Commuters on the Barton Highway have faced further delays after work on the Gounyan Curves upgrade didn’t meet Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) standards.
Part of the upgrade has been reduced to a 60km/h speed limit while the contractor repairs the potholes.
“Because we commute we depend on the road being able to run at 100km/h and to have a significant part of that road reduced to 60km/h it really eats up time,” Yass resident Alex Tewes said.
He said people who were unfamiliar with the road would slow down too much and would cause a bank up of traffic.
The commuter said that leads to the potential for “idiots to try to overtake when it’s not safe”.
An RMS spokeswoman said the original construction didn’t meet the specifications and the contractor has been instructed to repair the road.
“A number of technical issues as well as extreme weather conditions contributed to problems with the road surface,” the spokeswoman said.
Work to repair the damaged surface started on April 16 and involved filling holes and improving the road surface. She said potholes had developed in the repairs after recent heavy rain.
Mr Tewes said he was unhappy with the interim fix and loose gravel on parts of the patching was causing frustrating for drivers.
He questioned whether drivers could be able to make a claim against the contractor for the cost of fixing stone chips and damaged windscreens.
“It’s unlikely but it really is upsetting,” Mr Tewes said.
Murrumbateman resident Chantal Fleming wrote a letter to the editor last week (Yass Tribune, May 2) questioning why the repairs had taken so long.
“They seem to have repaired it three or four times,” she told the Tribune. “I’m just surprised that they built the section near Capricorn Stud and we haven’t had a problem with it.”
The RMS said further work will be carried out from mid May and is expected to be completed by the end of the month, weather permitting.