Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Regional Manager Infrastructure Delivery Jo Wilton says the southbound lane of SH1 needs to be closed to enable the temporary steel barriers to be installed. The closure will not affect northbound traffic.

“The temporary steel barriers provide a safe work area, protecting construction workers from live traffic while they upgrade the state highway.

“We’re upgrading this section by installing roadside barriers, so it’s safer and more consistent with the rest of the Expressway. While the team is on the ground doing the work, we need to ensure they have a safe work environment.”

From Sunday 8 August, the southbound lane of SH1 between Rangiriri and Ōhinewai, will be closed overnight between 7pm and 7am, for up to five nights, weather permitting.

While SH1 is closed, all southbound traffic will be detoured from Rangiriri interchange via local roads to the Glen Murray Bridge, southbound along Te Ōhākī Road and across the Tainui Bridge at Huntly.

Motorists are asked to take extra care when travelling along the detour route by following any temporary speed limits, signs and instructions from the traffic management team.

The Glen Murray bridge is single lane and weight restricted, so it is recommended that heavy and oversized vehicles avoid the detour and use an alternative route, such as State Highway 2 and State Highway 27, or plan their journeys for outside the closure times.

In the event of bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances, work may be postponed. Visit the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website for up to date information on the road closure, detours, traffic, road works and delays.

Journey Planner

Once the temporary steel barriers have been installed along SH1, the southbound speed limit at Ōhinewai will be 70km/h while the team make the safety improvements to the state highway. This work is expected to take up to two months.

Waka Kotahi thanks motorists for their patience.

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

• Traffic updates: journeys.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)

However, this work will continue next* week, early August, weather dependent.

One of the bridge’s piers settled slightly in the high rainfall flood and bank to bank river flows at the end of May/ early June. This required a day’s closure while it was assessed and tested with heavy loads. Subsequently the bridge reopened to all traffic.

“Given the current river flows, our repair crew cannot get close enough to the damaged pier. However, we are working to divert the main flow away from this pier this week,” says John Keenan, Waka Kotahi Maintenance Contract Manager, South and Mid Canterbury.

“Monday, 2 August, is the proposed first night for three nights of single lane Stop/Go traffic management with a full night closure and detour pushed out to Sunday, 15 August.”

These are the latest revised dates, subject to change at short notice in the braided river/weather environment:

• There are three overnight single-lane closures planned with Stop/Go manual traffic management: Monday 2 August, Sunday and Monday 8 and 9 August – 9pm to 5am.
• The speed will be reduced to 30 km/ hour while the bridge is down to single lane with repairs underway.
• Overnight drivers should expect short delays in each direction.
• There is a full SH1 Ashburton River/Hakatere bridge closure proposed for Sunday, 15 August, 9pm to 5am as part of the repair works to jack the bridge deck back up to level. A SH1 detour will be well signposted on the night.
• Emergency Services vehicles will still be able to pass over the bridge on this night.

Mr Keenan thanked all regular night drivers on this route and residents for their patience.

*We sent out a release earlier today (Tuesday 27 July) saying work would start this Thursday night. This has now been revised.

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

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

9.45pm update

The slip on Tākaka Hill has been cleared and the road is now OPEN.

Contractors are on-site working to clear the slip and re-open the road as soon as possible.

Waka Kotahi is aiming to re-open the road later this evening. The status of the road will be updated regularly at journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic 

Drivers are advised to delay travel until the road re-opens as there is no detour in place. 

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

• Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• Facebook: facebook.com/NZTAsouthisland
• Twitter Top of the South: twitter.com/WakaKotahiTotS
• Twitter Canterbury/West Coast: twitter.com/WakaKotahiCWC
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)

“On both occasions warning signs were illuminated, but the vehicles didn’t reduce their speed, striking the bridge at speeds up to 100km an hour. It’s fortunate that nobody was hurt,” says Waka Kotahi Auckland Systems Manager Andrea Williamson.

Visible damage was immediately identified by responding crews, with a structural inspection and emergency works carried out to remove concrete debris from roadway. Maintenance to the collision protection beam was also needed to ensure full capacity of protection was restored.

“There’s been a marked increase in the number and severity of incidents in the last two years, and that’s why we will be working more closely with police to ensure the drivers are adhering to height restrictions,” says Andrea Williamson.

Current guidelines stipulate the maximum height for a load is 4.3 metres, with over-dimension permits required when a load exceeds five metres. However, all loads over 4.3m height require written approval from Waka Kotahi for all bridges spanning over motorways.

The Penrose Road overbridge, which is 4.57m above the road, has been struck 43 times over the last decade, severely damaging the main deck beams.

Waka Kotahi is calling on heavy haulage operators and independent excavator companies to make sure drivers are aware of their surroundings or warn they risk being ticketed.

“We know the Penrose overbridge is one of region’s most restrictive, which is why we have installed additional safety features including electronic signs to warn drivers who risk hitting the bridge. It’s disappointing when those alerts are ignored as it puts the road user at significant risk of serious injury and death,” says Andrea Williams.

“Repairing bridges from this type of event is costly and often requires motorway closures disrupting travel for other road users.”

In 2018 a protective steel beam was installed in front of the bridge above both the northbound and southbound lanes. The beams are to work in conjunction with the over height detection system and signage. Following yet more strikes, the bridge plate was last year removed in sections for repairs to be undertaken. That revealed more damage than expected, with the overbridge needing to be partially closed until the bridge capacity was restored.

“Now further repair works will again be required in the weeks ahead, to restore damaged concrete as well as testing to identify any cracking or fatigue. We will advise road users of any closures ahead of time,” says Andrea Williamson.

Waka Kotahi will also be sending out measuring tools and guidelines to operators to ensure drivers know the rules before setting out.

The current speed limits on the road are being reviewed in an effort to save lives and prevent serious injuries along this section of highway. Alongside the speed review, Waka Kotahi has also designed new safety infrastructure improvements.

“Everyone using our roads should get to where they’re going safely, whether they’re in a car or a bus, on a motorcycle or a bike, or on foot,” says Director of Regional Relationships Emma Speight.

“Between January 2010 and December 2019, four people lost their lives and 28 people were seriously injured on SH2 between Masterton and Featherston. The impact of these deaths and serious injuries is devastating.

“Even when speed isn’t the direct cause of a crash, it is always a factor in the severity and can be the difference between a person being killed, seriously injured, or walking away from a crash. Safer speeds can save lives.

“Waka Kotahi has a vision of an Aotearoa where no one is killed or seriously injured on our roads. To achieve this, we need to create a safe transport system that recognises that people make mistakes and is designed so that these mistakes don’t cost lives.

“That’s why, in addition to proposing speed limit changes, we are making infrastructure improvements including new median safety barriers, roundabouts and raised pedestrian crossings.”

The flexible safety barriers will be installed down the middle of the road to prevent head-on crashes. If a vehicle hits a flexible safety barrier, the steel cables flex, absorbing the impact and slowing down the vehicle and keeping it upright.

This makes them highly effective in preventing deaths and serious injuries for all road users, include motorcyclists who have less protection in a crash. Motorcyclists are more likely to survive an impact with a flexible safety barrier than an impact with trees, poles or oncoming vehicles which the barrier will prevent them striking in a crash.

Raised pedestrian crossing will significant improve safety for pedestrians, as they are more visible to oncoming motorists. The design for the SH2 crossings includes improved vehicle ramps that are a gentler gradient for vehicles to driver over.

The new roundabouts at Ngaumutawa Road, Norfolk Road and Wiltons Road will make these key intersections safer by making it easier for motorists to negotiate these busy intersections.

Ms Speight says that the design of the infrastructure improvement projects is progressing well.

“Three of the planned 21 raised crossings have now been constructed. We’d like to thank the public for their patience while this construction has taken place. Designs are progressing for the remaining crossings to enable a funding application to get underway.

“The team is now getting consent and funding applications ready for the roundabouts and barriers. Pending approvals and funding availability, we hope to start construction on the roundabouts in early 2022, but people will have a chance to tell us what they think of the designs.

“We are sharing our proposed speed limit changes and finalised designs for the roundabouts and barriers, and asking the community to tell us what they think,” Ms Speight says.

Waka Kotahi is encouraging everyone in the community and people who use SH2 regularly to have their say on the new speed limit proposals and finalised designs for the roundabouts and barriers.

Locals can expect to see a brochure in their letterbox soon that outlines the proposed new speed limits and safety infrastructure designs. The brochure includes a Freepost form to make a submission.

People can also provide their feedback by visiting our ‘SH2 Wairarapa safety improvements’ webpage or emailing email hidden; JavaScript is required

SH2 Wairarapa safety improvements

The consultation period is open from today, and closes at 5pm on Friday 27 August 2021.

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

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