Monthly Archives: October 2021

Overnight and daytime road closures, Camp Creek Culvert, Makarora, SH6 Otago-West Coast

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The road links Otago to the West Coast via the Haast Pass and no detour route is available.

Maintenance crews need to replace an existing culvert to minimise flooding, says Mark Stewart, Waka Kotahi Maintenance Contract Manager, Central Otago.

Due to the size of the installation, with no alternative road route, completing this project 20 km south of Makarora, requires staged highway closures.

Daytime delay dates

Daytime works are scheduled from Sunday, October 17 to Tuesday, October 19, and again on weekdays from Tuesday, October 26 to Tuesday, November 9, between 8am and 4pm.  During this time, the road will be opened every hour, on the hour, to allow traffic through.

Full night closure for two nights

There will also be a full night closure 9pm to 5am the next day, Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 October. Plans are in place to manage emergency services during these times.

Traffic at all other times will be reduced to a single lane and vehicles will be managed with signals.

Mr Stewart recognised the impact of the works but stressed it was unavoidable due to the nature of the work and the narrow location near the lake.

“The existing culvert has been compromised due to land movement.  This means it has shifted and broken and is no longer able to provide a straight path for water coming off the surrounding hills and running into Lake Wanaka.

“Previously this was only a concern during heavy rain storms.  However, floodwater now regularly overtops the road.  Replacing this culvert will reduce flooding in the future and make the road more resilient.” 

Road users are advised of the following:

  • Road works will be in place from Sunday 17 October (see specific dates above).
  • The road will open once every hour, on the hour, to clear waiting traffic between 8am and 4pm during daytime works.
  • The highway will be closed overnight to all traffic, 9pm to 5am the next day, Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 October.
  • Over-dimension vehicle drivers and pilot vehicle drivers need to be aware that only a single lane will be available to them.
  • Emergency services have been advised and plans are in place to ensure support is available throughout this work.

The works will be carried out by Aspiring Highways, on behalf of Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

Looking up SH6 towards Makarora – flooding visible over the highway.

Looking back towards Hāwea.

Check travel updates on the Otago traffic page

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Road maintenance season underway around Taupō

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Waikato System Manager Cara Lauder says Waka Kotahi will be delivering a large amount of roadworks in the area this season to improve the roads, increase safety and make people’s journeys more enjoyable.

“Warmer spring and summer months are the best time for resurfacing as daylight hours are longer and the warm temperatures and dry air help the new seal stick to the road surface.”

Work will begin next week to replace the road surface on State Highway 5 between Rotorua and Taupō at Dicks Hill and on State Highway 32 at Whakamaru. Both sites will have Stop/Go traffic management and a 30km/h temporary speed limit in place.

Area-wide treatments on SH1 at Puriri West, between Lichfield and Tokoroa are also planned to start next week. Contractors will make use of the passing lane in this area to move traffic onto different lanes to keep it moving through the road works with minimal disruption.

A northbound detour using Wiltdown Road and Old Taupō Road will be in place on SH1 at Eketone in the Lichfield area while our contractors undertake work to rebuild the road, which also gets underway from next week. There is a separate detour for heavy vehicles, using SH32 and Old Taupō Road.

Motorists can also expect road works on SH1 at Korohe, between Taupō and Turangi, from late-October.

The above works are expected to be completed by mid-November, subject to weather and any other unexpected delays.

“While we try to keep inconvenience and delays to a minimum, we urge people to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys.

“We want to keep everyone safe when driving through road work sites, and that includes our road workers. Please slow down, leave space and be patient through road works.”

Despite the significant roadworks programme, work will stop during busy holiday travel periods such as Labour weekend, Christmas and New Year to minimise disruption to people’s journeys.

“Looking further ahead, there will be other substantial road works across the Taupō area in coming months to ensure the state highway network is up to standard and able to safely connect people and places and efficiently move freight to markets.”

This season our contractors plan to lay more than 87km of new chipseal in the Taupō area. Works will include SH1 south of Turangi and State Highway 47 and State Highway 49, as well as significant sites on SH1 and SH32 around Tokoroa, and some key stretches of SH5 between Tirau and Rotorua.

New asphalt will be laid at several sites including SH5 Napier-Taupō, working north, and intersections such as SH1/State Highway 30 at Atiamuri and the SH1 Wairakei roundabout.

Road users are encouraged to check the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website for up-to-date information on roadworks, traffic, delays, road closures and detour routes to help them plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey.

Journey Planner

Tips for driving on freshly laid chip seal

  • 30km is okay. Leave space
  • 50km is too fast = Damage
  • 10km is too slow = The road will stick to you

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UPDATE – Serious crash, Poukawa, Hastings

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District:

Eastern

Middle Road in Poukawa has reopened following an earlier crash.

The crash, between Mutiny Road and Te Aute Road, was reported to emergency services at around 5:20pm.

One person is reported to have sustained serious injuries in the crash.

Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Serious crash, Poukawa, Hastings

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District:

Eastern

Emergency services are responding to a serious crash in Poukawa, Hastings.

Police were notified of a ute which had rolled on Middle Road at around 5:20pm.

The road is closed and traffic management is in place.

Motorists are being diverted down Mutiny Road and Te Aute Road.

The Serious Crash Unit has been advised.

More information will be provided when available.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Snowfall, heavy rain, wind warnings Monday into Tuesday, South Island | Te Wai Pounamu

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As well as snow, heavy rain and strong winds are forecast for the West Coast, Buller and the mountain ranges west of Motueka, Tasman District.

“If you are travelling through the alpine passes or further south later today or tomorrow, be prepared for snow and much colder temperatures,” says Tresca Forrester, Journey Manager for Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

“Take your time and take extra care particularly given it is the second week of the school holidays so drivers may be on routes they are not very familiar with.”

Strong southerly winds are forecast for Tuesday. “Snowfall could be heavy for parts of Otago and Canterbury from tonight into Tuesday,” says Ms Forrester.

“Please check your route before you head off, carry extra supplies and chains if snow is a possibility.”

Routes which could be affected by snow in the next 48 hours include:

The Crown Range Road, between Wanaka and Queenstown

Check for road updates

The Lindis Pass, SH8, between Omarama and Tarras

The Lewis Pass, SH7, Waipara to the West Coast and Nelson

Arthur’s and Porters Passes, SH73, Springfield to Greymouth.

Milford Sound/ Piopiotahi highway closed – high avalanche risk today

The Milford Sound/Piopiotahi highway, SH94, is currently closed due to high avalanche risk, from the East Gate at Hollyford to the Chasm. This will be updated 7.30 am Tuesday but it could remain closed until part way into Tuesday, subject to avalanche assessment.

Journey Planner (SH94 Te Anau to Milford)

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Have your say on proposed speed limit changes for High Street, Motueka

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Public consultation opens today (Monday, 11 October) on proposed changes to speed limits along this stretch of road.

“Making sure speed limits are safe and appropriate for the road and its surroundings is one of the most effective things we can do to help prevent people dying or being seriously injured on our state highways,” says Waka Kotahi Director Regional Relationships Emma Speight.

“No matter what causes a crash, speed is always a factor in the severity. Put simply, the speed of impact can be the difference between walking away or being carried away from a crash.”

High Street Motueka is a busy road with lots of people driving, walking and cycling through the area. It includes the town centre for Motueka, and a number of schools, houses and businesses along the way.

High Street is also used by people and freight carriers as a through-road to get to other parts of the Tasman, West Coast and Nelson regions.

“The mix of people walking and cycling and different vehicle types in this urban environment can create safety issues for everyone. Ensuring safer speed limits is a relatively simple way to help reduce those safety risks for everyone,” Ms Speight says.

This formal consultation follows earlier conversations with Tasman residents on what they thought about the current speed limits on High Street. The feedback received was considered along with technical assessments, to propose changes to the current speed limits.

“The new speed limits proposed, alongside the safety improvements currently underway – traffic signals and a new raised roundabout – would help make High Street safer for everyone, especially those walking or cycling within the busy town centre”, says Ms Speight.

“The consultation for the proposed speed limit changes is not a vote. It is about seeking valuable local and community input so that we can consider wider factors and context into our decisions. The question we ask during consultation is whether there are any external factors we should consider regarding the proposed speed limit changes.”

These factors could include: access ways to businesses and driveways to homes we may not considered within our technical assessment; unmarked bus stops where children are walking across the street; sections of the road where there are more vulnerable people (like children, elderly people, people on bikes). 

Formal public consultation on the proposed changes to speed limits on SH60 High St Motueka will run from Monday, 11 October to Friday, 5 November 2021.

Find out more and make a submission on the SH60 Motueka safety improvements project page

Further information

The review of speed limits is part of Road to Zero, New Zealand’s road safety strategy. The strategy sets out the goal of reducing deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 40 percent over the next decade.

Road to Zero

Speed limit proposals for High Street, Motueka (State Highway 60)

High Street, Motueka (SH60)

Current speed limit

Proposed speed limit

Existing 50/100 change point 210m south of SH60 / Wharf Road roundabout to approximately 35m south of the Whakarewa Street intersection

The School Zone is proposed to go from 55m south of Courtney Street to the existing school variable speed limit sign 40m south of Old Wharf Road

50km/h with a 40km/h electronic variable school zone

The School Zone currently goes from south of the Jack Inglis Friendship Hospital entrance to south of the SH60 / Old Wharf Road intersection

50km/h with a 30km/h electronic variable school zone

The School Zone is proposed to go from 55m south of Courtney Street to the existing school variable speed limit sign 40m south of Old Wharf Road

This is an enforceable speed limit that can be activated during peak school times.

The school zone speed limit may operate from 35 minutes before school until the start of school, and from 20 minutes at the end of school, beginning no earlier than 5 minutes before the end of school.

It may also operate for 10 minutes at any other time when vehicles are entering or leaving school grounds or there is pedestrian or cycling activity on the road outside the school. When the school zone is active, the speed limit is 30km/h and will be displayed on an electronic sign. At all other times the speed limit is 50km/h.

35m south of the Whakarewa Street intersection to 85m south of the Poole Street intersection

50km/h

30km/h

85m south of the Poole Street intersection to the existing 80/50 change point 325m north of Parker Street

50km/h

50km/h (no change)

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

SH3 closed at Waitotara

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The road is expected to remain closed until early afternoon and motorists are encouraged to delay their travel, where possible.

Visit the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website for up-to-date information on the closure, traffic, detour routes, road works and delays.

Journey Planner

Waka Kotahi thanks motorists for their patience.

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Plan ahead for overnight lane closures on sections of SH1 between Pūhoi and Warkworth

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From Sunday asphalting work to repair and smooth out road surfaces is being carried out on SH1 between Pūhoi and Warkworth.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane with stop/go controls in place and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h at night near the Pohuehue Viaduct from 7.00pm to 5.00am on:

  • Sunday 10 October
  • Monday 11 October
  • Tuesday 12 October
  • Wednesday 13 October
  • Thursday 14 October

In order to complete this work a full overnight closure will be needed at the Pohuehue Viaduct between 10pm and 4.00am on Sunday 17 October.

On this night, road users will be asked to use a detour route between Silverdale and Warkworth via State Highway 16. This will add up to 60 minutes to journeys and Waka Kotahi advises motorists to plan their travel around this closure.

Road users travelling between Wellsford and Auckland are encouraged to use SH16 from Wellsford and Auckland’s central motorway junction.

In the event of unsuitable weather or Covid-19 restrictions, the road closure will be rescheduled.  You can follow updates via the Waka Kotahi online Journey Planner.

Waka Kotahi acknowledges this is a disruption and we thank road users in advance for their patience as we carry out these essential maintenance works.

As detailed in the map attached, further works will take place under stop/go controls at various locations within this corridor between 18 October and 11 November and Waka Kotahi will provide more information on these works closer to the time.

In addition to this, our contractors NX2 delivering the Ara Tūhuno – Pūhoi to Warkworth project will have stop/go traffic management in place overnight on SH1 between Hudson Road and Kaipara Flats, to allow the team to carry out kerb, barrier, drainage, utilities, and pavement works.

This will take place every Sunday – Thursday in October.

Sun 10 October to Thu 14 October

Stop/Go traffic management: 7:00pm to 5:00am

Sun 17 October to Thu 21 October

Stop/Go traffic management: 7:00pm to 5:00am

Sun 24 October to Thu 28 October

Stop/Go traffic management: 7:00pm to 5:00am

Sun 31 October

Stop/Go traffic management: 7:00pm to 5:00am

For more information visit www.nzta.govt/nci or call the project freephone number 0800 624 776.

Crash – SH 1, Levin

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District:

Central

Emergency services are responding to a crash between a truck and a car on SH 1, near the intersection with Kimberley Road.

Police were notified of the crash at about 7:50am. 

Two people have received minor injuries.

Southbound traffic is able to continue through the scene but diversions are in place for northbound traffic along McLeavey Road. Motorists are advised to expect delays.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre