The Blacktop is Coming

Probably going to lay hot mix straight over the Gravel Road lol ;)))

Don't laugh too hard Nick, if the state of the road from Lyndhurst to Marree is any indication that's exactly what appears to be the done. A friend I was travelling with, while not an engineer had a bit to do with road construction in NQ and we were commenting on the way it had fallen apart in under three years.

Thankfully the part they sealed in the last couple of years east of Docker River was on a properly formed (and raised) base to decent highway standard. At that rate the $$$ will be a start only.

If this article is any guide, our armed forces wouldn't want to try a cross-country trek in a hurry.

Hi Kazaa,

You may be correct, however, at the current rate of construction, it will be 8 or 9 years before the GCR and the Tanami and fully sealed. This will have very little impact on the current situation in the Asia/Pacific region.

Macca.

If it is indeed for Defense purposes then I guess it makes sense. As they can only drive at night due to the day time temperatures being too hot for our Defense force to operate.
I shit you not, just been talking to some Army guys and girls based in Darwin.
They had just come back from the training ground out at Mount Bundy, night exercises only as day time temps don't allow them to train during the day.
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I heard that.
I'm north of 50 and still crawl around in roof cavities for work during the build up. Sometimes for hours!
I remember doing a job here 10 years ago, 8 days on the trot, 8 hours a day. December. All in the roof!
I would get down every hour or so for 10 minutes, remember walking and standing on the concrete in full sun and feeling cold. Close to heat stroke no doubt, but in my 20's I could have run around all day in a wet suit at Mount Bundy.
So there's my rant. So yeah, they need to be able to travel at night so they need sealed roads :-)

Now your North of 50, it's time to stop going into un-insulated roof spaces. You are too old to be exposed to the 60 plus degrees that is inside a Darwin roof space!

Stop being a hero and make sure you come back home to Berny!

Not worth it mate!

Cheers,
Chris

Hi Pete,

You have lost me with your acronyms. CAR? GARMA? I know GCR is Great Central Road, but have not heard of the others.

Macca.

Central Arnhem Road and GARMA festival presumably Macca

Yep, right..
The CAR is the Central Arnhem Road which in the wet can become impassable and they close the gates at Beswick and GARMA is the Indigenous festival out at their site overlooking the Cape Arnhem peninsular.

Thanks for enlightening me Peter & Bazooka. Never too old to learn.

Macca.

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Well Stephen, we came down the Strzelecki a few weeks ago and I was amazed at the sealing progress. Maybe about 25% of it is already sealed, another 25% is work in progress and the rest was as good as bitumen. All pretty boring really.
There were plenty of workers and if they keep this rate up I wouldn't be surprised to see it completely sealed within a couple of years with EV charging stations along the way!
Are you home yet?

Yes home now unfortunately, will not stop raining and so glad we were not home for winter.

To think it is November tomorrow and we still have not had any warm weather yet, still having the fire on at night.

Planning in progress for next year, but will leave at least 6 weeks earlier to make the most of the warm weather up north.

Not sure if you have looked since you got home, but a majority of the outback roads are closed again……..when will this rain stop.

Regards to you and Roz

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Blimey Stephen, I just read that snow fell not far from you in SA at Mt Bryan.
Your next holiday may be to a ski lodge!