People need to build in 30 minutes for this work and check what days they are travelling so they are ready for the wait over the fortnight to 1 March, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

“If it is wet, the work may be delayed and rescheduled,” says Moira Whinham, Maintenance Contract Manager for NZTA on the West Coast.

Approximate dates, weather dependent:

• Upper Buller Gorge – 19, 20 and 21 February – Monday to Wednesday.
• Lower Buller Gorge – 22 and 23 February – Thursday and Friday.
• Meybille Bay, north of Punakaiki – 26 and 27 February, Monday and Tuesday.
• Cobden Hill, near Greymouth – 28 February, Wednesday. (People can travel via Stillwater ie SH7 instead of SH6)
• Kiwi Jacks, on the Fox Hills, between Fox and Franz Josef Glacier towns – 29 February and 1 March, Thursday and Friday.

Apart from the Cobden Hills site, there are no alternative routes around these parts of SH6 so people need to be ready to pause for up to half an hour, says Moira Whinham.

NZTA encourages road users to visit Journey Planner  for further details including dates and locations.

The roundabout is being constructed at the intersection of State Highway 1/3 (SH1/3) and Pukenui Road between Bulls and Sanson.

In the coming weeks, crews will carry out the necessary work to align the new roundabout to the existing state highway network. To do this as safely and efficiently as possible, some night-time road closures are required.

Between 6-8 weeks of night-time closures will begin from Sunday 18 February, with a sign-posted detour in place. The section of SH1/3 outside Base Ohakea will be closed at night between 7.30pm and 6am Sunday nights – Friday mornings. Outside of these hours, the road will be open for all motorists each day, and on Friday and Saturday nights.

During day-time hours, the new roundabout will be open and all motorists will be travelling on the new road alignment. The temporary roads that skirt around the construction site will no longer be in use from Monday 19 February.

During the night-time closure, a detour will be in place for traffic with lower speed limits in place at some intersections for safety.

The detour for light vehicles

• Southbound: The detour is via Tangimoana Road, Taylor Road and onto SH1.
• Northbound: The detour is via Fagan Road, Speedy Road, Tangimoana Road and back onto SH1/3.

The detour for freight/heavy vehicles

• Southbound: The detour is Tangimoana Road, Campion Road, and onto SH1.
• Northbound: The detour is via Fagan Road, Speedy Road, Tangimoana Road and back onto SH1/3.

During the night-time closures, access will remain for residents who live within the area.

Road users can expect some delays and should factor an extra 5-10 minutes into their journey time.

In the coming weeks, you’ll see crews constructing the new shared user path on the western side of SH1/3 between Tangimoana Road and Pukenui Road. Please take care driving through our worksites and follow signage, speed limits and any instructions from traffic management on site.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Regional Manager of Infrastructure Delivery Rob Partridge says the safety improvements project aims to future proof the road, reduce crashes and prevent deaths and serious injuries.

“Currently, an average of 15,000 vehicles drive this stretch of road every day and it’s a vital link to the central and lower North Island. The new roundabout and the shared user path, together with the construction of the new Ohakea commercial vehicle safety centre (formerly weigh station), will make this busy stretch of road safer for everyone who uses it.

“Work on the roundabout kicked off mid last year and we’re very grateful for the support we have received from Base Ohakea staff, local communities and people using the road. We know our projects underway on this corridor are causing some disruption for motorists and we’re looking forward to the roundabout being open and in daily use.”

See the design of the roundabout and more information about the project on our project webpage. 

The closure enables a watermain to be attached to the underside of the bridge beams. This work requires specialised equipment which will sit within the traffic lanes of the TELTR,  lifting the large stainless steel watermain pipes into position before they are secured to the underside of the bridge. 
 
To allow these works to be completed, traffic on SH2 will be diverted at the Domain Road Interchange and Paengaroa roundabout, with detours via Te Puke Highway.  Outside of the closure times the current temporary traffic management will remain with a single lane open in each direction with a temporary speed limit of 70km/h in place. 
 
As part of the same project,  the shared path alongside SH2 is diverted until May this year.  With an increase in heavy plant and machinery in the area adjacent to the path, the best way to ensure the safety of all parties is to temporarily close the shared path to cyclists and pedestrians. An alternative option for path users is available via Kaituna Road and Te Tumu Road.

For more information regarding the projects mentioned in this media release, please visit the relevant pages: 

rangiuru.co.nz/ 

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) advises the work is expected to take up to 6 weeks and includes upgrading and repainting the existing median islands and kerbs, adding new road markings and improving signage on SH27.

During this time, SH27 will be open to traffic, under stop/go traffic management.

Regional Manager Infrastructure Delivery Waikato, Jo Wilton, says this important work is helping make the main road through the Waharoa township safer for both motorists and pedestrians.

“It’s crucial that signage and road markings are prominent and able to be seen for the safety of everyone,” Ms Wilton says.

To ensure the safety of our team on the ground, and to enable to the work to be completed in the shortest time possible, access to and from Walker Street will be closed from Monday 19 February until Friday 8 March and access to and from Pitt Street will be closed from Monday 19 February until Friday 29 March. Residents will be able to access these streets via Mowbray Street during this time.

“We are doing everything we can to minimise disruption to businesses and residents in the area and we thank everyone for their patience during this time.”

Access to car parking outside businesses on SH27 will be closed for the duration of this work, opening when it is safe to do so. Although the SH27 car parks will be inaccessible, the rest area and car park across the road from the Pitt Street intersection will remain open and a safe crossing will be provided for people wanting to access businesses on the other side of the road.

Short delays are expected, motorists are encouraged to check NZTA’s Journey Planner at journeys.nzta.govt.nz for information and to check current road and traffic conditions.

Flexible median barrier, which has recently been installed as part of the Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvements project, has been hit several times over the past few months.

NZTA Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvements project manager Wayne Holcroft says the flexible median barrier installed on this section of road is improving the safety on this stretch of state highway.

“Flexible median barrier saves lives, each time you see a barrier that’s been hit, it’s a reminder the barrier has done its job and prevented people from crossing over the centreline, potentially saving lives.

“This section of road is one of the most dangerous in New Zealand. While we work to build the new Ōtaki to north of Levin highway, we’re making the existing State Highway 1 now safer for everyone who uses it.”

The Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvement project contractor will this week be on site at various points between north of Ōtaki and Manakau to fix the damaged barrier.

When crews are onsite, temporary traffic management will be in place to ensure the safety of road users and construction workers. This work is scheduled to take place at night, between 7pm and 6am. While this work is underway, a temporary road layout will be in place, with stop/go traffic management and 30km/h speed limit in place.

We expect there to be minimal delays as a result of this work and we’d like to thank road users for their understanding.

Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvement project update

The Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvement project is making good progress, with all three turnaround facilities complete and median and side barrier installed.

Drivers travel from Wellington to north of Ōtaki on dual-lane, median separated highways. These safety improvements are designed to transition drivers from this environment through to single lane SH1, by stepping them through single-lane median separated road then stretches of wide centrelines.  

Construction crews are also now onsite just south of the Manakau Rail Overbridge completing widening works in preparation of installing a right turn bay into Whakahoro Road and flush median south of the bridge.

You can read more about the SH1 Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvement project on our website :

SH1-Otaki-to-Ohau

“It was a 4 metre deep and 4 metre wide tomo or cavity – stretching at least 11 metres across the width of the highway,” says Acting Manager of Maintenance and Operations in the Bay of Plenty, Roger Brady.

“The hole was caused by the failure of a stormwater drain, which likely occurred some time ago. Effectively, water leaking out of pipes formed a kind of underground stream which led to the erosion under the road.”

The section of SH29A between Barkes Corner and Oropi Road Roundabout has been fully closed since Friday night, 9 February for repairs.

“Our contractors have worked around the clock to replace 38 metres of stormwater pipe – which has meant digging up the whole road.”

“We’ve backfilled the trench and we’re now in the process of building the road back up,” Mr Brady says.

“Our team will continue to work into the night to get the road open to traffic by tomorrow morning’s peak.”

Road users need to be aware that they won’t be driving over the final asphalt seal but the road will be surfaced. There will be traffic management in place and a reduced speed limit of 50km/h.

Full night-time closures will be required over 2 nights on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 February to lay a bit more pipe at either end, install manholes and connections, and reinstate the excavated areas alongside the road.

NZTA would like to thank Tauranga road users for heeding warnings about expected traffic congestion this morning. Delays were anticipated due to the sudden closure of SH29A, combined with a lane closure on Totara Street for Tauranga City Council road rebuilding work.

“We suggested road users avoid travelling this morning, work from home or use alternative transport if they could – and they listened. We wanted to ensure that anyone who absolutely had to travel could get through without extended delays. In the end there were around 20 minute delays at SH29A, which is similar to regular weekday peak hour delays,” Mr Brady says.

To help ease the pressure on the network, NZTA rescheduled planned chipsealing of State Highway 2 between Ōmokoroa and Bethlehem last night and tonight to ease congestion coming into the city.

We’d like to thank Tauranga City Council for their help, and the people of Tauranga for their patience while we complete the urgent repairs on SH29A. Traffic may be heavy again during peak times this afternoon but we’re doing everything we can to get SH29A open again for tomorrow morning.

The lines company will carry out upgrades and improvements adjacent to State Highway 1 from Kaparu Road/Grassmere Road to Marfells Beach Road on 5 and 7 March.

Because the power lines cross the state highway at three separate locations in the project area, a series of brief road closures will be necessary to ensure drivers are kept safe when the old power lines are removed and replaced.

These closures, which are expected to create 30-minute traffic delays, are scheduled to happen between 9 am and 3 pm on March 5 and 7.

There are no local road detours available.

Information from Marlborough Lines – SH1 works

Night works are planned for the route from 18 to 20 February (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights) between 8 pm and 6 am.

Weld Pass will be closed to all traffic while the work is underway.

Contractors will be carrying out road repairs, fixing road signs and guardrails, installing raised line markings, as well as investigating future options for improving and maintaining the highway’s road surface.

Because of the work involved and the fact the highway through Weld Pass is narrow, night closures are the best way to get the work done as quickly and safely as possible.

The work has been planned as carefully as possible to have the least impact on traffic, and there will be two openings every night to let queued traffic through the work areas – one at midnight and another at 3 am. These are deliberately timed to fit with ferry schedules.

There are no suitable local road detours available, so the closures will create delays for those travelling overnight between Christchurch and Blenheim/Picton. The inland route via SH7 Lewis Pass, SH65 Springs Junction, SH6 Murchison – Howard Junction, and SH63 Wairau Valley is the only alternative route and has a much longer travel time.

Drivers are urged to factor the closures into their travel plans and allow extra time for their journeys. This is especially important for drivers with ferry connections.

Further maintenance and inspection work is planned for Weld Pass this year.

More night closures are planned for late April/early May to ensure the highway is in good shape before winter. Another maintenance closure is scheduled for October.

Weld Pass is a vital part of State Highway 1 in Marlborough, and it is essential it is regularly maintained and serviced.

Works Schedule:

• Sunday, 18 February, Monday, 19 February, and Tuesday, 20 February. 8 pm to 6 am.
• Full road closure – no suitable local road detours available. An alternative route to Christchurch is via the inland route – St Arnaud, Murchison, Lewis Pass. This is a significantly longer route and has much longer travel times.
• There will be two openings of the road every night – one at midnight and one at 3 am – to let queued traffic through the work area. The northbound lane will travel first, followed by the southbound lane.
• If works are delayed due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, Wednesday, 21 February will be a contingency night.
• Road users must follow the instructions of contractors and obey all temporary speed limits and traffic controls.