Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is lowering the speed limit on SH5 between Rangitaiki and Esk Valley, following technical assessments of the road and consultation with the public. From 18 February 2022, the speed limit on SH5 from Rangitaiki (1140m southeast of Matea Road) to Esk Valley (110m west of Waipunga Road) will be permanently lowered from 100km/h to 80km/h.

“Safe speeds save lives. When speeds are safe for the road, simple mistakes are less likely to end in tragedy. That’s why we’re making the speed limit safer for everyone who uses this road,” Director of Regional Relationships Linda Stewart says.

“We have listened to the feedback and we understand the need and desire to also make infrastructure changes that will complement the speed limit change.

“As such, we are undertaking feasibility work on safety improvements for the entire section that will consist of shoulder widening, wide centrelines, side barriers and some intersections improvements.

Following detailed design work, we will be looking to begin implementing these infrastructure changes from late 2022.

“In the meantime, however, the most effective tool we have at our disposal now to dramatically improve safety for everyone who uses this road is to replace the unsafe speed limit of 100km/h with a much safer speed limit of 80km/h. That won’t be popular with everyone, but it’s the right thing to do and our priority is that everyone gets to their destination safely.”

Between 2010 and 2019, 16 people were killed and 75 were seriously injured in crashes on SH5 between Taupō and Napier. Since December 2019, a further nine people have lost their lives in six fatal crashes. All but one of these occurred between Rangitaiki and Esk Valley.

“Every death and every serious injury on our roads has a devastating impact on a large number of people – whānau, friends, colleagues and neighbours, as well as our first responders,” Ms Stewart says.

“It is time we stopped accepting that a certain amount of death and serious injury is just the price we all pay for moving around. We need to move past the whole idea of a ‘road toll’ paid in human lives.

“We have clear evidence to show that the current speed limit is not safe for this road, even for the best drivers. The road traverses a constrained and challenging environment and is hilly with sweeping bends and no physical separation of traffic travelling in opposite directions.

“It’s not safe or appropriate for it to have the same speed limit as Auckland’s Southern Motorway or the Hawke’s Bay Expressway. Speed limits should reflect the type of road and their environment.
“SH5 is a critical north link for Hawke’s Bay, and will continue to be for years to come, so we know that it’s important to plan for its future long-term,” Ms Stewart says.

Along with introducing safer speeds on SH5 and SH51, around $14 million will be invested into maintenance and safety projects around the Hawke’s Bay region this year. This will include road resealing and replacements at multiple locations along SH5.

In addition, Waka Kotahi has resealed sections of SH5 and Titiokura Summit, improved safety at the Tarawera Café entrance and have spent $16 million on maintaining the state highway in the 20/21 financial year – an extra $4 million above previously budgeted.

Waka Kotahi is also seeking funding for a business case that will explore improvements in addition to safety, such as improving the resilience of the route to make it better able to withstand severe weather events. If funding is approved, work will be delivered in stages between 2021 and 2027.

As part of New Zealand’s road safety strategy, Road to Zero, Waka Kotahi is identifying roads where safer speed limits can make a big difference in saving lives.

Road to Zero accepts that humans are vulnerable, and we make mistakes. It sets us on a path to achieve Vision Zero, an Aotearoa New Zealand where no one is killed or seriously injured on our roads.
The changes we’re making under Road to Zero are so that people aren’t killed or seriously injured when they do make mistakes.

More information on the permanent speed limits and a consultation summary, including the submissions can be found at:
SH5 permanent speed limits

“This work has been scheduled for the public holiday when early morning traffic is typically lower than other times of the year, to minimise disruption to motorists” Regional Maintenance and Operations Manager Mark Owen says.

“Several large trees were removed over Anzac weekend earlier this year, but with severe weather in recent months one dead tree has fallen and poses a potential danger to state highway traffic. The tree has been temporarily secured to prevent it falling downhill.

“While contractors have the opportunity they will also remove several other trees that might pose a future hazard at this location.”

To protect the safety of motorists on the highway long-term, Waka Kotahi has worked with contractors to arrange the removal of the trees. This will take place on Tuesday 4 January 2022 between 7am and 9am. These works are being done early morning when it is light for the safety of our workers and prior to the main traffic volumes.

The southbound lanes will be closed between Johnsonville southbound off-ramp and Johnsonville southbound on-ramp during this period. Southbound traffic will detour through Johnsonville central business district.

A traffic control team will monitor the northbound lanes in case there is a danger of debris falling onto the northbound lanes when trees are lifted out by crane.

Traffic conditions will also be monitored throughout the works and traffic management will be altered as necessary to avoid the build-up of lengthy queues and traffic disruptions.

The southbound highway will open at 9am. If any finishing work is required, traffic safety will be managed by stopping vehicles for brief periods if necessary.

Work may be postponed to Saturday 8 January if wind or rain is too strong for the work to proceed safely.

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

• COVID-19 services update: nzta.govt.nz/COVID19
• Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/wellington
• Facebook: facebook.com/NZTAWgtn
• Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahiWgtn
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)

State Highway 2, Edgecumbe

Repairs in Edgecumbe between Puriri Crescent and College Road were successfully completed in the westbound direction the week of 6 December.

Due to the weather event experienced week of Monday 13 December, the eastbound lane will now be completed early in the new year.

State Highway 5, Reporoa

Works to strengthen and rebuild a section of SH5 between Reporoa Road and Wharepapa Road began in October 2021.

The site is now ready for its final chipseal, which will be completed on Monday 20 December, to ensure that the road can be reopened for motorists in time for Christmas.

During the sealing work, Stop/Go traffic management will be in place with a 30km/h temporary speed limit.

It is important motorists adhere to the relevant temporary speed limits during these works to avoid damage to their vehicles and ensure their safety and that of other road users and road workers.

For at least 24 hours after the site has been sealed, and before it is swept, it will continue to operate under a reduced temporary speed limit while vehicles travel over the seal and help “bed in” the chip and to reduce the risk of chip damaging windscreens. The site will then be swept, excess chip removed, and the temporary speed limit remains in place until line marking has been reinstated on 23 December.

State Highway 35, Houpoto

Works to repair an unstable section of embankment on SH35 at Houpoto, approximately three kilometres west of Maraenui Pa Road began in October 2021.

Teams are working hard to complete the final elements of the retaining structure and reopen the road to two lanes without temporary traffic management in place before Christmas. Crews will continue work through to the 24 December to complete this work.

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)

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency started construction on Te Ahu a Turanga in January 2021 and once completed, the 11.5km, four-lane highway will reconnect communities in the east and west of the central North Island.

The partnership between Te Ahu a Turanga and UCOL was formed in late 2020 to provide graduates and students with experience, training and opportunities in the form of internships, apprenticeships and work placements.

Other partnership features include working together on an in-house Tikanga/Te Reo Māori programme, the provision of site visits for UCOL students to better understand a construction project of this scope, and Te Ahu a Turanga staff attending UCOL events, such as careers expos and open days.

In celebration of the partnership, Te Ahu a Turanga Project Director Tony Adams, Waka Kotahi Owner Interface Manager Grant Kauri and UCOL Chief Executive Dr Linda Sissons signed a Statement of Intent recognising the partnership’s aims and intentions.

Mr Kauri says while the delivery of the new highway was the primary goal, Te Ahu a Turanga project is committed to providing broader social outcomes for the region.

“One of our intentions is to give back to the community and to leave it in a better place than when we started. By providing a training ground to upskill graduates and students, we’re creating opportunities for people living in this rohe to be part of one of the largest infrastructure projects in New Zealand, and strengthening the regional construction sector with a skilled workforce.”

Dr Sissons believes that the partnership between UCOL and Te Ahu a Turanga is a great boon, not just for our students but for our whole community.

“We greatly value our partnership and the impact that it will have in our rohe. Offering work experience and Work Integrated Learning on such a large-scale, exciting project is incredibly important to the learning journeys of our ākonga.

“Our joint mission to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi in all we do has also seen the creation of a meaningful Wānanga on tikanga me te reo Māori that will benefit our entire community.”

One of the UCOL graduates to benefit from this partnership is Emily Kang, an engineering cadet currently working on the Parahaki Bridge, over the Manawatū River.

After completing the Level 3 New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trades Skills (Carpentry) with UCOL, Ms Kang was part of a group selected to take part in a 3-month pre-apprenticeship, which included helping with the construction of the Project’s Te Whare Pūmanawa office site.

Ms Kang showed great leadership and potential over this time, which led to her being selected for an engineering cadetship to work towards a Level 6 New Zealand Diploma in Civil Engineering.

Te Ahu a Turanga Senior Project Engineer Nick Myers Kay, who oversees Emily’s training on site, said she was a credit to both the project and to UCOL.

“Emily is a one of a kind of individual; it’s very rare to find someone of her character. For her to slot straight into something that is so foreign and challenging, and for her to do it so confidently and comfortably is really quite remarkable.”

Ms Kang said it was an honour to be a part of the Te Ahu a Turanga team.

“Parahaki Bridge is an incredibly complex engineering project and I’m learning new things all the time. It’s going to be so impressive when it’s completed so to be part of the team working on such a cool structure is extremely rewarding.”

Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway is scheduled for completion in December 2024.

Want to start your career in the Trades? Check out the Government’s Targeted Training and Apprenticeships Fund (TTAF) and enrol in a UCOL Trades course for free for 2022. This funding is only available until December 2022 so don’t miss out!

Contractors will be following strict industry standards provided by Construction Health and Safety NZ (CHASNZ) to ensure the safety of workers and road users. People must maintain safe physical distancing of two metres when walking/cycling near the sites.

Some delays are expected at times, and motorists are advised to plan and allow extra time for their journeys. There may be an increase in people walking and cycling around the site, so please be careful when driving near them.

Work sites for the week starting Sunday 19 December:

• State Highway 30, Te Ngae Road and Tarawera Road intersection: Painting of the shared path on the eastbound side continues. This work will be done under an eastbound lane closure and shoulder closures, which may cause minor delays.
• State Highway 30, Allen Mills Road to Iles Road: The installation of street lights on the northern side of State Highway 30/Te Ngae Road continues. This work will be done under westbound off-peak lane closures and may cause moderate delays.

Temporary speed limits of 30km/h or 50km/h are in place for everyone’s safety at the above work sites, including when workers are off-site.

In the event of bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances, work may be postponed.

Work along SH30/Te Ngae Road is expected to be complete before the Christmas shutdown on 23 December, which includes removal of all traffic management.

Only minor works are expected to take place in the new year. The majority of these will take place outside of traffic lanes, with some occasional lane and shoulder closures required. These works will recommence in January.

Final surfacing is expected to take place as part of the maintenance programme between Puarenga Bridge and Tarawera Road in March/April.

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)