Monthly Archives: December 2021

2022 Kia Niro

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2022 Kia NiroWhat kind of vehicle is the 2022 Kia Niro? What does it compare to? The 2022 Kia Niro is a small hybrid that delivers excellent fuel economy and offers up a spacious cargo area. It’s a Toyota Prius without the stigma, and it can also be shopped against the Hyundai Ioniq and Honda Insight. The Niro is offered in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and…

Hack your Taranaki summer road trip

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Waka Kotahi Director of Regional Relationships Linda Stewart says people should drive to the conditions, allow plenty of time and take regular breaks to stay alert.

“More cars on the road, tired drivers and people driving on unfamiliar roads can make holiday driving stressful and risky.

“We can all take simple actions to stay safe. That means checking your car is safe before your journey, keeping your speed down, driving sober, watching for the signs of fatigue and sharing the driving.”

To minimise disruption to people’s journeys, Waka Kotahi pauses most state highway works before busy holiday travel periods like Christmas and New Year.

Where possible, motorists are asked to plan ahead and travel outside peak periods. The Waka Kotahi interactive Holiday Journeys map – shows when and where traffic is expected to be heavy based on travel patterns from previous years.

Holiday Journey Planner

“The roads around Taranaki are likely to be busy as we approach Christmas and New Year’s, especially on State Highway 3 at Mt Messenger. We’re predicting traffic to be especially heavy for northbound traffic in the afternoons between 26 December and 5 January 2022, particularly on 2, 3 and 4 January. Southbound, there are expected to be some delays around midday on 27, 29 and 30 December and 2 and 3 January.”

However, because predicted peak times can change based on incidents, weather and even driver behaviour, we suggest you visit our Journey Planner website – www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz – before you leave for accurate information about current road and traffic conditions.

“Congestion and delays are inevitable in peak times, but if everyone plans ahead before leaving home, leaves plenty of time for their journey, and drives to the conditions the worst of the frustrations can be eased and everyone can concentrate on arriving safely at their destination.”

  • Remember, you’re on holiday, there’s no need to rush.

Tips for safe driving on your summer holiday

Drive to the conditions, allow plenty of time and take regular breaks to stay alert.

  • Be patient when driving this summer so everyone can relax and enjoy the holidays together.
  • Keep a safe following distance from vehicles in front so you can stop safely.
  • Drive to the conditions – whether it’s the weather, the road you’re on, the time of day or the volume of traffic on the roads.
  • Take regular breaks to stay alert.
  • Allow plenty of time. You’re on holiday, no need to rush.

Vehicle safety

  • Your vehicle must be safe to drive before you set off on your summer holiday.
  • Check that the Warrant of Fitness or Certificate of Fitness is up-to-date on any vehicle you plan to drive, including rentals.
  • There are basic checks you can do yourself, including:

Tyres – minimum tread is 1.5mm but the more tread, the better the grip.
Lights – check lights work so your vehicle is visible in poor light.
Indicators – ensure all indicators work so people know which direction you are moving.
Windscreen and wipers – check for wear and tear so you can see the road safely.

For more information on self-checks, visit our website at
Check your car – safety basics

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

♪ We wish you a merry Christmas ♪ on Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highways

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Director Regional Relationships David Speirs says ordinarily at this time of year, Waka Kotahi would be directing people planning to travel in to, out of, and around the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions to our Holiday Journey Planner tool, which shows predicted traffic conditions for popular routes over Christmas and New Year’s based on travel patterns from previous years.

Holiday Journey Planner

“However, due to COVID-19 restrictions limiting travel for different regions in the Upper North Island over the past few months, we’re expecting travel patterns to change significantly this year. Using previous year’s data to predict peak times and days for travel over this holiday period would not be effective for places like Auckland, Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty.”

Waka Kotahi will instead be providing real time data, which road users can find on our regional Facebook and Twitter pages or by using the online traffic and travel tool on the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website (see social media links below).

For those travelling outside the upper North Island, the Holiday Journey Planner tool is a great resource to help you plan ahead and avoid delays.

To help ease holiday congestion, Waka Kotahi stops most work before busy holiday travel periods like Christmas and New Year’s, to minimise disruption to people’s journeys.

“Ultimately, people travelling should expect the roads to be much busier than normal this year. Delays are inevitable so it’s important you drive to the conditions, allow plenty of time and take regular breaks to stay alert.”

“More cars on the road, tired drivers and people driving on unfamiliar roads can make holiday driving stressful and risky.

“We can all take simple actions to stay safe. That means checking your car is safe before your journey, keeping your speed down, driving sober, watching for the signs of fatigue and sharing the driving.”

Where possible, it can be a good idea to set off early in the morning or late at night to avoid peak travel periods.

  1. Be patient when driving this summer so everyone can relax and enjoy the holidays together.
  2. Remember, you’re on holiday, there’s no need to rush.

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

Don’t biff it – bin it. Let’s keep the Coromandel beautiful this Christmas

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Unfortunately for Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and our East Waikato contractor, Higgins, this is also the time we notice a big increase in rubbish on our roadsides around the Coromandel on State Highway 25 and on State Highway 2 through the Karangahake Gorge.

Waikato System Manager Cara Lauder says not only is illegally dumped rubbish on the roadside an eyesore, cleaning it up can be dangerous for our staff and road users, and it diverts resources away from the important stuff like fixing potholes, repairing signs and generally keeping our roads safe.

“Rubbish bins are provided at many rest stops and if they’re not there, people should be taking their rubbish with them.”

Anyone with concerns about rubbish on state highways or who see someone illegally dumping rubbish on a state highway can call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS.

“Please help us keep the Coromandel beautiful by saying ‘ho, ho, oh no’ to dumping rubbish this holiday season.”

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

Taranaki state highway works for early 2022

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While there will be some work undertaken at sites not mentioned below, Waka Kotahi is keen to provide advance notice of some of the more disruptive works.

State Highway 3 Waitara to Bell Block: From 10 January for approximately five months

Major infrastructure works to make SH4 safer between Waitara and Bell Block will get underway early in the new year

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency contractors will begin installing stormwater infrastructure to support a new roundabout and underpass at the SH4/Princess Street intersection that will be built later in the year.

Northbound light vehicles will be detoured through Waitara while the work is underway.

SH4 Hawera pre-reseal repairs: 5–26 January 2022

Crews will complete urgent repairs in Hawera on South Road between Denby and Disraeli Roads in preparation for resealing later in the season. The work is scheduled to take 2-3 weeks and will be run under Stop/Go traffic management with delays of up to 10-15 minutes at a time. Alternative routes through Hawera are also available.

SH4 Highlands Lowlands (south Eltham) rehabilitations: 17 January–19 February 2022

Road repairs will be undertaken on two sites just south of Eltham. Contractors will combine and operate the two sites concurrently to reduce the overall construction period.

To ensure the safety of both road users and our crews, and to reduce traffic delays and queues, we will only allow northbound traffic to use SH4 during this time.

Southbound traffic will be detoured from SH4 via old Mountain Road, Ketemarae Road, and Wallscourt Place, returning to SH4 at the Egmont Street intersection in Normanby.

The detour for southbound traffic will add an additional 5–10 minutes to the journey between Eltham and Normanby. This approach is more efficient in comparison to the traditional Stop/Go traffic management, which would cause delays of 20–30 minutes each way. By reducing the volume of traffic travelling through the worksite, it is also safer for road users and our crews.

SH4 Awakino Gorge pre-reseal repairs: 17–29 January 2022

Crews will complete a large number pre-reseal repairsin the Awakino Gorge, starting north of the Awakino Tunnel bypass and moving south. The work will be completed in two 4–5km long sites. Each site will be run using Stop/Go with delays of 20–30 minutes at a time. The work has been designed in a way that enables crews to complete the work as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Some of the above works are weather dependent and may be postponed in the case of poor weather. For up-to-date information on road works, traffic, detours and delays, motorists are encouraged to visit the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz).

Waka Kotahi thanks motorists for their patience.

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

SH57 safety improvements to begin early January 2022

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These safety improvements will include road widening, sections of side barrier and painted wide centrelines on SH57 between the intersection with State Highway 1 (SH1) and Heatherlea East Road.

Ōtaki to north of Levin Project Director Lonnie Dalzell says improving road safety is a top priority for Waka Kotahi.

“Across the country, we’re investing in safer infrastructure in an effort to save lives and prevent people from being seriously injured in crashes on our roads.

“SH57 is an important route through this region and the upgrades we’re making on the road will help ensure that everyone who uses it can get home safely to their friends and whānau, while we progress towards construction of a new 24-kilometre four-lane highway between Ōtaki and north of Levin.”

Construction of the safety improvements will start on Sunday 9 January 2022 and is expected to be completed in mid-2022, depending on weather. Hours of work will be 7am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday.

The northbound lane on SH57 will be closed, in stages, between SH1 and Heatherlea East Road during this time. This means people travelling north to Palmerston North will need to take a detour on SH1 to Himatangi, Rangiotu Road and SH56.

The southbound lane on SH57 will remain open under speed restrictions of 30-50km/h, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to ensure people using the road, construction crews and residents are safe.

East-west connections across SH57 will also remain open.

Waka Kotahi is giving early notice of the work due to the upcoming summer holiday period and the length of time it will take to complete construction.

“We worked closely with the local council on the detour plan and have opted for a single lane detour that will allow us to complete the work in the shortest time, maintains resident access and creates a safe work site,” Mr Dalzell says.

“We know that this will still create some disruption and frustration for motorists at times, but we ask that people please be patient, follow the detour route, and take extra care near our work sites while this important safety work is underway.”

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

A quiet Christmas for Taranaki state highways

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Not a state highway work site was stirring, to help curb holiday driver frustration
Some cones and temporary speed limits remained, positioned with care,
To help everyone travel safely, from here to there.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas on Taranaki state highways, as work sites wind down ahead of the busy holiday break.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency work sites close down from 23 December to 5 January to leave the roads clear for holiday traffic, but there may still be temporary speed limits and road cones at some work sites or where there has been recent road sealing or repairs.

Work to seal the Forgotten World Highway (State Highway 43) through the Tangarakau Gorge will pause from 5pm today (Friday 17 December) with crews returning to work on Tuesday 11 January. During this time, the road will be reinstated to two lanes.

Waka Kotahi Director of Regional Relationships Linda Stewart says Waka Kotahi and its contractors stop most work before busy holiday travel periods like Christmas and New Year’s, to minimise disruption to people’s journeys.

“Always take care when driving through road work sites and follow the temporary speed restrictions to ensure everyone stays safe on our roads.

“Traffic management, such as temporary speed limits, signs and cones, is used to alert road users to a change in the road conditions or to works ahead, so look out for the signs and please take care in the run up to Christmas and during the holiday period,” Ms Stewart says.

“There will be some holiday congestion and delays, and we all need to factor that into our plans. Trying to ‘make up lost time’ by speeding and unsafe overtaking puts everyone using the road at risk.”

Ms Stewart thanks motorists for their patience when traveling over the Christmas-New Year holiday break and wishes people a relaxing time with family and friends.

“Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.”

 

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

Tākaka Hill road: two lanes restored for Christmas

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Around 3 pm this afternoon, the traffic light system on the Riwaka side of the hill will be switched off and two lanes will open to traffic after nearly four years of work on this rebuild project, following Cyclone Gita.

“While we are pleased to have the road restored to two lanes, we know that many people will be used to the single lane/traffic light system after almost four years,” says Andrew Adams, Waka Kotahi Senior Project Manager.

“We are asking everyone to take special care as this winding road with multiple bends is still narrow and requires all drivers to keep to their side of the white centreline,” he says. “There are no median barriers on this route to safely separate oncoming traffic so we ask all drivers to stay alert and keep left.”

The speed limit for this section of highway will be temporarily set at 30km/h for a few days as work sites are tidied up prior to Christmas.  The speed limit will then go to 50km/h until the New Year, until all road-side work is completed. This will also help motorists to adjust to the road returning to two lanes.

A long and winding road

“Initially after the storm, the response was to allow essential traffic like the milk tankers and suppliers over the hill and for people to be able to get to medical appointments in Nelson and Motueka,” says Mr Adams. “Getting caravans and boats over the hill had to be managed carefully with allocated times and convoys in the first few months. Trucks with trailers were able to join the convoy a month after the 18 February, 2018 storm.

“With 15 work sites in total, the first ten more straightforward sites were tackled in the first two years, with the remaining five more complex and highly engineered work sites with deep retaining walls designed only after geotechnical investigations and then constructed over the past 18 months.

“The first Covid-19 shutdown in April 2020 delayed the start on this work and pushed it into the winter months, affecting its final completion date.

“The harsh conditions and complexity of work required in these steep gullies have been extremely challenging for the crews. It is very cold in winter on the south side of the hill.

“We thank everyone who has contributed, as well as residents, business owners, trades people, visitors to Mohua/Golden Bay – who have been patient throughout.

“There will be more tidying up around these work sites in the New Year but it will have a minor impact upon the two lane traffic.” 

takaka hill road with slips back in February 2018

Tākaka Hill in February 2018 – there were 15 or more sites like this.

newly sealed road with new centreline markings and culvert

Drainage and culvert in place, highway sealed and marked up with a safer centreline ready for traffic from later this afternoon, 17 December, 2021.

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

Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway works for early 2022

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While there will be some work undertaken at sites not mentioned below, Waka Kotahi is keen to provide advance notice of some of the more disruptive works.

Some of these works had been scheduled to be completed ahead of the festive holiday break, but needed to be deferred due to poor weather.

Bay of Plenty

State Highway 2, Takitimu Drive/Waihī Road overbridge: From 5 January 2022 preparation works will start on a 500m section of Takitimu Drive under the Waihi Road / 11th Ave overbridge. The road will be reduced to one lane in each direction from 10 January 2022 for approximately three weeks. The purpose of these works it to repair the pavement, road surface and underlying layers and to upgrade the drainage.

SH2 Bay Link project: SH2 between Bayfair roundabout and Te Maunga intersection is scheduled to close from approximately 1am on Saturday 15 January until 5.30am on Monday 17 January 2022 to install barriers and ducting on the SH2 bridge, part of the Te Maunga interchange on the Bay Link project. For more information about this closure visit nzta.govt.nz/temaunga

SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Safety improvement works will recommence Monday 10 January between Athenree Road to Tanners Point Road, Rea Road / Tetley Road intersection and Lund Road to Sargent Drive.

SH2, between Athenree Gorge and Te Puna: Resurfacing works will restart at various locations on SH2 between the Athenree Gorge and Te Puna from the week beginning Monday 10 January 2021. The resurfacing sites will be night works.

State Highway 5, Tarukenga to Ngongotahā: Remaining road widening and further barrier installation, landscaping and road rehabilitation will take place in the new year. These works will recommence on 10 January and are expected to take until the end of February 2022 to complete.

State Highway 30, Sala Street to Iles Road: 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.

SH30, Iles Road to Basley Road: Construction for the SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two is expected to start in January 2022. In the first months, you’ll see excavations, road widening and service relocation works taking place. Traffic management will be in place and access to properties will be maintained although this may be restricted during the works.

Waikato

State Highway 1 Waikato Expressway, Ohinewai: The northbound lane of SH1 between Ōhinewai and Rangiriri will be closed overnight from Monday 10 January, between 7pm and 7am, for up to five nights, weather permitting. All northbound traffic will be detoured from Huntly at the Tainui Bridge, along Te Ōhākī Road, over the Glen Murray Bridge then via local roads to the Rangiriri interchange.

SH1 Desert Road, State Highway 4, State Highway 41, State Highway 47 and State Highway 49: Contractors will be laying chipseal on SH1 Desert Road, SH4 between Manunui and National Park, SH41 and SH47 between Turangi and National Park and SH49 between Waiouru and Ohakune from mid-January. Sites will be Stop/Go with a 30km/h temporary speed limit during the works. For 24 hours following completion, a 50km/h temporary speed limit will be in place until the road is swept and line marking reinstated.

SH1 Desert Road, SH5 and State Highway 28: Road rehabilitation works will commence on SH1 Desert Road, SH28 Whites Road, SH5 just south of Webster Road, SH5 near Taharua Road and SH5 south of Lochinver Station Road from mid-January. Motorists can expect lane closures, some detours and Stop/Go traffic management.

State Highway 23: Resealing will take place at various sites between Dinsdale and Te Uku on SH23 in January. Sites will be Stop/Go with a 30km/h temporary speed limit during the works. For 24 hours following completion, a 50km/h temporary speed limit will be in place until the road is swept and line marking reinstated.

There will also be drainage works underway at the intersection with Glentui Lane in January, under similar traffic management.

SH2/State Highway 26 Paeroa roundabout: General maintenance work, including the installation of new hit sticks, will take place at the SH2/SH26 Paeroa roundabout in January. Contractors will time their work for outside peak traffic periods.

State Highway 27 Mangawhero Stream bridge: SH27 will be detoured south of Matamata from 10 January to 14 April to allow for the completion of new stretches of road either side of the new bridge being built over the Mangawhero Stream. Traffic will be detoured along State Highway 29, Hopkins Road and Hinuera Road, adding around 3.7 kilometres to a journey between Tirau and Matamata. For more information, visit:
SH27 south of Matamata detoured 10 January to 14 April 2022

State Highway 29 and State Highway 24, western (Waikato) side of Kaimai Range: Road rehabilitation works will re-commence on SH29 and SH24 on the Waikato-side of the Kaimai Ranges from mid-January. Further details will be confirmed closer to the time. Motorists can expect lane closures and Stop/Go traffic management.

 

Some of the above works are weather dependent and may be postponed in the case of poor weather. For up-to-date information on road works, traffic, detours and delays, motorists are encouraged to visit the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz).

Waka Kotahi thanks motorists for their patience. 

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

Auckland overnight motorway closures 19 December 2021 – 16 January 2022

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Check daily updated closure information

Unless otherwise stated, closures start at 9pm and finish at 5am.

Northern Motorway (SH1)

  • Orewa southbound off-ramp, 12 January
  • Northbound lanes between Oteha Valley Road off-ramp and Silverdale on-ramp, 21 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
  • Oteha Valley Road northbound on-ramp, 21 December
  • Oteha Valley Road southbound on-ramp, 21 December
  • Northbound lanes between Greville Road off-ramp and Oteha Valley Road on-ramp, 9-10 January
  • Greville Road northbound on-ramp, 9-10 January
  • Southbound lanes between Greville Road off-ramp and Upper Harbour Highway on-ramp, 15 January (approx. 7:00pm Saturday to 10:00am Sunday 16 January)
  • Greville Road southbound on-ramp, 15 January (approx. 7:00pm Saturday to 10:00am Sunday 16 January)
  • Upper Harbour Highway northbound off-ramp, 12-13 January
  • Northbound lanes between Upper Harbour Highway off-ramp and Greville Road on-ramp, 15 January (approx. 7:00pm Saturday to 10:00am Sunday 16 January)
  • Upper Harbour Highway northbound on-ramp, 15 January (approx. 7:00pm Saturday to 10:00am Sunday 16 January)
  • Northbound lanes between Upper Harbour Highway off-ramp and Greville Road on-ramp, 19 December (approx. 9:30pm to 5:00am)
  • Upper Harbour Highway northbound on-ramp, 19 December
  • Upper Harbour Highway southbound off-ramp, 19-22 December
  • Northbound lanes between Onewa Road off-ramp and Esmonde Road on-ramp, 19-21 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
  • Esmonde Road (loop) northbound on-ramp, 19 December
  • Onewa Road northbound on-ramp, 19-21 December
  • Stafford Road northbound off-ramp, 25-13 January
  • Curran Street northbound on-ramp, closed continuously from approx. 3:00am Sunday 26 December 2021 to 06:00am Sunday 9 January 2022
  • Curran Street northbound on-ramp, 9-13 January
  • Southbound lanes between Fanshawe Street off-ramp and Greenlane on-ramp, 9-13 January (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)

Central Motorway Junction (CMJ)

  • Hobson Street southbound on-ramp, 9-13 January
  • Symonds Street southbound on-ramp, 9-13 January
  • SH16 eastbound to SH1 southbound link, 9-13 January (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
  • SH16 (Port) westbound to SH1 southbound link, 9-13 January (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
  • Grafton Road westbound on-ramp, 9-13 January
  • Grafton Road southbound on-ramp, 9-13 January

Southern Motorway (SH1)

  • Khyber Pass Road southbound on-ramp, 9-13 January
  • St Marks Road southbound on-ramp, 9-13 January
  • Greenlane northbound off-ramp, 13 January
  • Ellerslie-Panmure Highway southbound on-ramp, 20-21 December
  • Northbound lanes between Mt Wellington Highway off-ramp and Ellerslie-Panmure Highway on-ramp, 14-15 January (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
  • Mt Wellington Highway northbound on-ramp, 14-15 January
  • South Eastern Highway (SEART) northbound on-ramp, 14-15 January
  • Northbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Papakura on-ramp, 11-14 January
  • Drury/SH22 northbound on-ramp, 11-14 January
  • Southbound lanes between Drury/SH22 off-ramp and Ramarama on-ramp, 10-13 January (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
  • Drury/SH22 southbound on-ramp, 10-13 January

Northwestern Motorway (SH16)

  • SH16 northbound to SH18 eastbound link, 20 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
  • Southbound lanes between Brigham Creek Road Roundabout and Lincoln Road on-ramp, 20 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
  • Hobsonville Road southbound on-ramp, 20 December
  • Royal Road southbound on-ramp, 20 December
  • SH16 southbound to SH20 southbound link (Waterview southbound tunnel closed),10 January
  • SH16 westbound to SH20 southbound link (Waterview southbound tunnel closed), 10 January
  • Great North Road eastbound off-ramp,10 January

Upper Harbour Motorway (SH18)

  • Westbound lanes between Brigham Creek Road off-ramp and Hobsonville Road on-ramp, 20 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
  • Brigham Creek Road westbound on-ramp, 20 December
  • Eastbound lanes between Hobsonville Road off-ramp and Brigham Creek Road on-ramp, 20 December (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
  • Hobsonville Road eastbound on-ramp, 20 December
  • Trig Road eastbound on-ramp, 20 December

Southwestern Motorway (SH20)

  • Northbound lanes between Maioro Street off-ramp and SH16 (Waterview northbound tunnel closed), 11 January
  • Maioro Street northbound on-ramp,11 January
  • Hillsborough Road northbound on-ramp, 19 December
  • Neilson Street southbound off-ramp, 22 December
  • Neilson Street southbound on-ramp, 11 January
  • Rimu Road southbound off-ramp, 11 January (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
  • Coronation Road northbound on-ramp, 21 December
  • Walmsley Road southbound on-ramp, 21 December

George Bolt Memorial Drive (SH20A)

  • None planned

Puhinui Road (SH20B)

  • None planned

State Highway 22 (SH22)

  • None planned

State Highway 2 (SH2)

  • None planned