Another contribution from Daft Old Duffer, in his own words. Guest opinion articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the publication. Ed
Up until now discussion and comments on the PFI road renewal scheme has largely concentrated, naturally enough, on the various financial implications for us Island residents.
But now all that seems to be done and dusted – despite what any of us residents think about the matter – perhaps it’s time to move on to consideration of the ways all the work on the ground may also affect us.
I’m no expert
I must emphasise here that I am in no way an expert on the ins and outs of road building. Yet certain aspects of an enterprise this large seem obvious.
One fortunate aspect of the council’s lack of proper road maintenance over the years has been that we’ve been largely left alone to cruise at will. With only the relatively minor irritation of the ‘road-ups’ due to the utility companies patching up their pipes and cables to disturb our freedom to drive where and when we want.
I believe the arrival of the PFI will change all that dramatically.
Two asphalt plants
Let’s start with the – to date – two proposed asphalt plants. One on the River Medina, and the other at the gravel extraction works on St George’s Down.
The proposal to site the asphalt plant on the river Medina is, I presume, to allow the delivery of the large quantities of tar product and chippings needed, by barge, thus keeping Island roads free of at least this part of the operation.
I don’t know if the St George’s site can supply the grit from its own resources, on the other hand. But in any case, the tar product at least will have to be transferred from barge to lorry and conveyed through Newport.
Continuous supply
And whatever site is chosen, this supply of raw material to the plant, and the subsequent delivery to the various road reconstruction sites will need to be continuous.
Why? Because it would be massively uneconomic to heat and allow to cool down – over a weekend for example – and then reheat, the product.
Maybe I’ve got it wrong
Maybe the work will be done in a straight sequence of places, one following quietly on another, while the rest of the Island is left in peace, at least until its turn comes.
Maybe the asphalt plants will comprise nothing more than a large pot of bubbling tar – smelling rather nice – with Sam the Stirrer wielding his wooden paddle and Harry the lorry driver having a quiet smoke while he waits.
Somehow, though, I don’t think so.
As busy as bees
I think we can look forward to a constant stream of asphalt lorries, all going whichway and back between asphalt plant and the many work sites. Plus a similar stream of lorries conveying the grit.
And let us not forget the other, completely separate convoy of lorries carting away the ‘spent’ tarmac as it is dug up.
To where? Can it be re-used? Will it be, at least in part?
Or is there some part of the Island earmarked as a land fill area? How big an area will it be?
A tourist attraction?
I have to be cynical too, about the promise made by our council that work will not be allowed to affect the tourist season.
Which I remind you, is steadily extending into the months before and especially after the traditional June, July and August months. And now encompasses the period right up to and including Christmas.
Are we really expected to believe that the contractors will leave idle their large and expensive range of equipment and lay off their work force, at exactly the time of year most suited to tarmac laying?
Will there be continuity?
And finally let us consider our beloved utility companies.
Will there be put in place a programme that allows all the pipework, and cables – water, sewage, gas, power, telephone -exposed by the roadwork, to be repaired, replaced, re-routed before the road programme carries on?
Or will they be coming along immediately after our brand new, and paid up new surfaces are laid and polished to a gloss, and dig them all up again? As has always been the practice in the past?
Image: Lars Ploughman under CC BY-SA 2.0
