Monthly Archives: February 2022

Delays in Gore starting Sunday, 6 March 2022

by

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Southland Maintenance Contract Manager Justin Reid says the Highways South team will be resurfacing the asphalt highway in Gore to provide motorists with a smoother, safer journey.

Detour route in green; heavy vehicle detour in blue: 

Mersey St roundabout night-times only

The work is scheduled to begin at night on Sunday, 6 March at the Mersey Street roundabout from 6 pm to 6 am. It will open from 6 am to 6 pm Monday. The road will close again overnight Monday, 7 March, 6 pm to 6 am on Tuesday.

Hyde St roundabout

From Monday, 7 March, crews will be working during the day (as well as one night) in the Hyde St roundabout area. 

This will continue until Friday, 25 March, with a full road closure and detours in this area.  In order to minimise further delays, Gore District Council will also be replacing watermains in this area at the same time. The road closure will be in place 24/7.

“We are hopeful that the work will be completed by Saturday, 19 March, however we have allowed an additional week in case of poor weather or Covid complications,” says Mr Reid.

Access for residents, local businesses and their customers will be available at all times, but there will be some temporary turning points installed. Pedestrian access will remain open.

“If people can avoid these work sites, that will help get this work completed sooner,” says Mr Reid.

The schedule

SH1/Mersey St, Gore – Irk St to Bowler Ave closed from Sunday, 6 March, 6 pm to Tuesday, 8 March, 6 am. Note, night-times only.

SH1/Hyde St, Gore – Eccles St to Kitchener St closed from Sunday, 6 March, 5 pm to Friday, 25 March (up to three weeks).

Detour routes

Mersey St

Heavy vehicles -SH1/River St/Hyde St/Redmond St/Bury St/SH1
Light vehicles – SH1/Irk St/Fairfield St/Bowler Ave/SH1

Hyde St

Heavy vehicles -SH1/River St/Hyde St/Redmond St/Bury St/SH1
Light vehicles – SH1/Eccles St/Elsie St/Kitchener St/SH1

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

SH2 Devil’s Elbow closure to complete road repair works hampered by weather

by

This closure will allow contractors to complete road repair works that were unable to be finished during the previous closure on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 February, due to significant bad weather.

Despite the poor weather, a large amount of work was able to be completed, including resealing Waikari River Bridge and Devil’s Elbow, as well as a number of routine maintenance jobs such as repairing potholes, replacing edge marker posts, litter collection and cleaning and maintenance of signs.

Unfortunately the poor weather during the initial closure did not allow our contractors to complete the second section of the Devil’s Elbow ascent, which is what they will be doing during the closure on Saturday.

As there is no suitable detour, motorists are asked to plan ahead and schedule their travel for outside the closure period.

In the case of poor weather or other unforeseen circumstances, work may need to be postponed. People are advised to visit the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz) or Central North Island social media pages for up to date information on the works.

Waka Kotahi thanks everyone for their patience while we undertake these important works.

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

Road blocked – South Road, Mokoia, South Taranaki

by


District:

Central

South Road, Mokoia between Mokoia Road and Whakamara Road is blocked while Police and emergency services attend a crash involving a single vehicle, reported shortly before 11am.

The road will be blocked for some time while emergency services are in attendance. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

West Coast detour for Arthur’s Pass route drivers this weekend

by

The detour will be via Lake Brunner/Moana for the section of highway closest to Greymouth.

Due to a culvert replacement on State Highway 73, east of Dillmanstown, the highway will be closed between Kumara and Jacksons from 4am Saturday, 5 March, to 10 pm, Sunday, 6 March.

The detour, via Lake Brunner Road from Jacksons to Stillwater/Greymouth, will add an additional 35 minutes to people’s journeys, says Waka Kotahi Journey Manager Tresca Forrester.

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

Forgotten World Highway improvements motoring ahead

by

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Director of Regional Relationships Linda Stewart says a significant amount of work has been done on the project to seal the Tāngarākau Gorge, which got underway in November last year, as well as a number of other projects along the route.

“Sealing the road through the gorge will make journeys much safer and easier for locals and visitors.”

“In addition to improving the safety of the route, this project will result in many economic benefits to the Taranaki region, through tourism and the employment opportunities due to the increased economic activity.”

Construction of the first 2km of the 12km unsealed stretch of road is underway, with all culvert works completed and a channel to move water away from the road installed.

Pavement works will start in mid-March with sealing expected to commence late March.

The design for Stage 2 of the sealing project is also nearing completion.

To allow the work to be undertaken safely and efficiently in the gorge’s geographically constrained environment, traffic is being let through on the hour between 8am and 5pm on weekdays.

“We are grateful to the local community, businesses and travelling public for adhering to the traffic management currently in place.

“Your cooperation and patience have meant crews can carry out the work safely and efficiently,” says Ms Stewart.

Other improvement work on the Forgotten World Highway includes the Manawawiri Stream replacement bridge, which was completed in December last year and is now open to traffic.

The damaged culvert at Manawawiri Stream is currently being removed. This is expected to take about two weeks, then planting will be undertaken around the area to complete the project.

Other safety improvement works have also been completed, with 225 new signs installed along the route, nine wayfinding and stopping areas have been sealed and new line markings have been added to a further two.

All the trees on the roadside that posed a safety risk have now been removed.

Safety barrier design work has been completed and installation will start in April.

The design for the Kahouri Stream Bridge replacement is almost complete, with construction of the bridge structure scheduled to start later this year.

Funded through the regional package of the NZ Upgrade Programme and Kānoa – Regional Economic Development and Investment unit, improvements to the Forgotten World Highway aim to bring more tourism to the region and improve safety and reliability of the route, while retaining the picturesque journey and projecting the natural environment.

Schedule for traffic through the Tangarakau Gorge Monday to Friday

Northbound and southbound traffic will be let through the site at the following times under Stop/Go traffic management with temporary speed limits in place:

  • 9am
  • 10am
  • 11am
  • 12-1pm (road open)
  • 2pm
  • 3pm
  • 4pm

People are asked to plan their journeys to arrive at the gorge at these times to avoid delays of up to one hour.

Crews will clear traffic at other times if there are vehicle queues and emergency services will be permitted access at all times.

Auckland Harbour Bridge southbound lanes re-opened

by

The lanes were closed just before midday on the advice of Police, in order to manage the safety risks posed by protestors who unlawfully entered the state highway network on foot.

NZ Police is leading the response to the demonstration, with support from Waka Kotahi to ensure the safe management of traffic in the area.

Motorists are advised that delays remain in the area, and it may take some time for congestion to clear.

Waka Kotahi advises motorists to plan ahead by checking the latest traffic conditions on social media or our Journey Planner before heading out.

Updates will also be provided on the Waka Kotahi Twitter account.

Auckland Harbour Bridge southbound lanes closed – delay non-essential travel

by

NZ Police is leading the response to this demonstration, with support from Waka Kotahi to ensure the safe management of traffic in the area.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area and defer any non-essential travel until further notice. The Western Ring Route, on State Highways 16 and 18, remains open for essential travel, but people should expect delays.

The southbound lanes on the bridge will remain closed until Police advise that it is safe for them to re-open.

Waka Kotahi advises motorists to plan ahead by checking the latest traffic conditions on social media or our Journey Planner before heading out.

Updates will also be provided on the Waka Kotahi Twitter account.

Serious crash on SH59, Pukerua

by


District:

Wellington

Emergency services are responding to a serious crash on SH59, near Onepu Road, Pukerua.

The crash occurred around 1:45pm when a single vehicle rolled into the bank.

Initial indications are there are serious injuries.

The road is closed, and diversions are being put in place via Paekakariki Hill Road.

The Serious Crash Unit will be in attendance.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area or take alternative routes.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Serious crash, Hastings

by


District:

Eastern

Emergency services are responding to a serious crash on Pakowhai Road, Hastings.

The crash, involving a motorbike and a car, occurred at about 1pm.

Initial indications are there are serious injuries.

Road closures are being put in place at Richmond Road and Pakowhai Road and at Evenden Road and Pakowhai Road.

Motorists are asked to avoid the area.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre