ROADS transport
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Huge machinery surrounds them and hot bitumen can deliver serious burns. While trying to facilitate progress on the work site, they also have to keep traffic flowing as evenly as possible and deal with the impatience of motorists.
Roadworkers deal with danger F every day
ulton Hogan Far North area manager Russell Jecentho says his biggest fear is anyone being hurt, and safety training is treated seriously. He has noticed motorists have become less patient over the years. “The people we have operating the stop-go signs are chosen carefully to have the right temperament as they will often cop a fair bit of abuse unfortunately. The public seems to be far less patient. They just want to go.’’ Jecentho is retiring this month from his 50-year career working for the same road building company. He started working for Northland Road Builders when he was 17 and over the years the company changed names to Reliable Roads before becoming Fulton Hogan. He knows all aspects of the job as he has worked in all of them over the years. “When I started out I was lucky to have a boss who let us have a go on all the machinery. I was like a kid in a sandpit,’’ he said. Jecentho said technology had made gear more driver-friendly, but also more technical. “The basics of making a road are still the same but we use technology to help us. All the roads are surveyed with angles and cambers calculated for speed and corners.
“Grader drivers have information in the cab to know what percentage angles to set the grader blade. Shapes and angles are created for drainage. There’s quite a lot to it,’’ he said. With a permanent staff of 43 and up to 65 in the busy road-building season, Jecentho’s day involves ensuring machinery is in the right place, the crews are organised and finances are sorted. “Roads are expensive things. Projects are all priced out but there is always a chance we might hit unforeseen problems that require more resources. “The big problem in Northland is water and the damage it can do to roads.’’ He said every road is different and coming up with solutions is part of the job. “We are also trying to get each job done as quickly as possible and keep the traffic moving. “Some jobs are super quick but others require more work if problems arise.’’
RJ and Bill
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