Monthly Archives: July 2021

Upper South Island highways: St Arnaud highway opens tonight, Upper Buller Gorge four-hour closure Friday morning

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“This is the last state highway to reopen following the weekend’s rain and river flooding,” says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Journey Manager Tresca Forrester. 

“We had earlier anticipated a mid-week opening for this route so it is great news to have it open tonight, thanks to huge efforts by the crews. 

“Drivers should be aware there will be one-way sections and people working so expect a slower journey in coming days.”

Upper Buller Gorge Friday closure for chopper sluicing

Drivers coming to or from Westport this Friday, 9 am to 1 pm, 23 July, will need to take the Reefton and Springs Junction route (SH69 and SH7, the Lewis Pass) while sluicing is underway in the Upper Buller Gorge. The slip requires sluicing to bring down loose rock and material.

The route will have electronic signs at each end advising of the detour. (The Coast Road, SH6 route from Greymouth, south of Westport is open also.)

Thanks to all drivers for your patience while the Upper Buller Gorge is made safer.
 

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SH2 Remutaka Hill remains closed due to serious crash

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The Serious Crash Unit is still on site carrying out their investigation. Crews will then need to clear the road so that it can open to traffic. It is unlikely the road will be open before 5pm this evening.

Motorists should delay their travel, as the only alternative route between Wellington and the Wairarapa is via State Highway 1, State Highway 57, then State Highway 2 which would add around three hours to the journey.

Waka Kotahi will continue to provide updates via the Journey Planner webpage and social media channels.

Journey Planner

We thank motorists for their patience and understanding.

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Green light for SH3 Waitara to Bell Block intersection and safety improvements

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Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency recently refined roundabout concepts for the intersections at Princess Street, Waitara Road, State Highway 3A/Mountain Road, and De Havilland Drive/Airport Drive to help reduce land, consent and stormwater requirements.

Director of Regional Relationships Linda Stewart says Waka Kotahi undertook this process to speed up construction, after it identified roundabout concepts developed in 2018 would take a number of years to progress due to extensive land and consent requirements.

“We now have approval of the concepts and additional funding required to progress the project, so we will be able to get on and deliver.

“We know this news will be welcomed by the community. We appreciate everyone’s patience while we have worked through this process and we are delighted to be in a position to accelerate delivery of these much-needed safety improvements,” says Ms Stewart.

The refined roundabout concepts will achieve the same safety benefits as the original 2018 concepts and will support residential growth in the area.

Over the coming weeks, the project team will be talking to local landowners and residents, as well as transport interest groups, to refine the concepts further.

The wider community will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the roundabout concepts at drop-in sessions in the coming months. 

Waka Kotahi is aiming to begin construction of the first roundabout in the 2021/2022 summer construction season, dependant on acquiring property and consents.

This project is delivering on New Zealand’s Road Safety Strategy, Road to Zero 2020 – 2030, which aims to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads by 40 percent over the next decade.

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SH2 Pekatahi Bridge works

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These works will be undertaken on Thursday 22 July between 9am and 3pm and follows a non-structural safety issue identified during a three-day closure last week.

The bridge will remain open with Stop/Go traffic management in place. There will be a number of occasions where traffic may experience a maximum of 15 minutes’ wait to allow our staff to carry out their work safely.

The closure has been scheduled during the school holidays to minimise disruption to motorists.

In the event of bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances, work may be postponed. Visit the interactive Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website for the latest information on roadworks, traffic, road closures and detours to help plan your trip.

Journey Planner

Waka Kotahi thanks motorists for their patience.

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Remutaka Hill Road closed after serious crash

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Police are responding to a serious crash on State Highway 2, Remutaka Hill Road.

Police were notified of the incident involving a single vehicle at 1.15pm.

Early indications are that one person has sustained serious injuries.

The road will be closed while the Serious Crash Unit examine the scene and motorists are advised to avoid the area.


District:

Wellington


Description of incident:

State Highway Two

Issued by: 
Police Media Centre

Upper South Island highways open except SH63 Renwick to St Arnaud

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“Given the amount of damage to the road surface from the flood waters and seal repairs needed, we do not anticipate this highway will reopen until Wednesday evening 21 July,” says Tresca Forrester, Journey Manager, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

On other routes people should continue to expect a slower than usual journey as crews work hard to get back to two lanes, repair areas of damage and lift speed restrictions.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience over the coming days and weeks,” says Ms Forrester.

Marlborough District Council information:

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Feedback sought on SH1 Rolleston Flyover and safety improvements

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Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has pop-up events planned over the next few weeks to share plans and gather community feedback.

The $125m project is being delivered as part of the Government’s $6.8 billion New Zealand Upgrade Programme to save lives, get our cities moving and boost productivity in the country’s growth areas.

New Zealand Upgrade Programme

Waka Kotahi is working closely with Selwyn District Council and KiwiRail to plan the improvements which include investment in highway intersections and the rail corridor.

Waka Kotahi Director of Regional Relationships James Caygill says many years of planning are being realised as a result of the NZUP funding and it is exciting to share the initial plans with the community for feedback.

“The proposed road and rail improvements are designed to provide a streamlined extension off the southern motorway while elevating and strengthening Rolleston’s community connections. A highway flyover, intersection changes and a new service lane will mean safer and more efficient commuter and freight routes and a freer flowing highway.”

Sam Broughton, Mayor of Selwyn District Council, says the flyover offers people safer ways to cross the highway and connect Rolleston township and the industrial hub.

“The changes are designed to make it safer and easier for people to visit and for locals to get around Rolleston. It also gives people more options to get around Rolleston, whether they are cycling, walking, on buses or in cars.”

Mr Caygill says that Waka Kotahi is now inviting the community’s input on the project.

“We want people to think about how they travel to and from and within Rolleston and how the plans for a flyover support this. We also want to hear whether any improvements could be made, so we can incorporate community feedback, ready for the next phase of planning.”

The project includes a number of proposed safety upgrades including:

  • a flyover between Rolleston township and the industrial hub. The flyover will be a safer way for people – whether they are cycling, walking, on buses or in cars – to cross the highway while providing community connection for Selwyn District
  • closing SH1 Hoskyns Road and Rolleston Drive North intersections and removing the level crossing, which will be much safer for everyone
  • a new southbound service lane for local traffic running parallel to SH1 from Rolleston Drive North to south of Brookside Road (left in/left out only)
  • a new roundabout improving safety at SH1/Dunns Crossing Road/Walkers Road intersection, for better freight access to Rolleston’s industrial area and community access on and off the highway at the southern end of Rolleston
  • safety improvements at SH1/Rolleston Drive South intersection
  • changes to the rail corridor to improve train connections, operations and efficiencies.

Complementary projects — not funded by NZUP — but planned to support the wider transport network include:

  • assigning Two Chain Road/Walkers Road and Jones Road as primary freight routes and improving the infrastructure to support this*
  • reviewing speed along SH1 from Rolleston to Dunsandel and potentially local roads as well**
  • a Rolleston to Burnham shared path*
  • highway safety improvements including median barriers at some locations and a possible roundabout for Burnham*.

*Funding, timing and community consultation to be confirmed.

People are invited to speak to the team about the proposed Rolleston Flyover and Transport Improvements as well as safer speeds at the following events:

  • Wednesday 21 July – 10am-12 noon, Rolleston Community Centre, 94 Rolleston Drive.
  • Saturday 24 July – 1-3pm, Selwyn Winter Festival, Larcomb Vineyard, 307 Larcombs Road.
  • Sunday 1 August – 9-11am, Rolleston Farmers Market, 631 Springston Rolleston Road.
  • Wednesday 11 August – 3-5pm, Selwyn Sports Centre, 70 Broadlands Drive

Other ways to have your say:

  • Send feedback in an email to email hidden; JavaScript is required
  • Drop comments on the online map

SH1 Rolleston flyover and speed review project page

The last day for comment is Tuesday, 17 August.

Background

Community engagement was undertaken in 2017 with residents of Selwyn District around potential safety and connection improvements around the entrance to Rolleston from SH1.  This resulted in the proposed SH1 flyover for Rolleston coupled with improvements to highway intersections.

In January 2020, the Government announced the $6.8 billion New Zealand Upgrade Programme which included a $300m package of projects for Canterbury.

The investment in transport will help manage growth by providing residents with safer and better travel choices, as well as improving freight links to support economic growth and the opening of the Christchurch Southern Motorway through to Rolleston.

Road to Zero – the national picture

Improving safety on New Zealand roads is a top priority for Waka Kotahi, which is committed to Vision Zero, which aspires to a New Zealand where no-one is killed or seriously injured on our roads.

Whilst everyone makes mistakes on our roads, these mistakes should not cost us our lives.

To reduce deaths and serious injuries we need to take action on several fronts, from speed limits to driver education to improving the safety of roads and vehicles. Even when speed isn’t the direct cause of a crash, it is the single biggest factor that determines whether a person is killed, seriously injured or walks away from a crash unharmed.

Road to Zero, New Zealand’s road safety strategy, sets out the goal of reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 40 percent over the next decade. This sets an initial target of reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on New Zealand roads by 40% (compared to 2018 levels) by 2030, as a first step towards a long-term goal of no deaths or serious injuries.

Reaching that initial target would mean reducing annual road deaths to fewer than 230 and serious injuries to fewer than 1,700 by 2030.

In 2020, 318 people were killed and more than 2,500 were seriously injured on New Zealand roads.

Waka Kotahi is working with the Police, Ministry of Transport, local government, WorkSafe and others to deliver Road to Zero, New Zealand’s road safety strategy.

Road to Zero – New Zealand’s road safety strategy

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Reconnecting our communities – just three sections of state highway still closed in upper South Island

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“We do need road users to understand that reopening the highway does not mean it is back to what it was last week,” says Tresca Forrester, Waka Kotahi Journey Manager.

“We need everyone’s patience and care on all upper South Island networks in coming days and weeks.”

Hard-working road crews have reopened the route connecting the Lewis Pass, SH7 at Springs Junction to SH65 through the Shenandoah and onto SH6 into Nelson, she says.

The Lower Buller Gorge route into Westport reopened this morning.

“The route to Westport is via Reefton and SH69 to Inangahua, giving Westport back its two access routes.”

The Coast Road, SH6, via Greymouth to Westport was reopened at the weekend.

“There is a five km single lane stretch on the Shenandoah highway, SH65, with drivers being piloted through initially today,” says Ms Forrester. “Crews are working hard to get the road back to two lanes so please be patient, bear in mind the hours they have been working also.

“People can now get to Nelson from the south via Blenheim and the Rai Valley. SH1 along the Kaikōura coast is open, then take SH6 from Blenheim to Renwick.”

The journey will be slower than usual given the amount of clearing up underway, says Ms Forrester.

Upper Buller work still underway*

Update at 3pm Monday 19 July: As of 3pm today the Upper Buller Gorge was reopened Murchison to Inangahua.

Major clearing is underway in the upper Buller Gorge, around Lyell, and around Inangahua today but overall there are just three stretches of highway remaining closed in Tasman and in Buller District.

Marlborough Sounds local roads, Awatere Valley washouts

Many roads remain closed and covered by washouts in the Marlborough Sounds area with Marlborough Roads crews working hard to reconnect communities off Queen Charlotte Drive, Kenepuru Road and in the Awatere Valley.

Marlborough District Council updates on these local Marlborough roads

Local road now a river of mud in the Queen Charlotte Drive area.

Roads that are currently closed  

SH6 O’Sullivans Bridge (over the Inangahua River) to Inangahua.

View road closure information

SH6 Murchison to Inangahua, the Upper Buller Gorge. *See note above – now reopened.

View road closure information

SH63 Renwick to near St Arnaud – flooding/slips.

View road closure information

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Tasman and Nelson residents invited to help plan for Richmond’s transport growth

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Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and the Tasman District Council are working together on a business case to address Richmond transport needs over the next 30 years.

The Richmond Transport Programme Business Case (PBC) focuses on making Richmond a safer and more reliable place to travel around by offering everyone improved transport choices, whether you are driving, walking, cycling or taking the bus.

Waka Kotahi Director of Regional Relationships, Emma Speight says this PBC is an important step towards helping address current and future transport issues within and around the Richmond area.

“In recent years we have seen an increase in the amount of traffic and businesses using local roads within Richmond and an increase in commercial vehicles passing through to Nelson and freight going to the Port.

“The business case looks to address these issues, while ensuring the cycling and walking paths, roads, and public transport can deal with this growth, so Richmond is a more connected place that is easy to live in and travel around,” says Ms Speight.

She acknowledged the current post-flood conditions in the wider region and surrounding hard-hit districts would be uppermost in people’s thoughts.

“However, we would like to ensure that people have time to consider and respond to these proposals, and are able to attend the workshops that start next week.  Feedback is open until 13 August, and we encourage everyone who lives, works and travels through the area to have their say over the next four weeks.” 

Investigations have found that people in Richmond tend to rely on cars for short trips, and are choosing not to walk, bike or take a bus. Roads around Richmond’s shops, homes and schools are also congested, making it feel unsafe and unpleasant to walk or bike.

“The PBC is one of the steps towards getting funding for the projects and ensuring that the right transport solutions are identified. We are looking forward to hearing from the community to see what they think about what we are proposing,” says Ms Speight.

“We are fulfilling an essential part of our growth planning by being part of this programme’s development,” says Tasman District Council’s Community Infrastructure Manager Richard Kirby. 

“As we grow and evolve from being a rural support town not that long ago to being one of the fastest growing urban areas in the region, if not the country, we need to take account of the transportation choices available to people and the impact and needs of those choices in planning for denser communities.” 

The PBC is aligned to national and regional transport strategies, and seeks to:

  • make Richmond’s roads safer for everyone
  • improve connections between streets, and build safe and attractive walking and cycling paths, helping make Richmond an even nicer place to live
  • help ensure journey times are more reliable for people and freight, particularly during busy times of the day
  • make it easier for people to walk, bike or take different transport options to get to work and school.

The work completed on the PBC to date has identified an emerging programme of transport options that could be delivered over the short, medium and long-term to deliver these outcomes.

Tasman District Council are also finalising or developing plans and strategies that align with the Richmond PBC. These include:

“The Council is currently developing a Walking and Cycling Strategy, a regional speed management plan and updating the District Plan. These will reflect the business case and we will carry out separate public engagement on these plans and strategies in the near future,” says Mr Kirby. 

Feedback on the Richmond Transport Programme Business Case is open until Friday 13 August 2021.

Waka Kotahi and the Council are encouraging Tasman and Nelson residents to come and talk more about the project at community drop-in sessions:

  • Thursday 29 July – Waimea College – 4pm – 8pm
  • Saturday 31 July – Richmond Mall – 9am – 2pm
  • Tuesday 3 August – Richmond Library – 9.30am – 4pm
  • Saturday 7 August – Connings Food Market, 151 McShane Road, Appleby – 9am – 2pm

Online feedback options and more information about the project

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