Bogus Road Works

magiccar9 said :

Chiming in here asking about the ‘roadworks’ on Adelaide avenue. I understand they seem to be fixing the guard rails, but I don’t believe it warrants the 40 or 60 km/h speed zone. I’ll admit I never slow down, simply because when I pass through there is never any workers in sight!

I’ve seen them working on the weekends, with accompanying lane closures. I only use it in mornings and evenings during the week, so I don’t know if anything’s happening in between.

A fairly apt microcosm of ACT roadworks: the new refuge island on State Circle (in front of Hotel Realm) was installed in near-record time – a couple of days, tops. It then sat for two weeks with traffic cones surrounding it, waiting for someone to come and paint the kerbs white. Three weeks after the painter did his bit, the cones still sit, neatly stacked, in the middle of the island.

magiccar9 said :

Would I be wrong to challenge such a issue should I get booked?

Good Luck with that defence.

Chiming in here asking about the ‘roadworks’ on Adelaide avenue. I understand they seem to be fixing the guard rails, but I don’t believe it warrants the 40 or 60 km/h speed zone. I’ll admit I never slow down, simply because when I pass through there is never any workers in sight!
Also, the speed signage surely must adhere to the Aust Road regulations yes? So I’m guessing a sign propped poorly against a small container on the ground doesn’t exactly qualify. Would I be wrong to challenge such a issue should I get booked?

Shirley this injustice calls for a regular thread in the style of the monday bad parking ones.

I have to confess that it is the only time I ever ignore speed rules. Majura Road is a classic example. I’ve been driving on that road every morning and afternoon for the past 6 months now and for the first at least 4 months the only roadworks were near the Federal Highway turn-off but the roadworks speed limit signs were several kilometers before that. Watson Jr used to make me slow down to get a thank you from the digital speed check sign (which is often terribly inaccurate) but now I just keep going a steady 80kph until I see the “extra” roadworks sign that indicates that there is a lollipop guy up ahead.

I had an interesting conversation with Watson Jr the other day in which I argued that ignoring the speed limit there was the wrong thing to do and she argued back that I had a very valid reason for doing so, which then led to me trying to convince her that picking and choosing which road rules to follow is asking for trouble. But still I go 80 there until I see the ‘Prepare to stop’ sign and so do most other drivers who use the road regularly.

While you’re at it – what’s with the roadworks signage on the Parkway just before you pass the turn-off to the Stanhope Memorial Park? There’s a sign there saying “End Roadwork” – really? Where was the start of it? And where was the actual work?

It also seems they’ve left a lot of the roadworks signage around Morshead Dr/Pialligo Ave too (between Monaro Hwy and Fairbairn Ave). Even the speed limit signs have “Road Works” printed on them, yet it must be about the only major road in Canberra at the moment without some sort of modification underway.

Well they better fix the potholes on Main St…

Parkes Way westbound, under GDE. 60 all the time but all that is there EVERY time I drive through is nothing but a portaloo and no workers.
Parked Way eastbound, 70 zone but nobody in sight at 6:30 am!!!!
The 40 zone for “roadworks” down Starke st and all they are doing is fixing the footpaths???
Honestly, does it really affect safety SO much that we have to abide by the rules 24 hours a day whilst they can go home a be safe for 16 hours? Before you all talk about the altered road markings or narrowings, none of the above are applicable. Why then aren’t school zones 40 all the time? Why does the speed limit of 80 apply on a 3 lane “freeway” from Belconnen to Civic? Why doesn’t my car do 90km/h going up the hill on the “freeway” mentioned and I get overtaken by people txting on their mobile phones whilst blinding me with their “fog lights” at 1600 hrs????
BTW, I started getting sarcastic around half way if you didn’t notice.

Sure, but where can you get nice donuts in this town

musing… what a great way for the ACT government to quickly make up any funding shortfalls they find during the year. Send the ACT Traffic Plod out with some Roadworks 40 km/hr signs, set them up… and wait. When the day’s/project’s target is reached, put signs back in boot and head back to town for some nice doughnuts.