Monthly Archives: October 2021

Arthur’s Pass highway, SH73, reopening 11 am today

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SH73 was closed Monday afternoon when a slip above the Rock Shelter,  on the Otira/ West Coast side, spilled material, including large boulders, onto the road, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.  

One truck and trailer unit was parked up under the shelter and its driver safely relocated. 

“Thanks to all drivers and regular road users for your patience and taking the Lewis Pass route over the past two days,” says Moira Whinham, Waka Kotahi Maintenance Contract Manager for the West Coast. 

“The helicopter sluicing yesterday has resolved this issue in the short term. A more permanent solution is currently being explored.” 

The Rock Shelter was built in 2001 after the Viaduct was completed. It was built to protect road users and their vehicles from rockfall and slips which regularly occur at this part of the winding road between the top of Arthur’s Pass and Otira.

helicopter pouring water over the slip material at the rock shelter

Sluicing the slip material at the Rock Shelter on SH73 Tuesday this week (19 October)

 

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2022 Audi A3

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2022 Audi A3What kind of car is the 2022 Audi A3? What does it compare to? A subcompact sedan from a luxury automaker, the A3 reaches toward the mainstream like the BMW 2-Series and Mercedes-Benz A-Class and CLA-Class. Is the 2022 Audi A3 a good car? The A3 is a fun little sedan with good looks, plenty of safety and interior technology, and peppy engines. We…

Labour Weekend travel tips for the South Island/Te Wai Pounamu

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Use the Waka Kotahi holiday journey planner to check traffic predictions so you can nail your trip before you leave:

Waka Kotahi Holiday Journey Planner – Labour Day weekend

“The holiday journey planner shows predicted traffic conditions for popular routes over the Labour weekend period, based on travel patterns from previous years,” says Waka Kotahi Journey Manager Tresca Forrester.

  • Predicted peak times for travel may change based on traffic incidents, weather, driver behaviour, or changes in Covid-19 alert levels.
  • Visit the Journey Planner before you head off for the latest information on road works, road closures and delays.
    Journey Planner
  • Continue to keep track of where you’re going with the NZ COVID Tracer app and check the COVID-19 website for information on alert levels and travel before you head off.
    covid19.govt.nz

As well as the peak busy patches on key highways in Queenstown Lakes District, Canterbury and Tasman/ Nelson/ Marlborough, there are also a few places where the state highway or local roads are reduced to a single lane, says Ms Forrester.

“Some of these are new projects and some are cleaning up after the recent winter storms in places like Craigieburn, on the Canterbury-West Coast’s SH73 and in Marlborough. Plus we can have changes at very short notice on routes like SH73, as has happened this week, so check our map first to avoid surprises.”

Single lanes

Tasman

  • On SH6 between Murchison and O’Sullivan’s Bridge
  • SH60 Birds Hill just out of Tākaka heading towards Collingwood
  • SH60 Tākaka Hill itself.

All three sites have traffic signals to safely manage traffic flows.

Marlborough

  • Many roads across the Marlborough region, particularly heading into the Sounds and places like the Awatere Valley, are damaged from the significant storm in July with a major repair programme underway. For the current status of the local roads in the Marlborough area check this map.
    Marlborough CDEM Official Public Information Map

North Canterbury/ Arthur’s Pass

West Coast

  • SH6 Upper Buller Gorge, east of Westport
  • SH6 Meybille Bay, north of Punakaiki 

“We expect heavy traffic out of our urban centres this Friday and back home on Monday,” says Ms Forrester. “Please take extra care on the roads and check the weather forecasts before you leave and the Waka Kotahi traffic and travel page for any updates.

“We have done the best to minimise works in most places over the long weekend, but we ask all drivers to take extra care wherever you spot road cones and areas which have to remain single lane while work is ongoing.”

NZ Police have also sent out a reminder that motorists can play their part in keeping highways safe by reporting unsafe driving/  If you see any dangerous driving behaviour or immediate risks on the road when you are travelling, pull over at a safe place, phone 111 and report it to Police.

Otherwise, if you witness inconsiderate driving, or want to report a non-life threatening driving incident, once you are safely stopped, call 105 or go online:
www.police.govt.nz/105support

Waka Kotahi crews will shut down most active work sites around the South Island/Te Wai Pounamu by midday on Friday 22 October.

Safe driving tips

  • Drive to the conditions, whether it’s the weather, the time of day or amount of traffic.
  • Take regular breaks to stay alert. Share the driving if you can.
  • Keep a safe following distance from vehicles in front so you can stop safely.
  • Be patient – overtaking is unlikely to make a significant difference to your journey time due to the amount of traffic expected over the weekend.
  • Check your car is safe, warranted, windwipers/lights are working and you have a spare tyre inflated before you head off.
  • It’s spring so weather is notoriously changeable. Be prepared for hot and cold.

Drivers can get real time information

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Te Ahu a Turanga embarks on second earthworks season

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Thanks to a relatively mild winter and a seamless COVID-19 shutdown and restart, the project began its second earthworks season this month in a strong position.

During Level 4 the site had to close except for essential maintenance. With stringent safety plans in place, Te Ahu a Turanga was one of the first major projects to resume construction in Level 3 and the site is fully operational in Level 2.

Lonnie Dalzell, Waka Kotahi Regional Manager Infrastructure Delivery, says a big focus this year has been creating access for construction. A lot of this work is nearing completion and with access largely in place across the site, the coming earthworks season is about moving a lot of dirt.

“Over 10 per cent of the project’s total earthworks has been completed and we are working towards having half the project’s total earthworks moved by the end of the current season, in May 2022.”

Te Ahu a Turanga is one of the largest earthworks projects in the country and has around 120 pieces of large machinery onsite, including a Wabco 353 elevating scraper – one of the biggest scrapers in the world.

Mr Dalzell says good progress on landscaping has also been made.

“The landscaping team has been out in all weather and has met their goal of getting close to 250,000 native plants in the ground at two farm sites before the warmer weather arrives. Around 630,000 plants are growing at a number of nurseries for planting next year.” 

The project team has grown to around 220 people, including subcontractors, and there are a number of jobs to be filled. There are opportunities for labourers, apprentices, field technicians, diesel mechanics, and multi-skilled earthworks machinery drivers. Job vacancies are listed on the Te Ahu a Turanga website:

Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway job vacancies

Mr Dalzell says that while earthworks production is business as usual, the project’s Visitor Centre on Napier Road in Ashhurst is closed for the time being due to COVID-19.

“We are monitoring the situation and will reopen to the public as soon as it is safe to do so. In the meantime, you can see the latest progress by checking out our latest flyover online.”

For the latest flyover and project information, go to:

Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway

Arthur’s Pass highway, SH73, remaining closed again today and overnight

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A slurry of rocks yesterday from a new slip above the western end of the Rock Shelter on the Otira gorge, SH73, closed the road mid-afternoon and overnight. Scree and boulders from the steep slope above the shelter continued to fall with the rain, blocking the lower end of the road. 

“The slope is being sluiced today using a helicopter,” says Moira Whinham, Waka Kotahi Maintenance Contract Manager for the West Coast. 

“While sluicing has reduced the material at the margins of the slip, continued heavy rain in the area is causing ongoing rockfall.  The rockfall will be reassessed tomorrow once the weather eases.” 

The sluicing is weather and wind dependent. 

The Rock Shelter was built in 2001 after the Viaduct was completed. It was built to protect road users and their vehicles from rockfall and slips which regularly occur at this part of the winding road between the top of Arthur’s Pass and Otira. 

SH 73 Arthus Pass to Otira live update

Photos taken on Monday of the Rock Shelter on SH73 and the shingle slide at one end:

rock shelter on the side of hill

rock shelter shingle slide

Take the Lewis Pass

The alternate, slightly longer route linking Greymouth to Christchurch is via Reefton and Waipara, the Lewis Pass, SH7.

 

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Serious crash, Nukuhou

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District:

Bay of Plenty

Police are at the scene of a serious crash on State Highway 2, Nukuhou.

Emergency services were alerted to the crash between a motorcycle and a truck near Glenholme Road at around 9:35am.

An update on injuries will be provided when able.

The Serious Crash Unit are in attendance.

The road will be blocked for some time and detours are in place.

Motorists are advised to travel north of Wainui onto SH2 through SH30 Awakeri towards Whakatane through to Ohope and along the Pacific Coastal Highway (Wainui Rd).

ENDS

Issued by the Police Media Centre

Rockfall, slip closes SH73, Arthur’s Pass route between Canterbury and the West Coast

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SH73 was closed mid-afternoon when a slip at the Rock Shelter on the West Coast side of the Arthur’s Pass road closed the highway, says Waka Kotahi Maintenance Contract Manager Moira Whinham. 

With rain continuing to fall across the Main Divide, it is not safe to reopen the highway tonight, says Ms Whinham. 

“People should check the Waka Kotahi traffic and travel page for updates. 

“Electronic message signs will be in place at each end of the road – near Kumara Junction and at Springfield warning people of this closure and road blocks are in place at Arthur’s Pass and Otira.” 

The Rock Shelter was built to protect SH73 from rockfall and slips which regularly occur at this part of the winding road between the top of Arthur’s Pass and Otira. 

In today’s wet weather the slip material has landed beyond the shelter itself, making it unsafe for traffic at this stage.

SH 73 Arthus Pass to Otira live update

View images and background on the Rockfall Shelter, built to protect road users from the shingle scree above it:

Arthur’s Pass: Otra Gorge Rockfall Shelter

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2022 Ford Bronco Sport

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Forgotten World Highway sealing to start next month

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The project will improve safety and boost the region’s economy, while retaining the picturesque journey and protecting the natural environment.

Funded through Kānoa – Regional Economic Development and Investment unit, the project will see the unsealed road through the Tangarakau Gorge on the Forgotten World Highway sealed.

Safety improvements such as signage, line markings and guardrail will be installed through the gorge and the speed limit will be reviewed as part of the sealing project.

Director of Regional Relationships Linda Stewart says sealing the road through the gorge will make it much safer for locals and visitors.

“It will encourage more tourists to the area as many rental car businesses don’t let drivers travel on unsealed roads.

“This project will result in many benefits for the community and the region as a whole. We know there will be lots of people happy to see it get underway.”

The sealing project is part of a $25.7 million package of works for the Forgotten World Highway funded through Kānoa – Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit and the regional package of the NZ Upgrade Programme. This package of works aims to increase economic activity by helping to create jobs and contributing an estimated $35m to $45m to the region, while significantly improving safety for everyone using the route.

Stratford District Council Mayor Neil Volzke says there will be many benefits that accrue from upgrading this road and the whole region will gain by having an improved third access route into the Taranaki region.

“Successive Stratford Mayors and the wider community have been calling for this for decades, so naturally I’m stoked that the first part of the sealing work in the gorge is about to begin.

“The total package of improvements will make the Forgotten World Highway a much safer drive and be much more inviting for visitors to the region to use,” says Mayor Volzke.

The first 2km of the route will be sealed this summer by local contractor Inframax.

The Forgotten World Highway is one of Aotearoa’s iconic back country journeys, so retaining the character of the area and protecting the natural environment has been a key objective in designing the sealing project.

“Our project team has been working closely with iwi and the Department of Conservation to ensure the sealing project has minimal impact on the surrounding environment, and that the picturesque journey through the gorge is retained,” says Ms Stewart.

SH43 Forgotten World Highway

Safer speeds for SH35 coming into effect this week

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Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency consulted with the community and people who use SH35 regularly in 2019 on proposed new speeds for the beach and township sections of the road between Gisborne and Te Puia Springs.

“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.

“Even when speed isn’t the direct cause of a crash, it’s always a factor in the severity and can be the difference between a person being killed, seriously injured, or walking away unharmed.”

Between 2010 and 2019, were 20 crashes on this section of SH35. One person lost their life, three people were seriously injured, and another seven received minor injuries.

“During our consultation in 2019, we received feedback that the road between Tokomaru Bay and Te Puia Springs should also be included, and that the Te Puia Springs township speed limit should be reduced further than what was proposed,” Ms Stewart says.

“Every day around 1,100 vehicles travel this road with a mix of regular commuters, tourists, and a large and increasing number of heavy commercial vehicles. It is an important highway for communities and businesses operating in the region.

“While we can’t change the challenging geography that the road traverses, we can make sure the speed limits are safe and appropriate for the road and its environment.”

From 22 October 2021, the new speed limits will be:

Confirmed speed limit changes for State Highway 35 Te Puia Springs to Tokomaru Bay

Location Current speed limit New speed limit
Te Puia Springs Township – from 80m west of Waipiro Road (existing speed limit change) to 180m north-west of Cemetery Road 70km/h 50km/h
Open road section between Puketiti Road and Te Puia Springs – from 180m north-west of Cemetery Road to 350m south of Puketiti Road 70km/h and 100km/h 60km/h
Open road between Tokomaru Bay and Puketiti Road – from 350m south of Puketiti Road to 470m west of Beach Road (Wharf Road) (existing speed limit change) 100km/h 80km/h

Alongside safer speeds, Waka Kotahi is also undertaking resilience improvements at various sites along SH35.

“We’d like to thank everyone that provided their feedback on the proposed speed limits, as well as Gisborne District Council and Police who we worked closely with throughout the speed review.

“By making the change now, we can help prevent more crashes on this road and reduce the risk of further tragedy.”

More information on the permanent speed limits and our consultation summary, including the submissions can be found at:

SH35 Te Puia Springs to Tokomaru Bay speed limits

Safer speeds are a key part of Road to Zero 2020–30, New Zealand’s road safety strategy, which sets an ambitious target of reducing deaths and serious injuries on New Zealand’s road by 40 per cent by 2030.

Road to Zero – NZ’s road safety strategy

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