Sleepless nights during highway repairs
SLEEPLESS nights as a result of road works on Thames Highway in Oamaru have driven a couple from their home — for a few days at least.
Noel and Maureen Bradshaw, who live on the busy stretch of State Highway 1, have had enough of being kept awake at night by the sound of heavy vehicles rumbling along the highway.
The roadworks, being carried out between Raglan and Virgil Sts by the NZ Transport Agency as part of a roading rebuild programme, started on March 3, after preparations got under way on February 26.
It was anticipated the work would take 10 days to complete.
However, wet weather and deepseated subsidence around an abandoned water main in the northbound traffic lane delayed the project and pushed out the estimated completion date to Friday.
Those delays have frustrated Mr Bradshaw and led to sleepless nights. Directly outside the couple’s home is a dip in the road, where a new layer of seal was yet to be laid, that Mr Bradshaw said caused vehicles to ‘‘bounce’’.
‘‘We had no sleep whatsoever on Wednesday night. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday it’s very busy with big rigs at night. We’re doubleglazed and fully insulated. Usually you don’t hear them, but with that big dip you do.
‘‘It’s like living in an earth quake. The house was shaking at times.’’
Mr Bradshaw was so frustrated, he and his wife have decided to spend a few days with friends further south to ‘‘get away from the noise’’.
He also said access to his property had been restricted on at least one occasion, forcing him to move road cones so he could use his driveway.
He criticised the agency for a lack of communication, which he said was ‘‘nonexistent’’.
‘‘There has been no communication from them. There’s been absolutely nothing. We didn’t even know the road works were happening until we read about it in the Oamaru Mail.
‘‘They’ve been here for a month. You just wonder how efficient they are.’’
NZ Transport Agency network manager Chris Harris said staff had taken steps to keep the public informed.
‘‘The contracting team has been in contact with the council, local businesses and residents. This has been through a combination of inperson visits, flyers, phone and email correspondence. Additionally, NZ Transport Agency staff also have been in direct con tact with council. Media were updated on the extended timeframe for this work after the water main discovery as of 16 March.’’
BG’s Dairy and Takeaway owner Pavan Patel said his business had taken a hit due to the road works.
‘‘It’s had a really big impact on business. We’re not even doing half of what we were . . . maybe a third.
‘‘We didn’t receive any notification . . . usually they would send us a letter but this time there was nothing.’’
Northside New World owner Nicola Hollyer said her business had similar issues.
‘‘We acknowledge our business has been impacted by the current road works occurring on the Thames Highway . . . we have experienced a decline in the number of customers through our doors.’’
McKeown Group sales manager Malcolm McKeown said the company’s Thames Highway service station had seen a ‘‘marked decrease in sales’’ since the road works began, and access for fuel and stock deliveries had also been affected.
Mr Harris confirmed crews would work over Otago Anniversary weekend in an effort to complete the work before Easter.
Further work is planned between Dee St and Orana Park (northbound) and around the Cross St intersection.
❛ It’s like living in an earthquake.
The house was shaking at times