Monthly Archives: October 2021

Korero mai – have your say on Waikato Expressway speed limits

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The State Highway 1 Waikato Expressway is a key strategic transport corridor, connecting Auckland to the agricultural and business centres of Waikato and Bay of Plenty. It will improve economic growth and productivity through safer, more efficient movement of people and freight.

The Waikato Expressway is nearing completion, with the Hamilton section scheduled to open in mid-2022.  Once complete, the Expressway will improve safety, reliability and congestion on SH1 by delivering a modern, safe four-lane highway from south of the Bombay Hills to south of Cambridge.

In late 2017, following consultation, the Cambridge section of the Waikato Expressway was increased to 110km/h.

The Huntly, Rangiriri and Longswamp sections of the Expressway have been designed and built to be safely driven at 110km/h. The Hamilton section, which is in construction, will also be able to be safely driven at 110km/h. These sections have features that make it safer for travelling at higher speeds.

Waka Kotahi is now preparing to upgrade the remaining sections; Ōhinewai, Hampton Downs, Ngāruawāhia and Tamahere. This will mean that, when completed, 64km of the Waikato Expressway between Hampton Downs and Tamahere will meet the necessary design and safety standards for a 110km/h speed limit.

Waka Kotahi Director Regional Relationships David Speirs says before any speed limits can be changed, Waka Kotahi must consult, as part of the legal process for speed limit reviews.

“It’s important people have the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed speed limit changes and let us know if there are any additional factors we need to consider before a final decision is made.”

People can provide their feedback via the Waka Kotahi website, email or post.

Mr Speirs says this road has been selected because of its design and safety features.

The Government invests heavily in our transport system and has upgraded many state highways with a focus on making them safer and more efficient.

“The speed limit can only be increased to 110km/h on roads which have features that make it safe for travelling at higher speeds, this includes having at least two lanes in each direction, a central median barrier and no significant curves.”

Feedback on the Waikato Expressway 110km/h speed review is open until 5pm on Tuesday 23 November 2021. Submissions can be emailed to email hidden; JavaScript is required, or completed online at www.nzta.govt.nz/WEX110

People can also download a consultation form from the same webpage, that can be posted for free.

Map showing the proposed speed limit changes along SH1 between Hampton Downs and Tamahere.

Project map showing the proposed speed limit changes along SH1 between Hampton Downs and Tamahere.

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Otira Gorge closure first week November, Rock Shelter remediation completion

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The Rock Shelter was inundated with shingle and slip material a week ago which overspilled onto the highway, closing the highway short-term. A helicopter was used to sluice the slip to make the highway temporarily safe and for SH73 to reopen.

“Next week we will be undertaking high pressure sluicing of the built up material to clear the shelter roof,” says Moira Whinham, Maintenance Contract Manager for Waka Kotahi on the West Coast.

“The work will be undertaken daily between 10 am and 3 pm.  SH73 between Greymouth and Christchurch is still accessible outside these times, so road users need to plan journeys accordingly to travel before and after that five-hour timeslot,” she says.

Emergency vehicles will be managed through the site at all times.

Given the work is weather dependent, the full week has been set aside to complete this job and ensure the highway is ready for summer traffic.

“We encourage people who want to take SH73 to set off in plenty of time. We appreciate it is a busy time of the year for many people and thank everyone for being patient.”

Checkpoints will be set up at Arthur’s Pass village and Otira, where people can safely wait near public toilets and cafes. The alternative route is SH7 the Lewis Pass via Reefton and Waipara.

Dates/ times:

  • Monday, 1 November 2021 to Friday, 5 November 2021: 10am to 3pm, weather dependent.
Map showing location of road closures along SH73

Location of road closures

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Safer speeds for SH51 coming into effect this Friday

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Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency consulted with the public earlier this year on a proposal for new safer speed limits on this section of SH51, following calls from the community for speeds to be lowered and technical assessments of the road.

“Our top priority is to improve safety on our roads so that everyone can get to where they’re going safely,” Director of Regional Relationships Linda Stewart says.

“To save lives and reduce serious injuries, we need to tackle unsafe speeds. The speed limits on this section of State Highway 51 were not safe and appropriate for the road, even for the best drivers, which is why we are introducing safer new speed limits.”

Decisions on the safer new speed limits were based on the technical assessment of the road, which considers factors like crash history, road environment and speeds that people generally travel at, as well as feedback received during the consultation from the general public and stakeholders.

From Friday 29 October, the new speed limits will come into effect and signs will go up showing what these new speed limits are (outlined in the table below):

Location Current speed limit (km/h) New permanent speed limit (km/h)
Napier to Clive:
From 190m south of SH51/Marine Parade (south of the intersection) to 260m north of Farndon Road.		 100 80
Clive township (southern section):
From 50m south of Mill Road to 700m south of Mill Road.		 70 and 80 60
Waipatu/Hastings:
From 100m north-east of St Georges Road to 350m south-west of Elwood Road.		 70 60

 We’d again like to thank everyone who provided their feedback during consultation on the new speed limits, as well as the council, Police, the AA and Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand,” Ms Stewart says.

Waka Kotahi did not propose a speed limit reduction for the section of SH51 between St Georges Road and Ruahapia or to extend the 60km/h section from Kenilworth Road further to include the Bay Espresso, due to the SH51 Waipatu Marae safety improvement project.

This project is changing the layout along this section of road, with widening and a flush median being installed. These safety improvements will enable safer turning and vehicle separation through the area.

The consultation for the SH51 speed review was combined with the consultation and engagement for the State Highway 5 (SH5) speed review. The speed review for SH51 was completed first, as there were fewer submissions and consequently less time was required to work through these than for SH5.

Waka Kotahi will announce the decision for SH5 speeds once the review and technical analysis of the road is complete. This is expected by the end of the year.

Video: The Sign of a Safe Speed

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2022 Hyundai Venue

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2022 Hyundai VenueWhat kind of car is the 2022 Hyundai Venue? What does it compare to? Hyundai might have the 2022 Venue categorized as an SUV, but it’s a boxy five-passenger hatchback to us—and it’s the best way to think of this model, which has no all-wheel drive on its options list. Available in SE, SEL, and Limited models, it compares most…

Man arrested in relation to online sexual offending

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District:

Southern

Attributable to Detective Sergeant Regan Boucher, Dunedin Child Protection Team:

Police have arrested and charged a man in relation to the sexual grooming of a young person.

A 31-year-old Dunedin man will appear in Dunedin District Court on 26 November 2021 on charges relating to various sexual offences, including meeting a young person following sexual grooming.

The arrest has come about after the man allegedly made contact with a number of victims online, purporting himself to be a 15-year-old boy.

The alleged offender created fictitious online social media profiles to arrange to meet victims he had contacted online.

This is an important reminder that the internet is a place where people are able to remain anonymous and prey on the vulnerable.

It is vital that parents are aware of who their children are communicating with and have some open and frank conversations about keeping safe, not giving out personal information and not meeting up with strangers.

Parents and caregivers can find useful information about keeping children safe online at www.netsafe.org.nz.

Police would like to hear from anyone who believes they may have communicated or met with the alleged offender, or fallen victim to this type of offending.  

Anyone with any information which could assist Police can contact the Dunedin Police Station on 03 471 4800. Alternatively, information can also be provided to Police on 105, or anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

No other details of the offending can be released due to the age of the victims and due to the matter now being before the court.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Fatal Crash, Moerewa

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District:

Northland

A person has died following a single-vehicle crash in Moerewa.

The vehicle crashed on Pokapu Road, between Kaka Road and Davis Road, at around 4:20pm.

The driver who was the vehicle’s sole occupant died at the scene.

The road is reported to be down to one lane and motorists are asked to avoid the area if possible.

The Serious Crash Unit has been notified.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Nevis Bluff, SH6, spring 2021 programme – keeping people safe from bouncing rocks

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People who travel along State Highway 6 between Cromwell and Queenstown may spot activity above them on the rock faces that form the Nevis Bluff.

“People need to factor in short delays, up to ten minutes at a time, weekdays, for around three weeks,” says Mark Stewart, Central Otago Maintenance Contract Manager for Waka Kotahi.

The work will run for two weeks between 8am and 5pm from Monday, 1 November, to Friday, 12 November.

“People stopped in their cars may be able to see abseilers inspecting and removing loose rock on the Nevis Bluff rock face,” says Mr Stewart. “We need to ensure the road below is clear when rocks are being dropped or loosened.”

Workers abseiling on a rockface at Nevis Bluff

Not a bad day to be at the office: Abseilers (Wayo Carson standing, Paul “Chinny” Chin sitting, Pete Brown’s legs) above the Kawarau River sit tight while traffic is let through on the Nevis Bluff, autumn 2021. Photo courtesy engineering geologist Warrick Hamilton.

The work is being done by the Aspiring Highways team, on behalf of Waka Kotahi.

“The Nevis Bluff is a site we regularly inspect, monitor and stabilise as part of our commitment to provide a safe, accessible highway network.

“The best times to do this work are the shoulder seasons in autumn and spring when traffic volumes are at their lowest.

“We appreciate everyone’s understanding for any delays that they may encounter and thank them for following the temporary, lowered speeds which are for their safety and the safety of our workers,” says Mr Stewart.

This work should be complete by Friday, 12 November, subject to weather conditions.

The Nevis Bluff is about half-way between Cromwell and Queenstown – 25 minutes from Cromwell, 35 minutes from Queenstown, above the Kawarau River.

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Upcoming night works ahead of Bay Link traffic switch

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A significant traffic switch near the Bayfair roundabout is scheduled to take place during the week commencing Sunday 7 November as part of the Bay Link project.

The change in road layout, which is expected to be implemented overnight on Tuesday 9 November, will see the two northbound lanes of State Highway 2 (heading towards Mount Maunganui) move closer to Golf 360 and the two southbound lanes (heading towards Papamoa) move closer to the Bayfair Shopping Centre.

There will be a series of night works beginning late-October to complete the necessary preparation, the switch and the required follow-up work. This includes completing the new road, barrier realignment, new line-marking and the removal of old line-marking.

This work is scheduled to take place overnight as follows:

  • Sunday 31 October to Thursday 4 November, from approximately 7.00pm until 5.00am the following morning (finishing Friday morning).
  • Sunday 7 November to Thursday 11 November, from approximately 7.00pm until 5.00am the following morning (finishing Friday morning).

The traffic switch will enable the creation of a work zone in the middle of SH2 so construction can progress on the underpass’ central section (a 60-metre open-air trench), as well as two further piers for the four-span Bayfair flyover and the flyover’s northern approach ramp.

As part of the preparatory works, single lane closures will be necessary during night works. Where possible, two lanes of traffic will be maintained in each direction until the switch is complete.

Motorists are asked to drive with extra care through the Bay Link site, while people adjust to the new road layout. They should reduce speed and follow the directions provided by traffic management staff and signs. A 30km/h temporary speed limit is in place around the Bayfair roundabout for the duration of the Bay Link project to protect road workers and ensure the safety of everyone travelling through the roundabout.

Waka Kotahi would like to acknowledge Bayfair Shopping Centre and Golf 360, and thank local businesses, residents and motorists for their patience while this work is carried out.

To help people visualise what the Bay Link project will look like upon completion, an animated video is available showing updated construction sequencing through to the end of the project.

Visit the Bay Link project page for more information

Map showing new road layout around the existing Bayfair roundabout

The new road layout from November 2021

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Lowering the carbon footprint of transport construction

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Boats moored in an estuary with land on either side.

Penlink, a project to create a vital new transport connection in north Auckland, is the first Waka Kotahi project to use the new approach. Projects worth more than $100m will aim to reduce construction emissions by at least 10%, with suppliers encouraged to look for ways to make even greater reductions to carbon.

National Manager Infrastructure Delivery Mark Kinvig says Waka Kotahi has a vision for a low carbon, safe and healthy transport system.

“This will be challenging to achieve and we’re at the start of the journey. One of the areas where Waka Kotahi can quickly start to tackle carbon emissions is project construction.”

“Construction of infrastructure projects use significant resources. Concrete, steel, asphalt, and fuel used in earthworks are the biggest sources of emissions from building transport projects.”

“We are aiming to reduce these impacts as much as possible and lead the transport sector on reducing construction emissions.”

“Empowering the industry to use their expertise to tackle this issue is key, so we will encourage our suppliers to innovate and come up with ways to lower emissions.”

“The contract to build Penlink, which has just gone out to tender, will include a financial incentive for meeting a carbon reduction target.”

“This new approach to procurement also encourages design competition and challenge our standards to reduce construction emissions. Changes to standards would still need to deliver essential outcomes like safety,” says Mark Kinvig.

Waka Kotahi plans to use a similar approach to reduce construction emissions on other major New Zealand Upgrade Programme projects.

Other initiatives will include:

  • Assessing suppliers bidding for contracts on how their construction methods result in fewer emissions.
  • Accelerating improvements through new sustainable infrastructure and resource efficiency policies, as well as the use of an independent sustainability rating tool run by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council.
  • For projects still in development we will continue to look at potential changes that could lower emissions while still providing the outcomes promised to communities. Detailed design and construction methodology will provide opportunities, for example through optimisation of plant, fuel use, earthworks and using materials closer to project sites.

“Significantly reducing construction emissions will require major changes in technology and practice during the next decade. Sector-wide innovation is also needed to reduce construction emissions from steel, aggregate, bitumen and concrete, where opportunities are currently limited,” says Mark Kinvig

“Waka Kotahi is committed to working with Government, the industry, communities and mana whenua to make the changes needed on the Government’s pathway to a net zero-carbon land transport system by 2050.”

Waka Kotahi’s New Zealand Upgrade Programme projects feature a range of measures to help reduce vehicle emissions. These include new walking and cycling paths, managed lanes that prioritise public transport and shared journeys to reduce single occupancy vehicle trips and enabling public transport improvements.

About the New Zealand Upgrade Programme

Waka Kotahi and KiwiRail are delivering the New Zealand Upgrade Programme, the Government’s $8.7 billion transport investment in growing areas across the country. Communities can look forward to transport improvements that provide more travel choices, help people get where they’re going safely and grow our economy, while responding to the impacts of travel on the environment.

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King Edward Street closure for Motueka, November into December

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 As Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency moves to the next two stages of the High St/SH60 roundabout construction, teams will be moving across the road to build the western half of the roundabout near the Clock Tower and Department of Conservation building.

“The first stage of construction, building the eastern half of the roundabout, at the Old Wharf Road, King Edward Street, and High Street intersection has gone very well,” says Waka Kotahi Director of Regional Relationships, Emma Speight.

“We did look at keeping King Edward Street open during the next two stages, but to keep our crew and the public safe, we need to close this road. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause people.

“The raised roundabout will help keep everyone who travels through this intersection safe, including children and whanau walking or cycling to schools or the recreation centre.”

Map showing the location of the works to construct the roundabout at the intersection of King Edwards St and High St/SH60.

Map showing location of works.

A detour (see below) will be in place for people wanting to get into King Edward or Queen Victoria Streets. The detour will be via Wildman Road, Queen Victoria Street, and Whakarewa Street.

Map showing the detour that will be in place for people wanting to get into King Edward or Queen Victoria Streets. The detour will be via Wildman Road, Queen Victoria Street, and Whakarewa Street.

Map showing the detour.

As Waka Kotahi continues to complete the roundabout and traffic signal work on High Street, there are upcoming night works too.

Night works at the roundabout site

From Sunday, 14 November there will be night works at the Old Wharf / King Edward / High Street intersection for six weeks. Our teams will be on the job between 6pm and 6am from Sunday through to Thursday nights. These works will involve Stop/Go traffic management on High Street.  We will also be using electronic signs to advertise the works ahead of the site.

Night works for the Pah/Greenwood/High Street and Wallace/ High Street intersections

From Sunday 31 October, Waka Kotahi will start five weeks of night works to begin pavement construction and road re-surfacing at the Pah/Greenwood/High Street and Wallace/High Street intersections.

Our teams will be on the job between 6pm and 6am from Sunday through to Thursday nights. Stop/Go traffic management will be in place on High Street, with some short road closures and detours in place while we complete the work.

Waka Kotahi asks everyone to take care travelling through the site.

More information

For more information on the roundabout stages, the upcoming road closures and night works:

  • email email hidden; JavaScript is required
  • call Hamish Lewis (Fulton Hogan) 027 456 7654
  • or visit our project website

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