa Cres and Mon- aco St bridge continues to drive residents in the area out of their beds every night.

Some residents said they were sleeping away from their homes a few nights a week and others had taken to walking the streets to alleviate their frustrations.

Residents are expected to have to suffer through at least another fortnight of late-night and early-morning noise.

The night works are taking place to avoid closing a lane of the busy road during peak Nobody expected the noise 24 hours a day times during the day. Once complete, about 8km of the road will be widened to three lanes to allow for the increasing volume of traffic, especially during the Commonwealth Games.

Ms Elliott, who is fighting leukaemia, said the loud thumping and grumbling of the machinery since early last month had been so loud she had bought a decibel monitor to test the noise at night.

“Nobody expected the noise 24 hours a day,” she said.

The Boomerang Cres resident said her monitor showed the noise settled between 85 decibels – about the same level as a blender – and 110 decibels – the same reading usually seen at a rock concert.

“No one would mind if it was just a week but we don’t know when it will end,” she said.

Ms Elliott said she did not understand why the night works had been deemed necessary and why other, quieter machinery could not be used while people were sleeping.

A department spokesman said they worked with the contractor to minimise noise but did not say if action had been taken.

“We continually monitor the contractor’s performance to ensure they are addressing the community’s needs during construction,” the spokesman said.

He said the contractors were trying to complete the noisiest work during the early part of the night to avoid keeping people awake.

Night works will continue solidly for the next two weeks and residents will be notified if more night works are to be scheduled throughout the project.

RESIDENT SUE ELLIOTT