11 drivers seeking compensation from roadworks contractor after several cars had their wheels or tyres busted

A State Growth spokeswoman has said so far 11 compensation claims have been lodged after drivers had their car wheels damaged on an unseen road defect during roadworks.

UPDATE:

10.43am November 25, 2021

A State Growth spokeswoman has said so far 11 compensation claims have been lodged after drivers had their car wheels damaged on an unseen road defect during roadworks.

The revelation comes after several cars driving up Davey St, South Hobart about 9pm on November 12 hit a sharp edge in the road as they were turning left onto the Southern Outlet.

Driver Peter Krause told the Mercury he joined a line up of cars on the side of the road after hitting the bump and hearing an “almighty bang” to check his tyres and safety systems.

Peter Krause with the space saver tyre he now has to use after a blowout on Davey St. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A Department of State Growth spokeswoman said the department has received 11 claims relating to vehicle damage on Davey St.

“Ten of these concerned the incidence of water over the road concealing a defect in the road surface at the site of works at the Davey St intersection with the Southern Outlet,” the spokeswoman said.

She said State Growth had referred the 11 claims onto the contractor responsible for the roadworks during November.

“The contractor will follow up on the claims in line with the Department of State Growth’s established process for vehicle damage claims relating to roadworks on the state road network,” the spokeswoman said.

“Claims related to the state road network are directed to the Department’s insurance advisor, or, as in this case, if the incident occurred at roadworks, to the relevant contractor.”

EARLIER:

6am November 22, 2021

SEVERAL drivers are seeking compensation with claims they drove over a bump amid roadworks shortly before lining up along the side of the highway with busted tyres.

Peter Krause was driving up Davey St, South Hobart, about 9pm on November 12 and the Kingston man said he noticed the road was a little wet.

“I came up Davey St looking to turn onto the Southern Outlet and I was talking to my daughter on the phone hands-free and there was just this almighty bang,” Mr Krause said.

“My daughter’s screaming out ‘Dad, Dad, have you had an accident?’ That’s how loud it was.”

Mr Krause pulled over – along with a series of other drivers – to check his tyres. They had all driven over a sharp lip on the road.

“The lane was completely full of cars trying to change their tyres, broken rims,” he said.

Mr Krause believed his car was fine until the following morning when his tyre had deflated.

Bodyworks staff told him the rim had cracked in half.

Peter Krause with the space saver tyre he now has to use after a blowout on Davey St. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Krause said he now has to wait at least four weeks to replace the rim while waiting on a shipment from Singapore amid a national car part shortage.

He said fixing the tyre, rim and affected electronics systems could cost $4000.

He has installed temporary space saver tyres, which were less safe to drive in the rain and require him to drive below 80km/h.

Mr Krause submitted a claim to the Department of State Growth to have his costs covered, and he has spoken to others who have done the same, with many of them receiving emails back saying their queries had been forwarded to the road work contractor.

Cars pulled over on the Southern Outlet after damage to tyres from roadworks. Picture: Blair Whitehead/Facebook

“There are a lot of people angry about the state of the road,” Mr Krause said.

“I think the hardest thing is there are so many people who’ve got a claim that we should be able to go to one source – State Growth – not divide and conquer and go to (the contractor).”

Several people have commented on Mr Krause’s Facebook post in the closed group Kingborough Community Watch saying they were also affected and were waiting to process claims.

A government spokeswoman said all claims had been referred to the contractor.

“The Department is aware of claims of damage from vehicle owners recently where water was over the road at the site of works at the Davey St intersection with the Southern Outlet concealing a defect in the road surface,” she said.

“Claims related to the state road network will be directed to the Department’s insurance advisor, or, if the incident occurred at roadworks, to the relevant contractor.”

For more details around damage claims, visit transport.tas.gov.au/contact_us/claims_for_damage