“This is good news for truck drivers who have had much longer than normal routes around Ashburton for the past week after 7 pm and before 7 am since the drop in one bridge pier became visible after the recent floods.”

Freight vehicles have been restricted to daylight hours for the past week. Light traffic has had 24/7 access since the initial day’s closure.

The speed limit on the SH1 bridge will remain at 30km/ hour.

Overweights still no go
Overweight permit vehicles cannot use the bridge.

Timeline for repair
Mr Connors estimates repairs could be completed in the next six to eight weeks. “If we have more high river events, that could affect that timeline, but we are working as fast as we can to expedite this repair.”

Closure next Wednesday night, 11 pm, 16 June to 1 am, 17 June
Waka Kotahi has another night of monitoring and data analysis next week which will involve a two-hour closure 11 pm to 1 am, Wednesday night to Thursday morning.

“During this closure we will also be installing electronic monitoring equipment to allow remote monitoring of the structure,” says Mr Connors.

Waka Kotahi thanks all bridge users for their patience over the past week as this investigation got underway and traffic management for everyone’s safety was put in place.

• Detour route for overweight permitted traffic in Ashburton District here: https://www.ashburtondc.govt.nz/news/notices-and-advisories/30-may-2021-weather-event-updates?fbclid=IwAR0XTyL3hqJmFNCf_7LjFEnlM3fwmQAwXmwRMuBmW0iEHo7J9xcTFRGF1Vo

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

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• Twitter Canterbury/West Coast: twitter.com/WakaKotahiCWC
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)

Construction of the 40-metre long wall to prevent the road slipping away will be complete by about mid-August.

Traffic through the site, which is about 11 kilometres east of Manunui, will be down to one lane at 30km/h with traffic lights or Stop/Go traffic management for the duration of the project.

Waka Kotahi thanks motorists for their patience.  

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey this summer. Keep up to date with:

• Traffic updates: nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• Facebook: facebook.com/NZTAWaikatoBoP
• Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahiWaiBP
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)

Waka Kotahi Regional Manager Infrastructure Delivery Jo Wilton says over the next six months the focus is on one of the last sections of the $34.5 million safety improvements project.

“Starting from Monday, work will get underway on a 2.1km section between the Sun Valley Curves passing lane and the recently completed passing lane on the hill towards Rotorua.

“To make this section of road safer we’re widening the shoulders and installing flexible safety barriers along the roadside where there are hazards such as trees and deep ditches. Before the safety improvements are made, a full road reconstruction will also be completed, to provide more strength and skid resistance to the surface,” says Ms Wilton.

To do this work as safely and efficiently as possible, the 2.1km length will be split into six 750m sections, with work completed one lane at a time under Stop/Go using traffic lights. Motorists can expect to wait up to five minutes at the lights.

“The team on the ground will be monitoring traffic, but people should expect the Stop/Go to create some minor delays. We thank road users for their patience while this important work is underway,” says Ms Wilton.  

Each section will follow the same process. The contractor will mill or grind away the old road surface, lay metal on top, compact and stabilise the metal by adding cement, then allow it to cure. Next, chip seal will be laid, then compacted. Once the new road has been laid, new line marking and roadside barriers will be installed before it’s reopened to traffic. Each section will take approximately 20-30 days to complete, weather dependent.

To keep everyone safe, work on the road is planned to take place during daylight hours, between 7am and 7pm, using traffic lights at the active sites. Outside of these hours the traffic lights will remain in place. People are asked to take extra care when travelling through the site by following the 30km/h temporary speed limit and the directions from traffic management staff and signs.

Waka Kotahi is committed to Vision Zero, a vision for Aotearoa New Zealand where no one is killed or seriously injured on our roads. Road and roadside safety improvements have been underway since late 2017 as part of the SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa safety improvements project. This road was identified as a high-risk rural road, and the safety improvements are part of the Safe Network Programme.

The SH33 safety improvements also include a wide centreline from Te Ngae to Paengaroa, flexible roadside safety barriers at high risk locations, safety improvements in Mourea, Ōkere Falls and Paengaroa, rumble strips and a south-bound passing lane between Paengaroa and Ōkere Falls.

The 34km route is being completed progressively in stages and is expected to be finished in the 2021/2022 construction season.

For more information visit www.nzta.govt.nz/tnj2p

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey this summer. Keep up to date with:

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• Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahiWaiBP
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)

When Transmission Gully opens it will become part of the new State Highway 1 (SH1), to reflect its function as the main route in and out of Wellington, and the current section of SH1 between Linden and Mackays Crossing will be renumbered State Highway 59 (SH59).

“We need to make it as easy as possible for everyone who uses the state highway network in Wellington, including residents, businesses, local communities, visitors, and delivery and emergency services. Renumbering this section of road as SH59 is the best way of doing that,” says Mark Owen, Regional Maintenance and Operations Manager.

“It’s clear and easy to understand. We know how important it is to keep people informed about the state of our roads. Being able to refer to SH59 will mean we can clearly communicate when there is an incident or crash, help people find their way around the network, and reinforce the understanding that the new SH1 via Transmission Gully will be the primary route in and out of the region.”

Waka Kotahi will be working with communities and stakeholders over the coming months to prepare for the renumbering, including working with a small number of properties that will have a change to their address.

State highways are numbered according to which part of the country they are located. State highways within the greater Wellington, Manawatū and Hawke’s Bay regions are numbered between 50-59, with 59 being the next available number for the greater Wellington region.

The renumbering does not pre-empt a future decision on whether this road should remain a state highway.

“It will be some time before a final decision is made on whether this section of road will remain a state highway or become a local council-administered road. Even when it is no longer SH1 this will still be an important and busy stretch of road, so renumbering it as SH59 provides more certainty and clarity for everyone in the meantime,” says Mr Owen.

Waka Kotahi is required to consult with Porirua City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Paremata Residents Association and Plimmerton Residents Association on issues relating to the future of this section of state highway.

Waka Kotahi has previously advised that its preliminary position is that this section of road should remain a state highway due to its strategic importance to the regional transport network. A final decision on the future of this road will only be made following consultation.

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

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• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)

Contractors will start on State Highway 49 in Waiouru, near the intersection with State Highway 1, as well as on SH1 just north of Putaruru.  Following this, they will work their way across state highways between Waiouru and Matamata.

All sites will be worked on during the day, between the hours of 9am and 3pm. Stop/Go traffic management with a temporary speed limit of 30km/h will be in place for the majority of the sites. 

Contractors will monitor traffic flow and will work to minimise the impact of the works where possible, but motorists should expect minor delays when work is taking place. Outside work hours the road will operate as normal.

This work is part of the Waka Kotahi preventative maintenance programme to keep roads in a safe condition during the harsher winter months.

Waka Kotahi thanks road users for their patience while we carry out this important work.

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey this summer. Keep up to date with:

• Traffic updates: nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• Facebook: facebook.com/NZTAWaikatoBoP
• Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahiWaiBP
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)

State Highway 30 between Tikitere and Whakatāne in Eastern Bay of Plenty is the latest state highway to come under the spotlight, after being identified as a road where safer speed limits could make a big difference in preventing deaths and serious injuries.

Waka Kotahi Director of Regional Relationships David Speirs says between 2010 and 2019, 10 people died and 73 were seriously injured on this road.

“We’re working toward a future where no-one is killed or seriously injured in road crashes in Aotearoa New Zealand,” he said.

“Lots of change is needed to get us there but there is one thing we can do that will make a huge difference immediately – making speeds safer on our roads.

“The speed of a vehicle at impact is the single biggest factor in determining whether you or someone you love walks away from a crash.” 

Mr Speirs says Waka Kotahi has heard concerns from people in the community about the speeds people are travelling on SH30 between Tikitere and Whakatāne.

“Engaging with the community helps us get feedback and local knowledge on how people feel about current speeds in the area, including on roads around their local school, marae, business or workplace.”

This information helps when deciding if a speed limit change is the best thing to improve road safety, where new speed limits might begin or end, and if any other safety improvements might be needed. The feedback also helps determine if and what speed limit changes will be formally consulted on. 

“We’d like people to tell us about places that are hard to get to or from, how safe they feel crossing the highway or letting their children walk or cycle to school in certain areas, and if there are any other sites or information that we need to be particularly aware of,” Mr Speirs says.

“Reviewing speed limits is something we can do now to prevent avoidable deaths and help us achieve our Road to Zero target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads by 40 percent over the next 10 years.” 

Have your say

Feedback is open Wednesday 9 June to Wednesday 7 July.

Come and see us at a pop-up event

• Rotoiti Sports Club, 1303 State Highway 30, Rotoiti – Saturday 12 June, 10am – 1pm    
• The Hub (outside Farmers), 3 Phoenix Drive, Whakatāne – Saturday 19 June, 11am – 2pm
• Awakeri Event Centre, SH30, Awakeri – Thursday 24 June, 3pm – 6pm

If you are unable to attend in person and wish to provide feedback, visit: nzta.govt.nz/bop-speed-reviews or email: email hidden; JavaScript is required

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey this summer. Keep up to date with:

• Traffic updates: nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• Facebook: facebook.com/NZTAWaikatoBoP
• Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahiWaiBP
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)