Water will be sprayed over the Oxley Highway in the next few days as the road melts even more in the current heatwave conditions.
The road began melting in December in 31C heat and is now melting even more as temperature soar higher.
Save the Oxley campaigner Ken Healey says the lines of molten tar are “right on the line your bike is going to take”.
In a short-term fix, the Roads and Maritime Services poured sand on the slippery melting tar last week. This prompted outrage from riders.
Motorcycle Council of NSW chairman Steve Pearce said it was “very disappointing to see this work without any consideration for motorcyclists”.
“You could easily come to the conclusion that Melinda Pavey doesn’t want motorcyclists to use this road, remember it was just a year ago when the speed limit was dropped,” he says.
Water to cool road
Now the RMS says Walcha Council will spray the melting road surface with water between Toms Creek and 85km west of Wauchope “due to extreme heatwave conditions”.
“Roads and Maritime Services acknowledge water is a scarce resource at this time, however it is required to ensure the safety of motorists and keep the road open,” a spokesperson says.
“Council will be monitoring the road and will use the water cart as required to cool the bitumen for the safety of all road users.
“Roads and Maritime is working with Walcha Council to identify and carry out further work in the coming weeks, taking into account appropriate weather conditions required for this treatment.
“Road users are reminded to take care and drive to conditions on all roads in northern and western NSW following extreme weather events.”
Speeds in affected areas will be reduced to 60km/h with variable message signs indicating the speed change and the affected road surface.
After the images were posted, RMS spread thick sand over the road in what independent road surface expert and rider Ian Kite says is a short-term fix only.
Melting tar cause
Ian Kite, a 40-year local government infrastructure manager and lecturer in road construction, pavement design and bitumen sealing says the technical term for melting tar is “bleeding”.
“The cause of the problem is the aggregate in the seal being completely submerged by the bitumen and allowing the tyres to make contact with the bitumen,” he says.
“This can be caused by a number of factors – usually a combination of several.”
How to fix the issue
Ian says sand is the “quickest/simplest/cheapest solution” in the short term to absorb the excess bitumen.
Sometimes fine aggregate or crusher dust is also applied.
“The bitumen adheres to the surface of the particles and is no longer free to stick to tyres or present a slick surface,” he says.
He says the photos of the road indicate a high application rate of sand resulting in a loose, unbound surface “not much better than the slick road”.
“It’s pretty hard/near impossible to get the application rate just right since the bleeding of the surface is not uniform,” he says.
“Therefore it is usual to over-apply the sand or dust, but sweep off the excess ASAP.
“Until the sweeping is done, appropriate ‘slippery surface’ signage should be in place.
“I would expect the sweeping to be carried out within 24 hours. It may be necessary to re-apply the sand on subsequent hot days followed by sweeping.”
Other long-term solutions require analysis, design and specialist equipment to implement, Ian says.
Treatments include application of a “fog” coat of bitumen, rolling in another layer of aggregate, removal of excess bitumen by water blasting and replacement of the entire seal.
Ian says the analysis, design and resourcing of these treatments may take a couple of months to a year to organise and finance.
Since we published an article about the thick sand across the road, Roads and Maritime Services have been actively sweeping the road.
However, Motorcycle Council of NSW chairman Steve Pearce says it is “very disappointing to see this work without any consideration for motorcyclists”.
“You could easily come to the conclusion that Melinda Pavey doesn’t want motorcyclists to use this road, remember it was just a year ago when the speed limit was dropped,” he says.
Warning signs have also been posted on the area of road 25km west of Gingers Creek not far past the 80km/h zone.
The road began melting a few weeks ago in the heat. These photos were taken when the temperature was 31C.
After the images were posted, RMS spread thick sand over the road in what independent road surface expert and rider Ian Kite says is a short-term fix only.
Melting tar cause
The 40-year local government infrastructure manager and lecturer in road construction, pavement design and bitumen sealing says the technical term for the melting tar is “bleeding”.
“The cause of the problem is the aggregate in the seal being completely submerged by the bitumen and allowing the tyres to make contact with the bitumen,” he says.
“This can be caused by a number of factors – usually a combination of several.”
How to fix the issue
Ian says sand is the “quickest/simplest/cheapest solution” in the short term to absorb the excess bitumen.
Sometimes fine aggregate or crusher dust is also applied.
“The bitumen adheres to the surface of the particles and is no longer free to stick to tyres or present a slick surface,” he says.
He says the photos of the road indicate a high application rate of sand resulting in a loose, unbound surface “not much better than the slick road”.
“It’s pretty hard/near impossible to get the application rate just right since the bleeding of the surface is not uniform,” he says.
“Therefore it is usual to over-apply the sand or dust, but sweep off the excess ASAP.
“Until the sweeping is done, appropriate ‘slippery surface’ signage should be in place.
“I would expect the sweeping to be carried out within 24 hours. It may be necessary to re-apply the sand on subsequent hot days followed by sweeping.”
Other long-term solutions require analysis, design and specialist equipment to implement, Ian says.
Treatments include application of a “fog” coat of bitumen, rolling in another layer of aggregate, removal of excess bitumen by water blasting and replacement of the entire seal.
Ian says the analysis, design and resourcing of these treatments may take a couple of months to a year to organise and finance.
Riders have been alarmed to find sand over a section of the Oxley Highway where hot weather has caused the asphalt to melt and become slippery.
The Roads and Maritime Services was alerted to the problem last week and said they would inspect the surface this week.
“Sand was placed on the Oxley Highway to address soft pavement issues following extreme weather conditions and to improve traction,” an RMS spokesperson says.
“Excess sand is now being removed and a reduced speed of 60km/h is in place until further work is completed on the pavement surface.
“LiveTraffic will be updated to alert riders to the potential hazard at the location.”
It has been placed over melting tar on the road about 25km west of Gingers Creek not far past the 80km/h zone.
He says there are warning signs in place but was critical of the thick sand left behind.
RMS says “:further surface treatment is required”.
“Roads and Maritime Services is working with Walcha Council to carry out this work in the coming weeks, taking into account appropriate weather conditions required for this treatment,” the spokesperson says.
The molten tar lines are “right on the line your bike is going to take”, Ken says.
These photographs were taken when the temperature was 31C.
Melting road surfaces have also been encountered on recent roadworks on the mountain section of the Oxley Highway.
“It is already getting slippery on the new surface that is only a few weeks old, on the bottom half of the mountain,” Ken says.
“It will be ripped to bits by the end of summer and even more dangerous.
Oxley roadworks
The RMS told us last week it is “investing in the safety of Oxley Highway with a significant package of work recently implemented along the corridor”.
Roads and Maritime undertook resealing work in November and December on the Oxley Highway between Toms Creek and 85 kilometres west of Wauchope, which includes work in the mountain section.
“This reseal was comprised of a spray seal mix of bitumen and aggregate,” the spokesperson says.
“It is acknowledged motorbike riders frequently use the Oxley Highway for recreational purposes.
“Riders need to take safety precautions at all times while riding and this includes being aware of the road environment, particularly during extreme temperatures at this time of year – which can affect road surfaces.”
Save the Oxley organiser Ken Healey on his BMW K 1300 R (Photo: Keoghs Vision Photography)
From Sunday (January 13, 2019) there will be lane closures at Spencers Cutting for roadworks on a 1.2km section of the highway.
To reduce impact on traffic, work will be carried out between 6pm and 6am from Sunday and is expected to be complete by Friday 25 January, weather permitting.
Traffic control and a reduced speed limit of 40km/h will be in place.
For the latest traffic updates download the Live Traffic NSW App, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.
More complaints
This is not the first time riders have complained about roadworks on the Oxley Highway.
Parts of the famed and much-loved Oxley Highway are melting in recent heatwave conditions, prompting a departmental inspection to assess the dangers to motorcyclists.
Local rider Ken Healey says on the Port Macquarie Road Riders Facebook page that the road 25km west of Gingers Creek not far past the 80km/h zone is melting in the heat.
He says the lines of molten tar are “right on the line your bike is going to take”.
Photographs on this page were taken when the temperature was 31C.
“Clearly it is not lasting and extremely dangerous.”
He says he and another rider had a front-tyre slip out on the molten tar.
We contacted Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) about the melting road and they said they said it would be inspected.
“The Mid North Coast maintenance teams are inspecting the section of the Oxley Highway this week, to determine if any further work is needed to ensure the safety of road users,” a spokesperson says.
Melting moments
A similar melting incident was encountered last summer on Mt Glorious Rd west of Brisbane.
Melting road surfaces have also been encountered on recent roadworks on the mountain section of the Oxley Highway.
“It is already getting slippery on the new surface that is only a few weeks old, on the bottom half of the mountain,” Ken says.
“It will be ripped to bits by the end of summer and even more dangerous.
Oxley roadworks
The RMS says it is “investing in the safety of Oxley Highway with a significant package of work recently implemented along the corridor”.
Roads and Maritime undertook resealing work in November and December on the Oxley Highway between Toms Creek and 85 kilometres west of Wauchope, which includes work in the mountain section.
“This reseal was comprised of a spray seal mix of bitumen and aggregate,” the spokesperson says.
“It is acknowledged motorbike riders frequently use the Oxley Highway for recreational purposes.
“Riders need to take safety precautions at all times while riding and this includes being aware of the road environment, particularly during extreme temperatures at this time of year – which can affect road surfaces.”
Save the Oxley organiser Ken Healey on his BMW K 1300 R (Photo: Keoghs Vision Photography)
More complaints
This is not the first time riders have complained about roadworks on the Oxley Highway.
