There are just three highway routes or sections of routes remaining closed after the torrential rain and flooding of recent days, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).
The key one is SH88 in Dunedin between Forsyth Barr Stadium/Parry St and Port Chalmers. It will reopen at 6 am Monday, although people can expect a slower than usual trip at 30km/hour to keep vibrations to a minimum, single lane around slip sites managed by Stop/Go, 24/7.
The other two are SH87 Kyeburn to Hyde, and SH90 Tapanui to Waikoikoi, which has a detour in place.
The route between Forsyth Barr Stadium/Parry St and Port Chalmers remains closed this weekend with residential and emergency access only and fully staffed checkpoints.
Geotechnical advice has now been received for the Parry St and Burkes landslip areas which means the clean-up can continue at these sites ahead of the highway reopening, with single lane traffic around slip sites and at reduced speed, from Monday at 6 am.
There are likely to be significant delays on SH88 on Monday with the new traffic management in place and short delays around the rock scaling/removal work.
This route could also close at short notice again, depending on how the rockfall remediation/ scaling and clean-up goes.
https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/otago/closures/482713
Please note, the informal detour roads above SH88 aren’t suitable for large, heavy or towing vehicles and unless people have an urgent need to travel, they should keep these routes clear also.
SH87 Kyeburn to Hyde (north of Middlemarch): Remaining closed due to damage to a section of highway from the flood water near the Kyeburn Bridge. Flood water still receding. Delay your travel as this will be an extended closure. https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/otago/closures/482674
SH90 Waikoikoi to Tapanui: Closed due to flooding around the Pomahaka River. Detour in place and working well. https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/otago/closures/482705
State Highway updates
Highway conditions for Otago | NZTA Journey Planner
Local road closures Dunedin and Portobello peninsula
https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/news-and-events/public-notices/road-conditions-and-closures
Otago Emergency Management
“People need to be aware that crews are working hard to restore roads as fast as they can, so please slow down around them and avoid travel in areas that have been under water,” says NZTA Journey Manager Nicole Felts. “The land is water-logged and potholes will develop which require people to take care.”
Port Chalmers highway, SH88 – staying closed, boulders
A large 2.5 by four metre boulder fell onto the highway near Parry St, SH88, early last night. That route remains closed this weekend with residential and emergency access only and fully staffed checkpoints.
Geotechnical advice is required before this highway can be reopened between Parry St/ Forsyth Barr Stadium and Port Chalmers. https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/otago/closures/482713
Please note, the informal detour roads above SH88 aren’t suitable for large, heavy or towing vehicles and unless people have an urgent need to travel, they should keep these routes clear also.
SH1 south and north of Dunedin – south open, north this afternoon at latest
SH1 south of Dunedin, a small section south of Milton: Now reopened.
SH1 north of Dunedin: NZTA hopes to have SH1 between Evansdale and Hampden opened by 1 pm at the latest. There is 300 cubic metres of rock to move from a slip south of Waikouaiti with many smaller slips on the road shoulders so crews are hard at it.
SH8 inland from Milton to Lawrence: Open as of Saturday morning, caution needed.
SH85 Kyeburn to Palmerston: Now open, caution needed.
SH87 Kyeburn to Hyde (north of Middlemarch): Remaining closed due to serious damage to a section of highway from the flood water near the Kyeburn Bridge. Flooding remains also Saturday morning. Delay your travel. https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/otago/closures/482674
SH90 Waikoikoi to Tapanui: Closed Saturday morning due to flooding around the Pomahaka River. Detour in place and working well. https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/otago/closures/482705
Multiple areas of surface flooding and potholes
State Highway updates
Highway conditions for Otago | NZTA Journey Planner
Local road closures Dunedin and Portobello peninsula
https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/news-and-events/public-notices/road-conditions-and-closures
Otago Emergency Management
Updates: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/otago/closures/482842
SH1 was closed this afternoon south of Waihola to Milton – this section has now reopened but the area south of Milton beyond the SH8 intersection to Allison Road/ Moneymore is now closed. (The NZTA Journey Planner map should be updating shortly)
These conditions are changeable given the water flowing downstream and affecting different areas of highway overnight. People should not drive through deep water, particularly in the dark, stay home tonight.
Check for updates on the Otago Journey Planner page from 8.30 am tomorrow: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/otago
People should delay their journeys and avoid these areas and check the NZTA Journey Planner for details or additional closures overnight and tomorrow morning after 8.30 am: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions
SH1 Evansdale to Hampden – extended from earlier closure Evansdale to Palmerston. Updates: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/otago/closures/482794
SH85 Kyeburn to Palmerston https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/otago/closures/482760
SH88 between Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, and Port Chalmers: Closed due to a serious slip at Maia/Burkes affecting properties and the highway, as well as several smaller slips along SH88 and near Parry St. https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/otago/closures/482713
Please note, the informal detour roads above SH88 aren’t suitable for large, heavy vehicles and unless people have an urgent need to travel, they should keep these routes clear also.
SH1 south of Dunedin, between Waihola and Milton https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/otago/closures/482765 Freight traffic in particular may need to take the Lindis Pass (Tarras to Omarama) to get to Canterbury or Central Otago/Southland.
SH87 Kyeburn to Hyde (north of Middlemarch): closed due to flooding, delay your travel. https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/otago/closures/482674
SH90 Waikoikoi to Tapanui: closed due to flooding. Detour in place. https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/otago/closures/482705
Please obey any signage and advice on the road: Slow down in flood waters as this causes bow waves into properties and other vehicles.
State Highway updates
Highway conditions for Otago | NZTA Journey Planner
Local road closures Dunedin and Portobello peninsula
https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/news-and-events/public-notices/road-conditions-and-closures
River levels from Otago Regional Council
MetService
MetService updates: National Severe Weather Information – MetService is New Zealand’s only authorised provider of Severe Weather Alerts
Otago Emergency Management
The details below outline the main planned state highway roadworks occurring in the greater Wellington region and the top of the South Island over the coming week (from Saturday, 28 September). Further details about regional state highway conditions and roadworks are also published on our website:
View/download the planned state highway roadworks for the Lower North Island/Upper South Island
NOTE: Roadworks are dependent on weather and other factors. Bad weather can see work postponed to the next suitable night in the works programme.
This is two weeks under the six weeks set aside, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).
Despite some bad weather in the past month, the little yellow digger and the crew managing it by remote control made excellent progress, says NZTA Maintenance Contract Manager on the West Coast, Moira Whinham.
“From today, 5 pm, we can end our managed traffic during weekdays,” she says. This is good news for the second week of the school holidays.
The digger will need to be retrieved in coming weeks requiring a four-hour closure. Plywood barricades will be removed at the same time. NZTA will advertise that in advance.
An additional bridge repair project on SH73, closer to Arthur’s Pass, which has caused delays overnight in the past week still has a few things to be completed. On Tuesday, 8 October, there could be 20 minute delays at this bridge for the guardrail work.
Any other delays at McGrath Creek Bridge will be updated in the NZTA Journey Planner.
https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions/west-coast
From Monday 14 October, crews will be onsite completely rebuilding a section of SH3 between Waiau and Kaipikari Roads.
Crews will be rebuilding two sections of the road over the next 7 weeks – starting at the intersection with Onaero River Road and then moving to a stretch of state highway between Ohanga and Waiau Roads.
During the work, stop/go traffic management will be in place, with a reduced temporary speed limit. Delays of approximately 5-10 minutes should be expected.
Crews will be onsite 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday during these works. Crews are hopeful they may be able to work on both sites at once, for a period of up to a fortnight, which may reduce the overall construction timeframe.
During the state highway work, general access to and from Onaero River Road at SH3 will be closed, while the council uses the period to complete other repairs.
Alternative routes will be available and clearly signposted.
Meanwhile work began this week (2 October) to rebuild and reseal a stretch of State Highway 3 at Midhirst.
Crews will be onsite over the next 7-8 weeks, completely rebuilding a section of SH3 between Rutland and Denbigh Roads.
During the work, two lanes of traffic will remain open however there will be a temporary speed restriction in place.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations Rua Pani says it’s a busy period on other parts of SH3 too, as the temperatures get warmer and drier.
“We appreciate the delays are frustrating and we want to reiterate how crucial this work is to ensuring resilient, efficient and safe travel on SH3. It’s really important people adhere to the temporary speed limit to ensure the new seal has the best chance of setting properly.
“We’ve had a few instances at a SH3 site south of New Plymouth, at Burgess Park, of workers being verbally abused by some motorists. This is a timely reminder for people to please be patient and respectful to the crews on site – they are members of the community working to improve the road for everyone.”
For the latest updates on NZTA’s maintenance programme in Taranaki, visit nzta.govt.nz/taranaki-maintenance
The daytime closure between Ātiamuri and Wairakei will also re-open to traffic tonight at 6pm.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations for Waikato and Bay of Plenty, Roger Brady, praised the team effort required to achieve this.
“The team had some major weather challenges, and while there was some inconvenience to those travelling on SH1, we’re delighted that the rebuild work has been a success. Residents’ co-operation has been a big part of getting the work done as planned, we thank everyone for their patience.
“We still have some big challenges ahead with upcoming closures. This season we are rebuilding more than 41 lane kilometres of highway – that’s more than double the amount of rebuild work completed during the past three work seasons combined. This volume of work can only be achieved this quickly under full road closures. While the road is closed, we are also doing other maintenance work such as drainage improvement, vegetation clearance and resealing.”
For the two sections of highway about to reopen, there will be temporary traffic management and speed limits in place. The road needs to be driven on to bed-in the rebuild work, getting the stone chip to settle in before the final asphalt surface can be applied. This final surfacing will take a short time and may possibly be done at night.
“It is vital that the temporary speed limit is adhered to,” says Mr Brady. “The faster vehicles go, the greater the force on the delicate new road, and the higher the risk of the chip being lost. The wet weather makes this even more important, as the water can get pushed into the new road by speeding traffic. Unfortunately, wet weather extends the bedding in period.”
Once the chip is adequately bedded in (the length of time will vary depending on the weather), the excess chip will be swept off, road markings completed and the temporary speed removed.
SH1 also remains closed at nights between Piarere and north of Tīrau. This work is expected to be completed at 6am on Friday 18 October, dependent on weather.
The fourth closure, expected to be in place for up to 6-weeks, starts at 5am on Monday 7 October between Tokoroa, Kinleith and Upper Ātiamuri. This is the biggest section of work undertaken and is the longest closure so far. This site is one of the larger and more complex parts of the work programme, spanning 17km and encompassing four separate work areas, ranging from 2.9km to 5.7km in length.
All through-traffic, including those heading further south, will be detoured via SH32 and SH30 (also known as Maraetai Road in Tokoroa, Whakamaru Road and Ongaroto Road in Ātiamuri) and vice versa. This will add approximately 16 minutes (23km) to journey times. Local freight (those travelling from Taupō to Tokoroa) can use SH30/32, and freight travelling further north can use SH5/30 instead.
Tokoroa will still be open for business during the road closures, including those businesses located just south of SH32 such as Robert Harris and Subway. Access will also be maintained for emergency vehicles and residents. We need to advise the detour earlier to those on longer journeys so they can utilise the appropriate state highways.
For more information, please sign up for our weekly e-newsletter via the website nzta.govt.nz/t2w
The link below includes a video taken showing the work being done while the road was closed between Tīrau and Putāruru.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/2rFfnodEn6oPhKWB/?mibextid=WC7FNe