Category: New Zealand Transport Agency

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: SH11 in Bay of Islands to reopen to traffic before the end of April

SH11 has been closed to all traffic since heavy rain from ex tropical Cyclone Fehi brought down a huge slip that’s hanging above the road on February 13.

“We should have reached a point in stabilising the hillside over the next couple of weeks where we can safely open the road to traffic in the morning and evening for a limited time under traffic control,” says the Transport Agency’s Northland System Manager Jacqui Hori-Hoult.

“It will depend on the weather and continued monitoring of the slip and the risks it presents.”

“We will have to stop work while the road is open, but it will allow locals and tourists to get through and not have to drive the detour route which can add up to thirty minutes to their journey.”

“Favourable weather has helped our crews make good progress on the slip. They’ve been working from the top down on the hillside high above the road. After initially removing about 200 cubic metres of loose material a day, they are now taking out 800 – 1000 cubic metres a day.

We have reached the unstable material above the slip by cutting two 5 metre wide benches or steps in the hillside and have so far cleared about 12,000 loose cubic metres of earth and rock.”

“Safety is paramount. We can’t work on the hillside when it’s wet and we haven’t opened the road because of the risk of the unstable material falling on to the road.”

“There’s a layer of about 8,500 cubic metres of material sitting on top of other loose material, so it’s very unstable and the risk since February has been that it could move at any time,” says Ms Hori-Hoult.

“We had planned to use explosives to break up the layer, but we’ve worked our way down to a level where we can remove it now without blasting.”

The slip clearance is entering a new phase this week where instead of carting material off the top of the hillside, crews are pushing it down the slip face and will start removing it from the road.

“This is a great result, but the large amount of material being pushed on to the road is another reason why we can’t open the road any sooner,” says Ms Hori-Hoult.

“This work is more than ever reliant on good weather, so I have to stress that our end of April target is weather dependent.  Our team reviews progress on a daily basis as the Transport Agency is very conscious of the importance of the SH11 route to the Bay of Islands for locals and tourists. We’re working to reopen the road and reconnect communities as soon as possible.”

The Transport Agency thanks local communities and visitors to the region for their patience and understanding while we work to restore the SH11 connection. We’re working as quickly as safely possible.

Locals can sign up at http://www.nzta.govt.nz/sh11-lemons-hill-slip to receive an email update on slip clearing progress and details of how and when the road will be reopened. Or go to http://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/sh11

The sign posted detour is via State Highways 1, 10 and 11. With increased traffic on the detour, drivers should allow up to 30 minutes extra for the journey between Kawakawa and Paihia. We ask motorists to drive with care and to the road conditions, and to allow enough time to get to their destination safely.  

 

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Planned one day closure for SH1 south of Kaikōura in mid-April, delays same day Hurunui Bridge

The section between the SH1/Leader Road intersection (north of Cheviot) and Peketa will be closed to all traffic for a full day.

It will close at 7.30pm on Tuesday, 17 April and reopen at 7.30am on Thursday, 19 April – with only local convoys operating morning and night to assist residents to leave and return to their homes.

North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery (NCTIR) Network Operations Manager Tresca Forrester says the closure is needed to complete essential work for the April round the clock opening.

‘Work includes scaling or rock removal where abseilers will be bringing down material over traffic lanes, and replacing guardrail in a narrow section of road. It’s a tight part of the corridor with limited space so it can’t be done safely while the road is open.’

• Anyone travelling between Picton and Christchurch on Wednesday, 18 April is advised to use the alternate route via Lewis Pass.
• For travel south of Kaikōura, the Inland Road via Waiau (Route 70) can be used.

‘We apologise for the inconvenience of this closure but it is necessary work which contributes to us being able to reopen SH1 at night as soon as possible. We know that is important for people and we thank everyone for their patience,’ says Ms Forrester.

‘The planned work is weather dependent due to the nature of the activities. If Wednesday, 18 April is not suitable then Thursday, 19 April will be used but this will be communicated at the start of that week.’

For more information on the road closure as it is announced please visit: www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/kaikoura-earthquake-response/planned-closures/

Hurunui Bridge inspections same day further to the south

Bridge inspection works on the Hurunui Bridge (south of the Leader Road and Cheviot) have been coordinated for 18 April while there will be less traffic in the area. The bridge will close for half an hour between 10am to 10.30am, 11am to 11.30am, 12pm to 12.30pm and 1pm to 1.30pm.  It will be open at all other times.

How to stay up to date:

• visit www.nzta.govt.nz/p2c
• 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)
• www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• Twitter NZTA Canterbury/ West Coasthttps://twitter.com/NZTACWC
• Facebook www.facebook.com/nztasouthisland
• Journey planner: http://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Overnight motorway closures 8 – 14 April 2018

Check daily updated closure information: click here.

NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)

• Southbound lanes between Oteha Valley Road off ramp and Upper Harbour Highway southbound on ramp, 8 – 12 April
• Oteha Valley Road southbound on ramp, 8 – 12 April
• Greville Road southbound on ramp, 8 – 12 April
• Silverdale southbound on ramp, 10 April
• Northbound lanes between Upper Harbour Highway off ramp and Oteha Valley Road on ramp, 8 – 12 April
• Upper Harbour Highway northbound on ramp, 8 – 12 April
• Greville Road northbound on ramp, 8 – 12 April
• Stafford Road northbound off ramp, 8 – 12 April 
• Onewa Road southbound on ramp, 9 April
• Curran Street northbound on ramp, 8 – 12 April

CENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (SH 1 & SH16)

• Eastbound lanes between Newton Road off ramp and Alten Road, 11 April (approx. 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Grafton Road eastbound on ramp, 11 April
• SH1 northbound to SH16 eastbound (Port) link, 11 April (approx. 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• SH1 southbound to SH16 eastbound (Port) link, 11 April (approx. 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• SH1 southbound to SH16 westbound link, 11 April (approx. 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• SH16 eastbound to SH1 northbound link, 11 April (approx. 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• SH16 eastbound to SH1 southbound link, 11 April (approx. 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Southbound lanes between Fanshawe Street off ramp and Hobson Street on ramp, 11 April (approx. 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.) 

SOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)

• Market Road northbound off ramp, 12 April
• Greenlane northbound on ramp, 12 April
• Tecoma Street southbound off ramp, 8 – 12 April
• Tecoma Street southbound on ramp, 8 – 12 April
• Ellerslie-Panmure Highway southbound off ramp, 11 – 12 April
• Southbound lanes between Ellerslie-Panmure Highway off ramp and Mt Wellington Highway on ramp, 8 April (approx. 10:30p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Southbound lanes between Ellerslie-Panmure Highway off ramp and Mt Wellington Highway on ramp, 9 April (approx. 11:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Ellerslie-Panmure Highway southbound on ramp, 8 – 9 April
• SEART northbound on ramp, 8 – 9 April SEART southbound off ramp, 11 April
• Northbound lanes between Ellerslie-Panmure Highway off ramp and Ellerslie-Panmure Highway on ramp, 11 April (approx. 11:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Northbound lanes between Mt Wellington Highway off ramp and Ellerslie-Panmure Highway on ramp, 8 – 9 April (approx. 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Mt Wellington Highway northbound on ramp, 8 – 9 April
• Princes Street southbound off ramp, 10 April
• Southbound lanes between East Tamaki Road off ramp and Manukau on ramp, 12 April (approx. 10:30p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• East Tamaki Road southbound on ramp, 12 April
• Hill Road northbound on ramp, 8 – 12 April
• Southbound lanes between Takanini off ramp and Takanini on ramp, 8 – 11 April (approx. 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Takanini southbound on ramp, 12 April
• Southbound lanes between Ramarama off ramp and Bombay on ramp, 11 – 12 April
• Ramarama southbound on ramp, 11 – 12 April
• Northbound lanes between Ramarama off ramp and SH22/Drury on ramp, 10 April
• Ramarama northbound on ramp, 10 April
• Northbound lanes between Bombay off ramp and Ramarama on ramp, 11 – 12 April
• Bombay northbound on ramp, 11 – 12 April
• Nikau Road southbound on ramp, 12 April
• Razorback Road southbound off ramp, 12 April
• SH1 southbound to SH2 eastbound link, 12 April
• SH2 westbound to SH1 southbound link, 12 April 

NORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16)

• Southbound lanes between Brigham Creek Road roundabout and Lincoln Road on ramp, 8 April 
• Hobsonville Road southbound on ramp, 8 April
• Royal Road southbound on ramp, 8 April Southbound lanes between Patiki Road off ramp and Great North Road on ramp, 9 April (approx. 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Rosebank Road southbound on ramp, 9 April

UPPER HARBOUR MOTORWAY (SH18)

• SH18 westbound to SH16 eastbound link, 8 April 

SOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20)

• Northbound lanes between Maioro Street off ramp and SH16 (including Waterview Tunnel) 9 – 11 April (approx. 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Maioro Street northbound on ramp, 9 – 11 April
• Dominion Road southbound off ramp, 10 April
• Northbound lanes between Hillsborough Road off ramp and Dominion Road on ramp, 8 April (approx. 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Hillsborough Road northbound on ramp, 8 April
• Hillsborough Road southbound off ramp, 10 April
• Puhinui Road southbound off ramp, 8 April
• Puhinui Road southbound on ramp, 9 April
• Puhinui Road to Cavendish Drive southbound service lane, 9 April

GEORGE BOLT MEMORIAL DRIVE (SH20A)

• Northbound lanes between Landing Drive/Verissimo Drive and Kirkbride Road on ramp, 12 April (approx. 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Kirkbride Road southbound off ramp, 12 April
• Southbound lanes between Kirkbride Road off ramp and Landing Drive/Verissimo Drive, 8 – 11 & 13 April (approx. 10:00p.m. to 5:00a.m.)
• Kirkbride Road southbound on ramp, 8 – 11 & 13 April 

Please follow the signposted detours. The Transport Agency thanks you for your co-operation during these essential improvements and maintenance.

For updates on state highway conditions and hazards visit: www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz
Auckland roads and public transport: www.at.govt.nz

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Mid Canterbury drivers get large-as-life reminder: Always Expect Trains

The ‘Expect Trains’ campaign – jointly developed and funded by the Transport Agency, KiwiRail and TrackSAFE NZ – aims to get people off autopilot when crossing rural railway tracks and has previously featured at North Island level crossings.

The locomotive-sized billboard and other signs are placed near high risk, selected rural railway level crossings. The billboard, transported by Toll NZ, acts as a visual reminder for drivers to slow down and check for real trains before they cross the railway tracks.

Like many rural level crossings, the Rakaia level crossing at Hatfield Overdale Road is protected by a Stop sign only, no flashing lights, bells or barrier arms.

Brett Aldridge, Senior Manager, Rail Safety, for the Transport Agency, says the campaign is the result of research that showed that local people can be complacent around railway level crossings that they use regularly.

‘Local drivers often underestimate how dangerous railway level crossings can be and while train movements might be infrequent, these are huge pieces of equipment and they are absolutely unforgiving.

‘Complacency can lead to risky behaviour like failing to carefully look for trains before crossing railway tracks. We really want drivers in rural areas like Rakaia to be aware that failing to check carefully for that train could be a fatal oversight. These collisions also have a devastating effect upon train drivers. We are hoping the life-sized train billboard will alert people to the risk.’

Complacency at rural level crossings by local drivers is likely to be because they have grown up around railway tracks and drive across level crossings every day – possibly multiple times a day. Previous experience is that they don’t normally come across a train.

‘Services on rural train lines are usually infrequent which means local drivers may not encounter  operating trains at regular intervals. This can lead to complacency and drivers sometimes fail to look properly in both directions,’ says KiwiRail Group General Manager Zero Harm Katie McMahon.

‘It’s really important to always expect trains at any time, from either direction at level crossings. Drivers approaching crossings should slow down and prepare to stop.’

TrackSAFE NZ Manager Megan Drayton says the national rail safety charitable trust supports any initiative that has the potential to improve safety and reduce incidents at railway level crossings. 

‘There are hundreds of rural railway level crossings in New Zealand that just have Stop or Give Way signs, and the onus at those crossings is on the motorist to take care by obeying the signs. This campaign raises awareness of the need to always look for trains, and is extremely valuable,’ she says.

The Transport Agency has a role in promoting safe use of the rail corridor by rail operators, road users and pedestrians. As part of this role, the Transport Agency runs awareness campaigns and works with other organisations in the rail sector.

The billboard will be stationed at Rakaia for several months.

Background

• On average there are around 22 collisions per year between trains and motor vehicles on public road crossings.
• Trains cannot stop quickly and they can’t deviate from their course.
• A laden freight train travelling at 80kph can take more than a kilometre to stop.
• If you see a train coming, don’t try to race it across the line. Trains can be moving at 80kph or more and will bear down on your vehicle very quickly.
• This is the first time this campaign has reached the South Island. The Canterbury region was chosen for the campaign as it has the highest number of railway level crossings, and in particular a high number of passively protected crossings (level crossings protected only by Give Way and Stop signs – no bells or barrier arms).
• The Hatfield Overdale Road railway level crossing near Ashburton has had two collisions, resulting in two people dying, one person being serious injured, one person with a minor injury, and one near collision between a train and a vehicle in the last eight years.
• There are approximately 11 planned trains a day (not including specials, work trains, charter services, etc) and approximately 150 vehicles a day which pass through the crossing on this section of the Main South Line.
• The crossing was upgraded from Give Way signs to Stop signs in 2016.
• The billboard has previously been installed in the Wairarapa, Central Hawke’s Bay, Rangitikei, and Ruapehu districts in the North Island.
• Just under half (47%) of the 1,320 public road railway level crossings on KiwiRail’s national network are protected by Give Way or Stop signs, with the remainder protected by a combination of bells, alarms and barriers.

There are also an additional 1,300 railway level crossings on private land, mostly rural, protected solely by Give Way or Stop signs.

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Construction begins on extension of Wainui shared path

The project will extend the existing off-road path along the western side of Wainui Road.

Mr Hadfield says the new path will run from Sponge Bay towards the CBD, past Kaiti School and across the road to Craig Road.

‘Once complete the path will allow locals to bike and walk safely – all the way from Wainui to Kaiti – on a parallel path separated from traffic on State Highway 35,’ Mr Hadfield says.

Ritchie Civil Ltd has been awarded the contract to construct the Wainui path extension. The $1.7 million project is fully funded by the NZ Transport Agency through the National Land Transport Fund and the new Wainui Road shared path is expected to be open for the community by September 2018.

The path crosses a roadway on land owned by the Matuaokore Ahu Whenua Trust, and a sod turning and blessing ceremony was held with the trust on Thursday morning prior to works beginning.

Mr Hadfield says the project is one of a number of initiatives to encourage more people to cycle for every day transport.

‘They include the development of a two-way on-road cycleway along Rutene Road, widening of Gladstone Road bridge to make it safe for people walking and biking into the CBD, and construction of a separated path on the William Pettie bridge,’ Mr Hadfield says.

The projects are being delivered in a joint effort from the NZ Transport Agency and Gisborne District Council through Tairāwhiti Roads.

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Tree removal to improve safety on SH83 near Kurow

The trees are a potentially significant hazard to road users as they shed large branches on the highway in high winds as well as on nearby high-voltage power lines.  In the last two years, heavy branches have fallen on high voltage wires three times, causing outages for the surrounding community and considerable work for Waitaki Power.

Transport Agency Coastal Otago Maintenance Contract Manager Nick Rodger says the trees, part of a large shelter belt to the west of the highway between Strachans /Otekaieke Corner and the Kurow Winery, comprise a mix of eucalypts, poplars, pines, and oaks.  A consulting arborist was engaged to determine the number of trees that should be removed, with some memorial and specimen trees, in good health and low risk of shedding, being retained.

The trees need to be taken down due to both the tendency to shed branches in high winds, as well as die-off, believed to be attributable to increased soil moisture levels and fungal attack, says Mr Rodger.

Work is scheduled to begin from Monday, 9 April, and will take around six weeks to complete (weather permitting).

Motorists should expect short delays during the works, as traffic will be restricted to single lane operation during felling and clearance operations.

How to stay up to date:

• 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)
• www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• Twitter NZTA Otago Southland @ https://twitter.com/NZTAOS
• Facebook www.facebook.com/nztasouthisland
• Journey planner: http://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Parts of Maaori wooden comb found on Huntly section of Waikato Expressway

This find was made by the Fulton Hogan-HEB Joint Venture team while topsoil was being moved to construct the new Evans, Kimihia and McVie Roads intersection which is part of the NZ Transport Agency’s Waikato Expressway Huntly Section construction. 

A machine operator uncovered an old midden site with an excavator. He realised the significance of the find and stopped work immediately to allow time for Kaiarahi Kawe Nikora to contact the site archaeologist, Warren Gumbley.

Mr Gumbley declared the area an archaeological site and identified where the small amount of topsoil that had been removed at that point had been placed so that he could carry out a full search for artefacts.  The topsoil was searched and the heru teeth were found.

‘The heru teeth are a rare find as virtually all wooden artefacts decay over a relatively short time. In this case we were fortunate because the high resin content in the Rimu wood meant the Heru had not decayed.

‘Part of the site where the heru teeth were discovered had been previously disturbed during the construction of Evans Road many years ago so we were very lucky to have the machine operator identify what he was looking at,’ Mr Gumbley says.

Archaeological finds such as these can help to fill out historical details of how the early residents of this land lived. The Heru was worn by both males and females and a chief’s Heru is made of different wood to denote rank.

The Transport Agency says the discovery is an example of the excellent processes in place on the site.

‘Every person who starts work on the Huntly project undertakes a site induction which includes our Kaiarahi [Cultural guide] teaching them to be aware of the cultural significance of working in the Taupiri Range,’ says Transport Agency Portfolio Manager, Peter Simcock.

As part of our working relationship with Waikato-Tainui, the Kaiarahi observes all topsoil stripping because this is the area of work on the Expressway where archaeological finds are most likely to be made. 

‘This extra pair of eyes together with the careful operation of machines by the contractors is a very important component of the care necessary to find any cultural or historical artefacts that might be in the topsoil,’ Mr Simcock says.

The contractors, Kaiarahi and archaeologist are now working with nearby landowners to see if further investigations can be carried out on the adjacent private land.

The heru teeth have been submitted for radiocarbon dating to establish the objects age. The find will be registered under the Protected Objects Act before being returned to Waikato-Tainui.

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Takaka Hill, State Highway 60, to open 24/7 from Saturday, 7 April

“Crews have made good progress in getting this important hill highway into Golden Bay to a state where all drivers will be able to safely use the one-way sections with the aid of manual traffic management (Stop/Go) and/or with traffic lights,” says Frank Porter, Transport Agency System Manager.

“However, we need to remind everyone that there are narrow sections and all drivers, riders and road users need to be vigilant through this winter until the road is back to its more usual width.”

Since ex-tropical-cyclone Gita lashed Takaka and Riwaka on 20 February, the hill road has been closed and then reopened for managed convoys going in each direction, limited daytime hours with longer hours on Sundays.

“We are aiming to have electronic signs at either side of the hill updating people of any delays or significant issues. There will still be crews actively working leading into winter, however, they will manage traffic on either side of their work sites with manual traffic management. The aim is to maintain the highway in a safe state through the winter, with permanent road reconstruction and repairs to start in the summer of 2018/19.

“Cyclists will be able to bike the hill, but we ask them and all drivers to take special care and be aware that people will need to wait if there is a cyclist ahead of them. It will be a much slower route than it used to be until we get the major repairs underway in the coming summer season.”

No stopping between areas of manual traffic management/ or traffic lights

Drivers, motorcycle riders and cyclists will not be able to stop between or within areas of manual traffic management and/or traffic signals. Drivers will also not be able to overtake in these narrow areas for everyone’s safety.

Mr Porter says the Transport Agency and crews do not underestimate the inconvenience limited access to Takaka Hill has caused many local people and businesses.

It was great to see so many people visiting Golden Bay for Easter with between 1800 and 2,000 vehicles making the trip safely each day (in both directions), he says.  On Good Friday 2,161 vehicles went over and back.

Normal numbers on the hill outside of holidays are much smaller – around 1300 vehicles per day in both directions.

The rest of this week leading into 24/7 on Saturday

The open hours on Takaka Hill for the remainder of this week including Friday, 6 April, are the same as for before Easter:  6-8 am mornings and 5-9 pm evenings.

Check latest update: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/sh60-takaka-hill-repairs/

How to stay up to date

• 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)
• www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• www.facebook.com/nztasouthisland
• twitter.com/NZTATotS
• www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Saddle Road closed due to crash

A detour is in place over the Pahiatua Track and road users are asked to avoid the Saddle Road area.

An update will be posted on our website and social media pages as soon as the work is completed.

The NZ Transport Agency wants to thank road users for their understanding and patience.

For updates please go to:

https://twitter.com/NZTACNI

https://www.facebook.com/nztacni/

http://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/

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Source: New Zealand Transport Agency – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: All lanes now open on Auckland’s Southern Motorway after truck crash

The truck rolled and blocked three of the four lanes just before the Princes St off ramp in Otahuhu for about 30 minutes.

Traffic is now moving south again but is backed up to Penrose.

Drivers heading south on SH1 should expect delays until the backlog is cleared. Please delay your travel or use alternative routes to avoid the area.

Check the Transport Agency’s website: www.nzta.govt.nz for the latest highway information or sign up to www.onthemove.govt.nz for up-to-date information on what is happening on the route you plan to travel; freephone 0800 4 HIGHWAYS for national and regional travel updates.

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