Temporary repairs to the famed and much-loved Oxley Highway mountain section are “dangerous”, according to local riders, but the road is set to be resurfaced “in coming months”.
Local rider Ken Healey (pictured above) says on the Port Macquarie Road Riders Facebook page that the mountain is “in the worst state I have ever seen it”.
“Most of the recent repairs have been ripped up by rain, trucks and cars,” says Ken who organised the Save the Oxley petition and rally to retain the highway speed limits.
“With the chip seal ripped out and combined with clay, mud and loose gravel everywhere, it’s dangerous up there.”
Temporary repairs
Save the Oxley organiser Ken Healey on his BMW K 1300 R (Photo: Keoghs Vision Photography)Roads and Maritime Services this week began temporary repair work on the stretch of Oxley Highway between Toms Creek and 85km west of Wauchope in preparation for resealing work.
“The work will continue to take place over the next week, weather permitting,” an RMS spokesperson says.
“The work involves repairing defects in the road surface prior to the final resurfacing work. Resurfacing is expected to start in November this year, weather permitting.”
The temporary repairs involve applying a chip seal which Ken says is a “waste of money” and causing concern among local riders.
However, the RMS confirms that the final resurfacing on this section will compromise a “spray seal mix of bitumen and aggregate”.
That’s good news, but the RMS cautions riders in the meantime to “exercise caution”.
The RMS also thanks motorists for their patience in road work zones over the coming months.
This is not the first time riders have complained about roadworks on the Oxley Highway.
In May, they expressed concern about the placement of low-friction ripple strips on the road.
Riders said they considered the ripple strips to be dangerous to riders.