MORE than six months after Lakeside Drive was ripped up, disgruntled residents have pleaded with Wagga City Council to put an end to the road's delay-plagued reconstruction.
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On Thursday, residents along the leafy lakeside strip could do nothing but watch as graders, rollers and tip trucks full of dirt went backwards and forwards along the street - again.
Many spoke of their shock at looking out the window at piles of dirt rather than the start of a bitumen seal they'd been told was likely to occur.
According to Wagga City Council, rain and cool temperatures were to blame for the extensive delay and a final seal is set to occur within weeks - when testing allows it.
A council spokesman said since work began on March 4, the city had experienced 78 wet days and 282mm of rain, which had "significantly impacted" its progress.
"The wet weather has resulted in almost half the construction days being lost to wet days," the spokesman said in a statement.
"Colder ambient temperatures have also hindered progress on dry days due to materials taking longer to dry out and much of the works being undertaken below drainage level requiring, in some instances, water to be pumped from the site before work could continue."
"Council is currently testing the strength of the road base and, pending final results, final sealing of Lakeside Drive is scheduled for late September."
Mel Hopwood, who has lived in the street since he built his house there in November 1970, added some humour to the disgruntled views reflected by the majority of residents during an Advertiser doorknock between Lansdowne Avenue and Lake Albert Road on Thursday.
"Aren't we lucky they're not building the Hume Highway," Mr Hopwood said.
"It's just the wastage ... the cost of doing this must be unbelievable.
"I've forgotten how many times they've dug it up.
"They're always blaming the weather, but the weather's been good lately."
Another resident said she couldn't get out of her driveway yesterday because of the large amount of dirt in front of it.
The woman - who preferred not to be named - said she had been told the road was to be sealed yesterday.
"It's a joke," she said.
"I know you've got to put up with it, but it's beyond that.
"It's just a waste of money ... I've just watched so many mistakes in what they've done."
Others, who also wished to remain anonymous, echoed the sentiment.
"We were amazed when we saw this grader come down here (yesterday morning) and rip it all up, we thought it was all ready for sealing," a man said.
"It's just a nightmare ... there's just been no thought for the residents at all," a woman added.
Other residents were a little more accommodating.
"It is slower than we thought, but the people working on it are very considerate and do anything to help you," one woman said.
"It's been pretty frustrating ... but there's nothing much you can do about it," said another.
Council acknowledged "the inconvenience the project has caused to residents" and staff "were endeavouring to complete the works as quickly and practical".