Oak Flats upgrade hits a speed hump

BRENDAN CRABB

THE RTA has assured the public that the anticipated completion of the Dunmore to Oak Flats upgrade of the Princes Highway would not be delayed, despite the laying of the wrong road base on a lengthy strip of the road’s surface.

The $130 m upgrade includes the construction of a four-lane divided carriageway from Oak Flats to Dunmore, the construction of the upgrade of Shellharbour Rd to four lanes and the building of a grade-separated interchange with Shellharbour Rd.

The 5.5km deviation is part of the State Government’s plan to construct four lanes from Sydney to south of Kiama by 2010.

An RTA spokesperson confirmed last week the project contractor Fulton-Hogan had used the wrong material which had since expanded, on a section of road near “The Bends” at Oak Flats.

“The contractor used the material on around 7km of the road surface,” the spokesperson said. “This has caused the road surface to crack. At the time the RTA asked the contractor to rectify the matter.

“The contractor is in the process of removing and replacing this material.”

The spokesperson said the contractor would cover the repair costs, which were still to be determined, and that the project was on budget and schedule.

“The RTA expects the anticipated date of late 2009 for completion still remains, weather permitting,” she said. “It won’t go into 2010.”

When contacted Fulton-Hogan declined to comment.

• From June 30, traffic will be diverted onto the new part of Shellharbour Rd south of Cove Boulevard and rejoin the existing Shellharbour Rd near the Shellharbour Anglican College. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction with reduced speed limits.