QLDC rips up new arterial road surface due to 'cooler weather'

Crux readers have been in touch today wondering why newly-laid asphalt for the controversial $128 million arterial road was being ripped up only hours after being poured.

Workers have been seen dumping tons of asphalt into trucks before it was carted off to an unknown destination.

In a social media post early this evening (March 7, 2024) the council has admitted that the brand new road surface "has not achieved required quality standards" due to "challenges such as cooler temperatures".

Crux has submitted detailed questions to QLDC about this latest incident including why the road surface was laid when cooler temperatures had been very clearly forecast many days in advance.

Here's the full statement from QLDC:

"Nightworks along Frankton Road (between Suburb and Melbourne Street) have been extended to finish up on a slightly later date of Thursday 21 March.

"This follows a short pause in the work this week due to weather conditions and some quality testing.

"The alliance team has been working through the evenings on Frankton Road over the past 2 ½ weeks, preparing the new road and pouring asphalt. But unfortunately we’ve been advised of some challenges such as cooler temperatures, which have led to concerns that some of the asphalt poured so far has not achieved required quality standards.

"While this is disappointing as it means the team will need to remove the affected asphalt and redo the work to ensure the required quality standards are met, it also demonstrates that our quality assurance processes are working well.

"Work to remove the affected asphalt started this morning. Night works are due to recommence on Sunday 10 March.

"Here’s what to expect:

• Nightworks from Sunday 10 March, between 8.00pm and 6.00am until Thursday 21 March (morning of Friday 22 March 2024). Sundays to Thursdays only.
• During nightworks, stop/go will be in place on a section of Frankton Road, as shown on the map below.
• Maintenance work on a water valve on the lake side of Frankton Road will take place towards the end of the nightworks, at this stage expected on Wednesday 20 March and Thursday 21 March (morning of Friday 22 March 2024)
• Daytime work will continue, focusing on preparing as much groundwork as possible, for the evening crew to continue."