Work has started on improvements to one of the Goulburn district's busiest roads.
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Crews began work on Windellama Road between Gundary Road and Spa Road several weeks ago. The $5.5 million project involves pavement rehabilitation, curve realignments and major drainage upgrades. It is being part funded by the state and federal governments' accelerated Fixing Local Roads program.
The council scored a $4.56m grant in April and tipped in $1m itself for the thoroughfare, often used as faster south coast route.
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"This funding injection has allowed us to bring forward a significant amount of work for Windellama Road, which residents know is becoming busier each year," Mayor Bob Kirk said.
The project will be undertaken in five stages, starting at the Oallen Ford Road and Windellama Road intersection. A council spokesman said work would move to the section between Windellama Road and Elouera Lane in coming months.
In related news, the council has increased the number of roads to be resealed this financial year. Operations director Matt O'Rourke reported to Tuesday night's meeting that there was a large backlog of roads with poor surface condition.
"The rural resealing program is funded from the internal reserve but this does not cover the full extent of work required each year," his report stated.
"...The majority of road surface in our rural network is comprised of a two-coat bitumen seal...Water ingress into the road network is the main cause of premature failure and increasing the size of our yearly resealing program will help address this."
Mr O'Rourke said prolonging the surface life was much more cost effective than repairing pavement failures due to water penetration.
Councillors signed off on $573,991 being redirected from the $1,073,991 Roads to Recovery grant. This money will pay for section resealing of Gap, Covan Creek, Gurrundah, Rosemont and Oallen Ford Roads. A portion of May Street, Goulburn will also be resealed.
Other roads to be resealed using internal reserves are:
- Lookdown Road;
- Forest Siding Road;
- Rhyanna Road;
- Middle Arm Road;
- Currawang Road;
- Parkesbourne Road;
- Bullamalita Road;
- Readers Road;
- Warrima Road;
- Coopers Lane;
- Mountain Ash Road; and
- Cullerin Road.
A total $500,000 from the Roads to Recovery funding has been allocated to Windellama Road.
Common Street work hits hurdle
Also on the roads front, tenders for construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Sydney Road and Common Street have come in almost $1.5 million above the $7.78m budget.
The work is part of a wider project to create an industrial precinct at north Goulburn, including road widening and water, sewer and stormwater improvements. There are also plans to make Common Street a b-double route with a possible extension south over to the Hume Highway.
The Sydney Road/Common Street roundabout's design has been the subject of ongoing discussion between the council and Transport for NSW. It has also involved minor land acquisition.
Six companies responded when construction tenders were called in March. Mr O'Rourke said two were non-complying and all were $1.5m above the budget.
At his recommendation, councillors decided not to accept any tender but to enter into negotiations with two companies based on the fact they offered 'best value for money,' their designs could be modified with a design and construct option, and the scope of works could be amended. These companies are Cleary Bros Pty Ltd, of Port Kembla, and Ingleburn-based Menai Civil Pty Ltd.
Mr O'Rourke attributed the higher than expected price to delays in receiving Transport for NSW in-principal approval for the concept design. In addition, the original estimate was for traffic lights at the roundabout and "more stringent" requirements were applied to the latter's construction. High demand is the construction market was also a factor.
The state government awarded the council a $7.15m grant for the industrial precinct in 2018. The council has also allocated $638,082 from its funds.
With the total project now set to cost closer to $9.23m, Mr O'Rourke says management will liaise with Transport for NSW about extra funding possibilities, given it is a state road.
"We don't expect them to fully fund it but we will explore the possibility of them contributing some," he said.
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