Resurfacing Sandpits Lane and Far Westrip

I have had queries from two residents about the re-tarmacing of these two roads in Randwick. It is great the work has now been completed last week.

Photos; taken last week

Sandpits Lane and Far Westrip have been on Highways to do list in their top ten priorities for at least 6 years - I am told by Randwick Parish Chair that several times they got as high as number 3 in the list.

The state of the both roads after the recent bad weather was even worse - here is one comment sent to Highways and copied to me: "As far as my amateur eye can see they have done an excellent job. They were cheerful, polite and hardworking and nothing was too much trouble in helping residents out in the event of the unavoidable daytime closures of these two "no through" roads with only one way in or out for both traffic and pedestrians. They were also meticulous in clearing up afterwards and even went to the trouble of ensuring that the stop cocks etc to each property were left clear and accessible...Would you please pass on my thanks to your team for all their hard work, care and consideration."


Recent background to the works - based on response from Highways

In the autumn of 2009 it was decided that a small amount of Highways routine maintenance budget would be used for machine lay works on some of the minor routes. These routes were selected on the basis of road condition, requests from stakeholders and due to the relative low traffic flows would not receive funding through the County structural maintenance programme for a considerable period of time. Sandpits Lane was one of the locations selected and in order to obtain best value for this work all locations county wide were tendered for by private contractors. This was all done prior to the bad weather experienced recently.

Due to the width restrictions on many of these lanes, full closures were required and this takes a 12 weeks notice period, thus being the reason for the works being carried out now. The decision was taken to carry on with this work due to the fact the tender and road closure processes had been completed and we took into account the wasted staff time in the late cancellation of this work.

Since the turn of the year a full assessment has been carried out on County key route network and our programme has been revised, including bringing forward a number of urgent schemes on the A38 Hardwicke and A419 Stonehouse & Cowcombe Hill to be completed prior to the end of March.