By Danielle Kutchel
Large potholes on Rix Road have been filled in by Cardinia Council workers – but not before wreaking havoc on local drivers.
The potholes had formed along a seam where the old road surface had been joined to the new surface during recent re-routing works connected to the neighbouring Arcadia housing estate.
Regular wear and tear from drivers, including school traffic and trucks carting materials to nearby build sites, had made the craters worse and drivers were forced to wind their way around the holes – even, in some cases, veering onto the other side of the road.
Amber Morrissey’s partner was one of the unfortunate ones.He hit the potholes two weeks ago, resulting in a flat tyre and buckled rim.
The repairs have set them back $330 at a time when they need this least: Ms Morrissey lost her job as a flight attendant when the pandemic hit, and has since been stood down from a second job too.
“It could kill someone, make them run off the road,” she said.
“They should compensate people when it happens there and maintain it – either block the road off if they can’t maintain it, or fill it daily.”
Another local driver, who wished to remain anonymous, hit the holes on Saturday, puncturing the side of their tyre.
They’ll need a new one, but they won’t receive compensation for the damage from the council or VicRoads as the cost of replacing the tyre falls below the threshold for compensation.
“I think any damages caused by the road itself should be covered,” the driver said.
“There could also be warning signs as you approach. I was going under the speed limit and it still happened.”
Just days after the Pakenham Gazette sent a number of questions to Cardinia Council, the potholes were filled in what seems to be a temporary fix on the afternoon of Monday 3 August.
Cardinia Shire Council’s general manager infrastructure and environment, Peter Benazic, said the council “repairs road defects as quickly as possible and in accordance with our Road Management Plan.”
Rix Road is slated for an upgrade in 2021, with the connected Officer South Road getting a freeway ramp by 31 December 2021.
The intersection of Rix, Bridge, Station and Officer South roads will receive traffic lights and Officer South Road will be upgraded between the freeway and Rix Road to a four-lane arterial road.
Mr Benazic confirmed that at this stage, construction plans for the freeway link are on track.
