[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″ offset=”vc_col-lg-1/5 vc_col-md-1/5 vc_col-xs-1/5″][us_image image=”81825″ size=”thumbnail” align=”left” style=”circle” has_ratio=”1″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/12″ offset=”vc_col-lg-4/5 vc_col-md-4/5 vc_col-xs-4/5″][vc_column_text]By Annette Madjarian[/vc_column_text][us_post_date][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The state of the roads across both the Hills and Hornsby Districts continues to worsen, with potholes now turning into wide gaping holes, leading to treacherous driving conditions for locals.
Locals were again taking to Facebook community pages to vent their frustration. Last month the Galston, Glenorie & Hills Rural Community News reported about the crater-sized potholes along Pitt Town Road and other roads across the Shire.
Residents had described the conditions as “third world standard” and called on Hills Shire Mayor Peter Gangemi to address the worsening problem.
The most recent was a wide gaping hole on River Road, near Old Leets Road (see image, right).
Frustrated residents once again directed their concerns to Mayor Gangemi, who continued to encourage them to report the potholes to Council via their website.
The Mayor then updated residents via the same community Facebook page saying Council had barricaded that part of the road and that further assessments and repairs would be required.
Since our report last month, the News has been inundated with residents’ ongoing concerns about the growing number of potholes, particularly with the recent rain.
Halcrows Road through Glenorie and Cattai has been a major ongoing concern for locals. Parts of the road have potholes that “would swallow a small car”.
Residents have said that phone calls to Council via the “appropriate channels” had fallen on deaf ears for the last six months and that Council was taking temporary band-aid actions instead of allocating funds to properly fix the roads.
A Hills Shire Council spokesperson said that “unrelenting wet weather and flooding along River Road has washed soil from around a pipe, causing a section of road to collapse. A geotechnical engineer assessment is needed to understand the work required to remedy this issue. In the meantime, one lane remains closed to traffic, and barricades and warning signs are in place”.
“In addition to this, Council is aware of the damage to Halcrows Road, in Glenorie, which has also been affected by the constant rain and continuous traffic, which resulted in detours around flood waters. Council is currently working with a number of contractors on the best solution to repair this road.”
“Council understands this is a very challenging time, and thanks residents for their patience and understanding. Council also encourages road users to be safe, slow down when they see road works and to continue to drive to the conditions[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
