04-02-2010, 08:41am
Been a long time since I've looked or posted on the site but seeing that a rather large group of you are coming south I'd provide you some up to-date road conditions for the west coast.
I've just completed a west coast loop on the bus plus travelling for work alot lately and he's some observations;
1. There are a lot of road works going on between Tullah and Queenstown on the A10. This is mainly resurfacing, the trouble is that they have used a large amounts of gravel and there is a lot of left over loose gravel remaining. So if you see a road works sign and no painted lines in front please take care. The good news is that the newly renovated clean sections are extremely gripy.
2. Lake Primsol Road (the other road between Tullah and Queenstown - not as many tourists) there's a major creek diversion works about 20kms in from Tullah and a few minor road repairs afterwards. Road is not as good as it once was but still worth a look.
3. Reece Dam (Pieman Road) to Zeehan is still good, some patchy sections put really a must do road.
4. Strahan to Queenstown condition was fine.
5. Queenstown to Derwent Bridge A10 there are some minor road works around Mount Arrowsmith but a lot of resurfaced areas (the white road gravel looks slippery but its fine - by evidence of the black lines left everywhere). Gravel left-over on any new sections is no where as bad as the other side of Queenstown.
6. A10 - Cradle Mountain - Cethana - Sheffield (200mph alley) o'yeah. This road is still in great condition just watch out for Winabago's
In regard to speed camera's, there seems to be more civilian contractors parking there mobile stations on tas tourist routes (know a few people that have been pinged), they seem to back the vehicle up behind the vegetation on exit areas. But having said that I haven't seen one after just completing 2000kms (bike and car) over the last few weeks on the west coast (well not that I know of yet).
Anyway I'm sure you all enjoy the trip and I hope the excellent weather we have been having holds out.
I've just completed a west coast loop on the bus plus travelling for work alot lately and he's some observations;
1. There are a lot of road works going on between Tullah and Queenstown on the A10. This is mainly resurfacing, the trouble is that they have used a large amounts of gravel and there is a lot of left over loose gravel remaining. So if you see a road works sign and no painted lines in front please take care. The good news is that the newly renovated clean sections are extremely gripy.
2. Lake Primsol Road (the other road between Tullah and Queenstown - not as many tourists) there's a major creek diversion works about 20kms in from Tullah and a few minor road repairs afterwards. Road is not as good as it once was but still worth a look.
3. Reece Dam (Pieman Road) to Zeehan is still good, some patchy sections put really a must do road.
4. Strahan to Queenstown condition was fine.
5. Queenstown to Derwent Bridge A10 there are some minor road works around Mount Arrowsmith but a lot of resurfaced areas (the white road gravel looks slippery but its fine - by evidence of the black lines left everywhere). Gravel left-over on any new sections is no where as bad as the other side of Queenstown.
6. A10 - Cradle Mountain - Cethana - Sheffield (200mph alley) o'yeah. This road is still in great condition just watch out for Winabago's
In regard to speed camera's, there seems to be more civilian contractors parking there mobile stations on tas tourist routes (know a few people that have been pinged), they seem to back the vehicle up behind the vegetation on exit areas. But having said that I haven't seen one after just completing 2000kms (bike and car) over the last few weeks on the west coast (well not that I know of yet).
Anyway I'm sure you all enjoy the trip and I hope the excellent weather we have been having holds out.