They will make it easier for people to cross the road to access businesses, houses, and bus stops, while maintaining safe and consistent access for traffic.

Pedestrian refuges, also known as pedestrian islands, provide a safe place for pedestrians to wait in the centre of a road. They make it safer and easier for them to cross busy roads in stages.

Contractors will install the refuge islands from Tuesday, 7 May to Wednesday, 22 May. They will be contained within the existing flush median at both locations.

The first will be built on Annesbrook Drive (outside 216 Annesbrook Drive), and it is expected to be completed within five days.

Once finished, contractors will construct the second refuge on Tāhunanui Drive in front of St Stephen’s Church and McDonalds.

Work on both refuges will occur Monday to Friday between 8 am and 5 pm.

At the final stages of each refuge, one or two nights of work between 7 pm and midnight will be needed to lift the refuges into place.

During the night work, stop/go traffic management will be in place, with temporary speed limits of 30km/h. Drivers should expect approximately five-minute delays when driving through the sites.

All entries and exits to businesses and residents will remain open during construction. However, some parking spaces will be temporarily blocked due to traffic management. As part of the refuge work, a small number of parking spaces are being permanently removed.

The machinery used for the work will be noisy, and we apologise for disruption it may cause. Contractors will do their best to minimise the impact by completing the noisiest work by 7 pm each night.

NZTA/Waka Kotahi wants to thank drivers, affected residents, and businesses for their patience and cooperation while this work is underway. The refuges are an important improvement and will make it much safer for pedestrians to cross the road.

Works schedule and location

• Tuesday 7 May to Wednesday 22 May. Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Nightworks (7 pm to midnight) required towards the end of installation at each site.
• Annesbrook Drive – work begins 7 May
• Tahunanui Drive – work begins 15 May
• Lane shifts, shoulder closures, stop/go traffic management, and 30 km/h temporary speed limits will be in place at work sites
• Drivers can expect delays of around five minutes
• Pedestrians and cyclists will be accommodated through or around the sites during the work
• Construction is weather-dependent, and timings may change.

SH6 Annesbrook Drive pedestrian refuge (outside 216 Annesbrook Drive).

SH6 Tāhunanui Drive pedestrian refuge (outside St Stephen’s Church and McDonalds).

NZTA Road Safety Manager Fabian Marsh says with the public holiday coinciding with the last weekend of April and a gradual change in season it’s especially important for people to drive to the conditions.

“We want you to get to your friends and whānau safely. When you’re out on the roads, make sure you’re well rested, plan ahead, drive within the speed limit and don’t drink and drive.“

It’s a message Police are keen to reinforce, with many New Zealanders, particularly those in unlit rural areas, getting in their vehicles to drive in the dark to Anzac Day dawn services.

Director of Road Policing at New Zealand Police, Superintendent Steve Greally continues to urge drivers to consider the safety of others and their own when getting behind the wheel.

“Those split-second decisions when driving can put a life in the balance. That’s why it’s important not to overlook them whenever or wherever you’re travelling.

“Our officers will be on our roads to ensure drivers are driving safely. Where they detect unsafe behaviours, drivers can expect the appropriate enforcement action to be applied.

“It takes a second to either put your seatbelt on, share a taxi home or have a sober driver on hand, decide to leave that text or call alone, and slow down on the road. Any of these can be all it takes to arrive at your destination safely.”

While most road work sites will be closed down for Anzac Day there may be ongoing areas of highway where roadwork is continuing either side of the break. The NZTA Journey Planner contains the latest up to date information on road works and road conditions, including any delays or closures.

While road contractors won’t be working on Anzac Day itself, Mr Marsh says drivers should also be mindful of factoring in roadworks across the long weekend.

“Road workers are out in all weather and do their best to keep everyone moving. Be tolerant and respectful of all crew members and follow any instructions on site. They are helping to keep you safe.”

People are also encouraged to keep a close eye on the weather forecasts before starting their journeys. Check for updates here: https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home

Key tips for travelling over the holidays include:

• Check your vehicle is safe to drive – even if you did before you left for the holiday break. Check your tyres, wipers, lights, indicators, spare tyre.
• 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.
• Make sure everyone does up their seat belt after a break outside the car.
• Keep a safe following distance from vehicles in front so you can stop safely. Share the driving if possible.
• People towing caravans and boats need to ensure their roadworthiness before attaching them to the tow bar. Stack heavy items toward the front to balance the load and remember the speed limit is 90km/h for towing vehicles. Pull over frequently and let queues pass when safe to do so.

The road will be closed Sunday to Thursday nights, between 7.30pm and 5am, and this work is weather dependent. Outside these hours and days, the road will be open as normal. 

While the road is closed, access for all local residents and businesses will be maintained. 

During the closure, all eastbound traffic from central and south-west Rotorua, including heavy haulage, will need to turn left at Vaughan Road and follow detours to the Ōwhata roundabout where it rejoins SH30 Te Ngae Road. 

All westbound traffic from Tauranga / Whakatāne, including heavy haulage, will need to turn right at Ōwhata roundabout and follow the detour via Vaughan Road. 

Local traffic at the Basley Road intersection will need to turn right at Basley Road and follow detour signs. 

This work includes installing ducting and streetlights, traffic light signals for the new pedestrian crossing, and constructing a median island. 

There may be some noise and vibration while this work is underway, however the team will be working to keep this to a minimum. 

The night closures allow our team to complete this work safely with less disruption to traffic. 

We ask people to take care when traveling through the site and detour routes, follow all temporary traffic management signage, including reduced speed limits and any directions from our team. 

Please be aware day works are taking place on Vaughan Road over a similar period and there may be changes to traffic management and the road layout. We’re working together to minimise disruption and move people through as efficiently and safely as possible.

We appreciate your patience and understanding throughout this time. 

For any project queries contact the project team:

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Update 23 April:

The planned closure of State Highway 6 Upper Buller Gorge, to replace a span of the Newton River Bridge deck has been postponed due to a material supply issue. 

This means SH6 Upper Buller Gorge, between the Murchison Limeworks and the Lyell Campground, will remain open between Monday 29 April and Wednesday 1 May. 

Alternate closure dates are currently being considered and we will provide an update on these as soon as possible. 

NZTA/Waka Kotahi apologises for any confusion and inconvenience this postponement may have caused. We also want to reassure road users that the Newton River Bridge remains safe for all vehicles to use.

16 April:

Drivers travelling between Nelson/Tasman and Westport must organise their travel plans ahead of a planned maintenance closure for the Newton River Bridge. 

The repairs mean State Highway 6 Upper Buller Gorge will close for three days and nights at the end of this month (29 April to 1 May) so one span of the bridge’s deck can be replaced. 

Carrying out the repairs under a full closure means contractors can complete this work safely and faster. 

During the closure, contractors will remove the old deck sections before installing steel nosing and guardrail supports onto the new deck being built. The old slab space will be filled, the road will be resurfaced, and the bridge’s guardrails and handrails will be reinstalled.

SH6 Newton River Bridge – deck sections being replaced are shown in the foreground.

The bridge was originally built in 1988, and the planned maintenance is essential to ensure its continued use. The new deck sections have a 100-year design life. 

Contractors will make every effort to complete the repairs as quickly as possible. However, work is weather-dependent and may be postponed at short notice.  

Contractors aim to complete the repairs in three days, but two extra days (2 and 3 May) are planned as contingency days if necessary. If the work is paused, the closure will remain in place until it is complete. 

People travelling between Nelson and the West Coast must plan for this closure. While it is timed to happen outside of the busy summer season and after the school holidays, the detour will add around two hours to journey times. Drivers must factor this into their travel plans. 

NZTA/Waka Kotahi wants to thank drivers for their patience and understanding while these repairs are underway. Repairing the Newton River Bridge ensures a vital local infrastructure link is maintained and protected. 

Detour route during three-day closure:

• Full closure of SH6 Upper Buller Gorge between the Limeworks and the Lyell Campground.  
• A detour will be in place in both directions between SH6 Upper Buller Gorge via SH65 Shenandoah to Springs Junction; SH7 from Springs Junction, over the Rahu Saddle, and via SH69 Reefton to SH6 Inangahua.  
• This detour is expected to add two hours to travel time. 
• Residents can access their property on SH6 on either side of the Limeworks or the Lyell Campground.

Starting this Sunday, 28 April, contractors will apply the final layer of asphalt to a section of the highway between Harris and Moonshine Road.

The works area is approximately one kilometre long, and the asphalting is expected to take around four weeks to complete.

Because asphalt cannot be laid in wet weather, weather delays are possible.

The work will be carried out Sunday to Thursday nights, between  7:30 pm and 4 am. Stop/go traffic management will be used.

To minimise disruption for road users, the road paving work is deliberately timed to happen at night when traffic volumes are lower. However, drivers can expect delays of up to 10 minutes when travelling through the project site. They are encouraged to allow extra time for their journeys.

Drivers must follow all temporary speed limits and traffic management in place. They are there to keep road users and road crews safe.

This asphalting is the final stage of work for this particular section of the State Highway 58 Safety Improvements Project – NZTA/Waka Kotahi. We thank drivers and affected residents for their patience while it is completed.

Works schedule

• Sunday, 28 April to Tuesday, 28 May. Sunday to Thursday nights, 7:30 pm – 4:30 am.
• Stop/Go traffic management between  Harris and Moonshine Roads.
• As the new road surface is laid, work areas and traffic management will shift.
• Lane shifts planned during the day within the project area.
• Works are weather-dependent, and schedules may change at short notice.

The Tamaki River Bridge, near Tamaki River Road, will be closed and a signposted detour in place while bridge maintenance and asphalting takes place between 9am Monday 29 April and Saturday 4 May at 5pm.

Due to the narrowness of the bridge, it will be closed to all traffic while this work is completed. Closing the bridge around the clock will enable crews to complete the work faster, minimising ongoing disruption to road users.

The following detour will be in place for traffic:

• Southbound traffic will detour Laws Road, onto Top Grass Road then to Tamaki River Road.
• Northbound traffic will detour Maharahara Road to Kumeti Road, onto Top Grass Road and then to Laws Road.

The detour is expected to add between 10-15 minutes to journey times. Where required, school buses and over dimension and overweight vehicles can be convoyed through site when needed.  

NZTA wishes to thank road users for their support while these works take place.

Please respect our crews while travelling through the roadworks site. Crews are there to make everyone’s journey safer while traffic management is in place. If crews are being threatened and abused, we have to stop work in order to keep them safe – which means the job takes longer to complete, with more delays for drivers.

Update 6:55pm:

The crash has been cleared and the highway is open for south and northbound traffic. 

Drivers can expect slight southbound delays prior to the SH1/SH58 interchange at Pāuatahanui.

4:40 pm:

Drivers heading into Wellington from the Kāpiti Coast are urged to detour via State Highway 59 this evening. 

It follows a crash earlier this afternoon on State Highway 1 Transmission Gully, north of the State Highway 58 interchange. 

The crash was reported shortly after four pm. 

The highway is currently closed to southbound traffic between Paekākāriki and Pāuatahanui.

It remains open to northbound traffic, although lane closures are in place for northbound traffic near  Pāuatahanui. 

Drivers heading to Wellington should detour via State Highway 59 and can expect travel delays. 

Updates on the highway’s status can be found on the NZTA/waka Kotahi website.

• Highway conditions – Wellington