Waka Kotahi Manawatū/Whanganui and Taranaki System Manager Rob Service says following the installation of a temporary culvert and shoulder widening on 4 and 5 July, construction of a rock wall can begin to repair the slip.

“Crews will be working on the slip Monday to Friday between the hours of 7am and 7pm. Until works are complete, Stop/Go traffic management will be in place 24/7 on SH4 for approximately 535 metres, beginning 1km north of the intersection of SH4 and Hawken Road. A 30km/h temporary speed limit is also in place along this section of road. People should allow for short delays,” says Mr Service.

It is expected that the works will be complete by mid-October 2023. In the event of bad weather, work will begin on the next fine day.

People are asked to follow traffic management directions and adhere to speed restrictions to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

“We want to thank all road users for their support and understanding during this time as we continue to work to strengthen the long-term resilience of this stretch of road,” says Mr Service.

For up-to-date information on road works, traffic, detours and delays, drivers are encouraged to visit the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website.

The road will re-open between lunch time and the end of the day, depending on the degree of difficulty encountered in the truck recovery.

The detour will be via State Highway 41 (SH41) and State Highway 32 (SH32). A reminder that there are temporary traffic signals in operation on SH41 past a slip site and road users should expect delays.

Waka Kotahi will update road users on expected re-opening time of SH1 tomorrow.

Closures will take place daily between 8:30am and 4:30pm to allow contractors to replace a section of handrail, repair broken and loose decking planks and replace the joint cover at the northwest end of the bridge. Due to the narrow width of the bridge a full closure is required to ensure this work can be carried out safely. The closure has been scheduled during the school holidays to minimise disruption to motorists.

A detour will be in place for northbound traffic, using Tāneatua Road, Arawa Road, Hinemoa Street and onto State Highway 30 towards Awakeri. Southbound traffic should use the same route, in reverse. This detour is expected to add up to 20 minutes to journey times and is suitable for all vehicles, including High Productivity Motor Vehicles (HPMV).

Detours for Pekatahi Bridge closures

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In addition – the recent bad weather has disrupted planned asphalting between Ōpōtiki and Gisborne.

SH2 between Ōpōtiki and Gisborne will reopen for day-time travel under stop/go management from tomorrow, Tuesday 4 July.

The stretch of highway between Mātāwai and Ormond sustained significant damage as a result of last weekend’s heavy rainfall with slips, debris and movement in the road.

Road users will be piloted through the area daily by our contractor between 7am and 5pm. 

Outside of those times the road will remain open and will be actively controlled by traffic lights.

Contractors will still be working in a number of places along SH2 clearing debris and stabilising slips, so the message remains – drive to the conditions, expect delays and the be prepared for the potential of a closure at short notice.

Jacqui Hori-Hoult, Regional Manager Maintenance and Operations says that a huge effort from crews has meant the road is able to reopen for traffic quicker than anticipated.

“Our teams worked from the early morning deep into the night, meaning the debris wall has been constructed well ahead of schedule.

“With both lanes closed we were able to get large and heavy machinery in to be able to construct the wall faster. There were 22 holes drilled into rock for the beams, with 500 timber inserts prepared and installed between these beams.

“We also took advantage of the road closure by cleaning drains and removing debris from the roadside, which is very difficult to do when there is live traffic.

“This is a critical route for both people and freight, so we’re thrilled that this can reopen tonight.

“I’d like to thank our contractors, consultants and traffic management crews who have worked some very long hours to get this done as safely and quickly as possible” says Ms Hori-Hoult.

Given weather remains wet, we ask all drivers to please drive to the conditions, keep left and adhere to the temporary speed limit of 50km/h. Safety barriers will also be in place on the road.  

Waka Kotahi will continue to closely monitor the road and weather conditions.

The project is the third of three Canterbury rural intersections being upgraded to improve safety and accessibility for communities. The Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency project is funded through the Government’s NZ Upgrade Programme.

Fulton Hogan won the construction contract for the Tinwald SH1 intersection  upgrade, which includes work around the main trunk rail line with KiwiRail, and is expected to take around 10 months.

MP for Rangitata, Hon Jo Luxton said the new traffic signals will help create gaps in the traffic for people to safely cross the highway whether in cars, on bikes, scooters or on foot.

“The aim of the project is to make it safer and easier to get on and off the highway, especially at peak travel times, and to cross between the west and east residential areas of Tinwald.”

• The project will include a flush median strip on the highway, as well as a right turn bay for easier, safer access.
• The rail crossing near the intersection will be upgraded to prevent drivers queuing across the tracks.

Ashburton Deputy Mayor Liz McMillan said the project was part of a ground-breaking journey for Ashburton and Tinwald. “Our roads are the lifeblood of our district,” she said, and they were a key driver of growth and prosperity.

She thanked the community for their feedback, advocacy and embracing change attitude towards a more sustainable future. She also noted the collaborative effort behind projects like this one with Waka Kotahi, KiwiRail, the engineering team, stakeholders and the community involvement.

Tewera King, Upoko Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua and Te Rūnanga o Waihao, blessed the site ahead of the turning of the ground near the railway line on Melcombe St.

• Background to date for this third rural intersection project in Canterbury (West Melton, Selwyn District and Walnut Ave, Ashburton District traffic signals/upgrades both largely completed).

SH1 Tinwald Corridor Improvements