Bulahdelah bypass

[Wortho]

I was wondering when they are going to finish this 8.6km bypass as it seems to be going on forever and every time I pass through there appears to be hardly any work going on with just a few small gangs spread about making little progress. Mind you I've had plenty of time to make these observations as I've spent many an hour sitting in heavy traffic trying to get through Bulahdelah.

I remember watching the gangs of road crews in Europe build roads very efficiently and there seemed to be 100's of guys working on the same section and ploughing along rather than spread about in small groups scratching about.

Thought I'd do a bit of googling on the bypass and didn't know it was so controversial. From the sounds of it the RTA choose the much more difficult & costly Eastern option and it makes you wonder why they did this?? this article seems to suggest there was something going on between the RTA and the contractors! makes you wonder why they choose the Eastern option if its true that the Western option was far the easier & cheaper choice.
http://bulahdelahbypass.wordpress.com/
Anyway I wish they would hurry up and finish the damn thing and then make a start on a bypass of the Hexham bridge!

[bobnrob]

When/if they do finish, you know it'll only be 'round 3mths & they'll be back into it...repairing!
Then you'll be back to the same ol' same ol'

[singo-26]

I thought it was due to be completed just before it needs to be widened to cater for the traffic flow that was over the RTA's expectations.
I used to live on Abbott Rd at Seven hills, those in Sydney may know that is at the end of the M2 motorway, a representative of the RTA tried to tell us before the M2 was built that they expected a 17% increase in traffic flow over 5 years, anyone could have told them that was completely unrealistic. He seemed offended when I laughed at him.

[Bird]

, a representative of the RTA tried to tell us before the M2 was built that they expected a 17% increase in traffic flow over 5 years, anyone could have told them that was completely unrealistic. He seemed offended when I laughed at him.

dont forget its some kid straight out of highschool on contract min wage that was given the task of working out the traffic flow rates, he was probably given a scalectrix set and abacus to use to work it out.

I never understand why they dont plan ahead when building roads... By the time they usually finish the "new section" it 10yrs out of date.

[Wortho]

Its crazy that the M2 was only opened in 1997 and they are already adding another lane. To make matters worse they did not even plan for an additional lane and major work is now underway to widen bridges etc. It would have been so much easier if they had taken this into account at the time. The cost must be huge and thats without the consideration of the cost to business when their employee's are stuck in traffic jams while the work is going on. The governments in this country are so short sighted and only worry about the next 4 year term and not beyond.

Getting back to the Bulahdelah Bypass which is also 2 lanes either side. Maybe they have made provision for the extra lanes as below. Why not do it now! just claw back some of the $43 Billion + wasted on the NBN network.

Bulahdelah Bypass
Planning approval for the project was obtained on 9 July 2007. The scope of the project includes:

M-class (motorway) standard, 110 km/h speed limit with grade-seperated interchanges;
two lanes in each direction allowing for the future addition of a third lane in each direction;

[alnjan]

You may find Bulahdelah bypass has been put on hold so to speak while they try to complete either Kempsey or other sections, it is all politically motivated unfortunately

[MarkGU]

You may find Bulahdelah bypass has been put on hold so to speak while they try to complete either Kempsey or other sections, it is all politically motivated unfortunately

hey Al.
came through there thursday arvo and they were full steam ahead with machines going left right & centre.



ps. 'bout time we all caught up again for another "planning session"   

[craigtempo]

theve been doing road works there scince the 80s .... surely they will finnish it soon .

craig

[Campfire]

I was involved with the Buladelah Bypass Project, spent close to a year on it amongst other projects, Baulderstone is main client we were dealing with.

There was some within the local community who had concerns, all contractors were required to operate within strict project / environmental guidelines.

Our part of the work as a contractor is over, and I am looking forward to see how the improvements help with roads and traffic problems.

Cheers

Campfire

[Ranger Mike]

They probably found some green and gold bellfrogs......... As an avid road user infrastructure in this country disgusts me no end and in particular roads building the blatant go slow make our jobs last attitude is very sad indeed IMO
Chinese can build 5k or is that 50k of highway per year and it takes us 20 years to do 1k..... anyways horn blowing over sorry to interupt.

Mike

[Flemo]

Campfire is the only one not speaking total bollocks. Unfortunately, in my opion as a career roadbuilder we loose sight of what the final outcome is ie. Building the road! It's all part of being this modern day please everyone green world power society/country we live in. Save the trees/grass/ frog/bats/platypus/fish etc. If only long term common sense prevailed we could bypass years and millions on the end product. The job will be finished when it is as it has to please many govt departments, with minimal enviro harm and good whs outcomes whilst also keeping the unions onside. Not an easy task really, does the analogy to china really stand true? No Fu(king way!

[gronk]

Earmarked to be finished by Xmas......and looks like it will be this one  coming...!!!!

[BigJules]

It will be a godsend when it is completed, the road to the south (and north of it too) is fantastic now, except for the section just north of Raymond Terrace where the speed limit changes too often.

[Redback]

Going on how long it has taken them to build the F3, I wouldn't hold your breath, my Father worked on it for 2 yrs from the start in 1963 to 1965 when we lived in The Entrance(Central Coast) where it has ended at this point has taken 46yrs, it used to start at Mt Colah and go to Peats Ridge.

The RTA are a joke (sorry the RMS)and don't look at the traffic 10yrs down the track, rather they build roads for the current traffic conditions also the government worries too much about the short term environmental impact, imposed by the green and NPWS, rather than the long term benifits.

Aaaahhh those were the days, get to the end of the freeway at Peats Ridge and it was bumper to bumper all the way to Wyong, and at times all the way to Swansea thanks god I road bikes back then

Baz.

[briann532]

Going on how long it has taken them to build the F3, I wouldn't hold your breath, my Father worked on it for 2 yrs from the start in 1963 to 1965 when we lived in The Entrance(Central Coast) where it has ended at this point has taken 46yrs, it used to start at Mt Colah and go to Peats Ridge.

The RTA are a joke (sorry the RMS)and don't look at the traffic 10yrs down the track, rather they build roads for the current traffic conditions also the government worries too much about the short term environmental impact, imposed by the green and NPWS, rather than the long term benifits.

Aaaahhh those were the days, get to the end of the freeway at Peats Ridge and it was bumper to bumper all the way to Wyong, and at times all the way to Swansea thanks god I road bikes back then

Baz.

Hey Baz, can you imagine trying to propose something like the harbour bridge now?

It would 12 years of surveys and studys. $25billion on environmental surveys and accoustic reporting. At least 2 changes of government would try to get it past before it eventually gets agreed to outsource it to a private consortium.
The price would be astronomical and our grandkids would be paying for it years later.
And of course by the time they finished building the 2 lanes which is all we would get, it would be due for an upgrade because they skimped on quality and its rusting out allready.
The only benefits would go to local hotels and rentals as they would house the offshore labour hauled in to build it!!!!

Bring on a good dose of anarchy

Sorry, I just realised I meant to post this is the joke section......................

[BradandPeta]

I have been through bulahdelah 18 times in the last 2 weeks and it is constantly changing the average car driver can not see the majority of the work going onand the last few nights  they have been working around the clock on a cement pour on a major bridge !! I haven't been held up at all through there though luck would have it I have been going opposite direction when the traffic  has built up from holiday makers !! In fact the only hold ups in each 900km trip have been gooses that think its a great idea to work all day then load there most valuable possession .. There family and drive on a road they don't know in the middle of the night, so they r either on and off the brakes as they try and work out if that taree exit will get them to Byron bay or they are drifting and varying speed  while they nod off or they are on the phone ( yep I can pick em every time ) doing 90 kmh and just as I get 26 odd metres of trailers past them they get off the phone and shoot up the inside of u at 120kmh !!!
Yep the roads are not the best in  nsw but it's the users on the roads that make it frustrating I know 3 lane roads in Sydney that are a car park mornings and arvo u reckon another lane or two would fix it ? Doubt it, it would just be a bigger car park .
End of rant sorry just my opinion

[Campfire]

As a contractor on the Buladelah Bypass Project, the principle contractor had us operating to a tight schedule, the conditions and requirements of our project management plans were quite detailed. Allowances for delays in production have to be made for factors like maintenance repairs, servicings and estimated breakdowns ( all factored in to overal plan), other issues included the weather ( we couldn't operate in rain or thunderstorm), condition of ground ( drying out  mud/ clay environment).

Outside the strict quota we had, there was a  constant list external key stakeholder requirements to meet. The RTA and various other representatives / inspections were constantly checking up to make sure their conditions were met. If we breached any one of numerous requirements, we would be heavily penalized/ fined. For some of our tasks,we had to have it in writing well in advance when we were going to temporarily close traffic off, if we went out that side that pre-approved plan then once again we would be severely penalized, even if it was just a couple of minutes outside the
schedule.

While I have no intention of giving any details about the Buladelah bypass project itself, contractors on these kinds  of projects are constantly under the pump by external interest groups, and most
project managers, supervisors and employees are working very hard to keep to conditions set in their project management plans. I'm now working as a contractor on the Hunter Expressway Project, along with other projects in other states ( NSW, Qld, SA, Vic).

Regards

Campfire

[Redback]

It's not who is doing or working on these projects the RTA design/impliment, it's the lack of forsight the RTA have, they are designing roads for now, not for the future, I understand delays when work is being done and yes moron drivers are half to blame with there gorking at what's going on, this project from Syd to Bris should have been finished 20yrs ago and should be 3 lanes.

Also why go into Sydney, why not go around it

Baz.

[BradandPeta]

Not saying 3 lanes wouldn't be nice baz but why is it needed ? When the only trouble with 2 lanes or even one lane Is either side of a long weekend maybe 1 percent of the year if that ? How does that justify billions spent on a highway  just because it inconveniences holiday traffic a minority of the time ?

[gronk]

Not saying 3 lanes wouldn't be nice baz but why is it needed ? When the only trouble with 2 lanes or even one lane Is either side of a long weekend maybe 1 percent of the year if that ? How does that justify billions spent on a highway  just because it inconveniences holiday traffic a minority of the time ?

Good point Brad, but its usually that 1% of the time that holiday makers get killed......and that gets the emotions going.....and thats when something gets done ( well...some of the time anyway  )

Most of the trouble is the lack of driver training....seems to be worse nowadays.......lots of very cautious drivers who won't or can't travel near the speed limit, who cause people to be impatient and try and get around them...

[BradandPeta]

True gronk , for example when a ute driven by a intoxicated male got wedged under a banana truck ran off the road at urunga and killed the ute driver and a boy asleep in the house there was an up roar about the state of roads in this country yet less then 12 hours later a car left the road on the kew bypass and ran into a tree (hence brand new dual lane good condition road ) killing both occupants very little was said I remember it just made the news as a statistic , also very tragic!

[Paul Brooks]

I have been involved with studying the Bulahdelah Upgrade for 11 years now, some have been involved longer.  Any delays have only been caused due to the RMS formerly RTA with their own stupidity and not being able to listen to what well informed people were trying to tell them.  The Alum Mountain is prone to landslides and boulder falls which is currently happening at the top of the Mountain at this moment.  The landslides and boulder falls are due to the vibration and blasting used in the construction of the highway.  I have all of the reports for this project dating from the year 2000, and even these reports tell you that they should not have attempted construction using this route, Option A to the West of the township was the clear winner all round, including cheaper.  There is a great website available with all the true facts regarding the Bulahdelah Upgrade if anyone cares to learn more, this website contains the true facts and not assumptions or RMS media propaganda.

http://bulahdelahbypass.wordpress.com

[BradandPeta]

Is it true Paul that the contractors in the last stage finished the project at the wrong area to link up with this current stage at the southern end ? I remember hearing this awhile ago ? Or did a whole section that won't be used or something along those lines ?

[Paul Brooks]

Is it true Paul that the contractors in the last stage finished the project at the wrong area to link up with this current stage at the southern end ? I remember hearing this awhile ago ? Or did a whole section that won't be used or something along those lines ?

I'm not sure about this BradandPeta, the whole project has been based on covering up and misleading the public.  Just a little while ago I was walking on the Alum Mountain and photographed where a section of the newly constructed batter had slipped away, if completed this is one section of the highway I will never drive along.  A lot of the alignment is also constructed within a registered Public Reserve, again this is illegal.  There is also a Facebook Group that has lots of photographs and information.  Link provided below for anyone who is interested.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/121807998591/

[Ranger Mike]

does the analogy to china really stand true? No Fu(king way!

This is just an example    there are many third world countries across the globe who do build roads a lot more efficiently than we do......