District:
One lane remains open on State Highway 5, the Napier-Taupō Road road, which was partially blocked by a slip near Te Pohue this evening.
Traffic management is in place and contractors will be working to clear debris off the northbound lane this evening.
Motorists are urged to drive to the conditions and expect delays.
ENDS
Issued by the Police Media Centre
District:
Police are responding to a serious crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian on State Highway 6, in the Winton Township between Brandon and Wemyss Streets reported around 1:40pm.
One person has been airlifted to hospital in a critical condition.
The road is expected to be closed for some time while a scene examaination takes place.
Motorists are advised to use an alternative route.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Previously, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has implemented single-direction closures to allow traffic to flow, primarily based on freight industry movements to and from the Port of Tauranga.
However, following engagement with the Port, freight operators and emergency service providers, NZTA has confirmed that a series of full road closures will be utilised to deliver maintenance in a more effective manner.
SH29 is a critical route, providing the key link between the country’s largest port and the ‘Golden Triangle’, explains Roger Brady, NZTA’s Acting Regional Manager Maintenance and Operations.
“Around 14,000 vehicles use this road every day, including several thousand heavy vehicles. It is critical that we are able to maintain SH29 to ensure the route is safe and accessible for all road users.
“We’ve collaborated with freight operators and roading contractors to confirm days and times that work best for everybody. By locking in a schedule, regular road users including freight operators, can make plans in advance to minimise the disruption to themselves and their customers.”
The detours for this closure are significant and will add considerable time to journeys. People are encouraged to check the NZTA Journey Planner and allow extra time for their journey, or if possible, delay travel over SH29 on these nights.
“This is a new way of working for preventative maintenance and road renewals across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region. If successful we will look to use this approach in other areas across our network,” says Mr Brady.
“We’d like to thank our stakeholders and partners for working with us on this. While disruptive in the short term, everyone will enjoy the benefits of having a more reliable and safer route over the Kaimai Range.”
The timetable of works below is current as at the time of printing. Closures may be re-scheduled in the event of bad weather.
|
Month |
Dates |
Time |
|
February |
Sunday 25 – Thursday 29 (5 nights) |
8pm – 4:30am |
|
March |
Sunday 17 – Thursday 21 (5 nights) |
8pm – 3:30am |
|
May |
Sunday 19 – Wednesday 22 (4 nights) |
8pm – 3:30am |
|
July |
Sunday 14 – Wednesday 17 (4 nights) |
8pm – 3:30am |
Alternative routes
State Highway 6 Whangamoa Saddle will have three weeks of night closures from 11 February until 1 March.
State Highway 6 will be closed from 8 pm to 5.30 am, Sunday to Thursday nights, between Hira and the Rai Valley. No work will be undertaken on Fridays and Saturdays.
This is the first major work on the Whangamoa Saddle since the seven-week closure for flood repairs in 2022.
Contractors will resurface parts of the highway. They will also clear drainage channels and fix guardrails.
The work has been timed to happen at night and outside the busy holiday period to minimise disruption as much as possible for road users.
The road will be opened once per night at 12:30 am to let traffic through. Truckies and other drivers should plan carefully to ensure they meet this schedule.
Given the narrowness of the road and the equipment being used, the highway must be closed.
A full closure is safer for road crews and also allows the work to be completed faster. Doing this work during the day under stop/go would take much longer and create more inconvenience for road users.
New Zealand Transport Agency/Waka Kotahi wants to thank drivers for their patience and cooperation while this work is completed. Drivers are urged to follow all temporary speed limits and traffic controls at work sites. They are there for the safety of the public and road crews.
Works schedule and location
Detour route
The state highway is closed between Skeet and Rotokare Roads while emergency services remain on the scene.
Left onto Rotokare Road, right onto Fraser Road, right onto Austin Road, left onto Ngarongo Road, and back onto SH3.
Left onto Skeet Road, right onto Lower Hunter Road, right onto Eltham Road, and Bridge Street before rejoining SH3.
Please delay travel and avoid the area if possible. If travelling, please expect delays and drive to the conditions as these local roads are narrower in places.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi thanks road users taking these detours for their patience while SH3 is closed and emergency services remain on site.
Please follow our interactive Journey Planner for up to date information about the closure.
District:
Emergency services are responding to a serious two vehicle crash at the intersection of Mountain Road and Boylan Road (State Highway 3), Eltham reported around 5:50am.
Initial indications suggest there are serious injuries.
Traffic management is in place at the scene and motorists are advised to avoid the area and use an alternative route.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
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Stage 4 of the Princess Street roundabout and pedestrian underpass section of the Taranaki safety improvements project involves construction of the northbound lane, stormwater works, landscaping and fencing as well as completion of the pedestrian underpass and asphalting of Princess Street. It is the final stage of this section of the project.
During this stage, Princess Street between State Highway 3 and Armstrong Avenue will be closed to everyone except residents and will reopen mid-2024.
From 3 February, people travelling to or from Waitara from Princess Street will need to use Nelson Street or Bayly Street. Those wanting to access Princess Street west from Princess Street east (Tikorangi side) will need to use Bayly Street.
A temporary roundabout will be set up at the Princess Street/SH3 intersection during the upcoming closure to minimise confusion while driving through the intersection. Residents in the closure area will continue to have access to their property, and pedestrian access across the Princess Street intersection remains open.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi acknowledges the closure will cause further disruption, just at the time when the state highway reopens, but we’re confident that by closing Princess Street for this period, we can minimise traffic delays, and ultimately speed up the project.
This final stage is ahead of schedule in the wider Waitara to Bell Block safety improvements project, which will see new roundabouts built at the intersections of Princess Street, Waitara Road, SH3A (Mountain Road) and De Havilland Drive, along with other safety improvements, such as flexible median barriers.
Waitara to Bell Block safety improvements project
SH3 will be open to both lanes from 3 February when work begins on this stage of the project. SH3 closed in December between Nelson Street and Bayly Street, with traffic detouring through Waitara to allow for the acceleration of stage 3 of the project.
During the Stage 3 closure, work on the pedestrian and cycle underpass at Princess Street involved some heavy lifting, with workers moving approximately 1,000m³ of clay to compete earthworks. The foundations and concrete slab, as well as the stormwater work below the underpass foundations and waterproofing have also been completed.
Workers have also installed lifesaving flexible road safety barrier between Bayly Street and Mamaku Road. Safe, reliable links between Waitara and Bell Block are crucial to the area and installing flexible median barrier contributes to making the road safer for all road users.
