Category: Transport

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

A reminder for State Highway 1 (SH1) road users that SH1 at Karāpiro, south of Cambridge, will be closed for 4 days in January for maintenance and repair work.

The closure is between Karāpiro Road and SH1/29 at Piarere from midnight on Sunday 19 to midnight Thursday 23 January 2025.

All traffic will need to take detours or alternative routes to avoid the area. The full closure is the safest and most efficient way to complete the work required.

During the works, contractors will lay 42,000m2 of chipseal and apply a second seal on barrier areas and shoulders. They will also carry out works at the intersection with Maungatautari Road, and general maintenance such as mowing and sign repairs.

All properties within the closure and sideroads leading to it will have access maintained but delays are expected. Vehicles will be grouped and piloted through the site on the following schedule:

• Northbound from near the SH1/29 roundabout: Leaving on the hour.
• Southbound from Karāpiro Road: Leaving on the half hour.
• People coming from sideroads will join the convoy as it passes their road.

All visitors and service providers can join this piloted access when they are visiting a property within the closure. 

Emergency services will have full access through the site at all times.  

Detour routes

While access to properties within the closure will be maintained, all other traffic should use the detours:

• Karāpiro Road/Taotaoroa Road/SH29 in both directions with a speed restriction of 70km/h.
• State highway traffic and freight will be encouraged to use SH26/SH27.  HPMVs and over-dimension loads also need to use SH26/SH27. This will add approximately 50 minutes to journeys.
• Inter-regional traffic will be encouraged to use other routes like SH2/SH27 to the east of the closure. This will add approximately 18 minutes to journeys.

Traffic presenting at the stacking points at the north and south of the works area will not be turned around and can join the piloted convoys.

Following the resealing, the road will reopen with a 70km/h temporary speed limit.  Rollers and sweeping will take place before the road opens, but it will still need traffic on it at a reduced speed for up to a week for chip to bed in completely.

As always, work is weather dependent and any changes will be updated on Journey Planner.

journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

State highway summer maintenance continues in Marlborough with two busy Blenheim roundabouts to be resealed early next month.

The State Highway 1/State Highway 6 Nelson Street roundabout will be the first to be resurfaced with night works planned from Sunday, 2 February until Tuesday, 4 February, between 7 pm and 5 am.

During this time the roundabout will be closed to all traffic to allow for asphalting work to be carried out and a local road detour will be in place.

Contractors will then carry out night works on the State Highway 1 Main Street roundabout from Sunday, 9 February, until Wednesday, 12 February, between 7 pm and 5 am.

During this time the roundabout will be closed to all traffic to allow asphalting work to be completed and the same local detour route will be in place.

Mark Owen, Regional Manager Wellington/Top of the South, says the work is deliberately planned to coincide with State Highway 1 Weld Pass night closures.

“Most southbound traffic will be using the inland route. It means fewer vehicles will be using State Highway 1 through Blenheim. This way the resealing work affects fewer drivers.”

Mr Owen says because State Highway 1 through Blenheim is a busy arterial route, it is essential it is maintained and kept up to standard for all road users.

“To ensure the roundabout resealing is more durable, asphalt will be used. It is a longer lasting solution that provides a stronger road. It also reduces the amount of future maintenance needed, meaning fewer disruptions for drivers.”

A local road detour will be in place for all traffic in both directions via Alabama Road, Battys Road, Nelson Street, Hutcheson Street and Lansdowne Street. This detour is expected to add up to 10 minutes to travel time.

Once asphalting work is complete, road markings will be reinstated under night works with stop/go controls and a 30 km/h speed limit.

Mr Owen says the roundabout resealing will create some disruption and delays.

“Given it is in the heart of Blenheim, some impact on drivers is unavoidable. But contractors will do their best to minimise this as much as they can. However, people travelling through Blenheim can expect delays and should allow extra time for their journeys.”

“We have other state highway maintenance works underway in Marlborough as well. Please, check our NZTA Journey Planner before you travel so you are up-to-date on the latest road conditions, “ Mr Owen says.

NZTA Journey Planner(external link)

Works Details

State Highway 1, Grove Road / State Highway 6, Nelson Street roundabout

• Sunday, 2 February to Tuesday, 4 February. 7 pm and 5 am.
• Full road closure at the Pitchill Street, Lane Street (on Dillon’s Point Road), Auckland Street and Bomford Street intersections before the roundabout.
• Local road detour in both directions for all vehicles, including heavies, via Alabama Road, Battys Road, Nelson Street, Hutcheson Street and Lansdowne Street. This detour is expected to add up to 10 minutes to travel time.
• No access to the northern end of the Blenheim Railway Station during work hours. Access to the carpark will be via the southern end (Horton Street) only.
• Access will be available for emergency services.
• A 30 km/h temporary speed limit will be in place during the day outside of work hours. Road users must follow the instructions of contractors and obey all temporary speed limits and traffic controls.

State Highway 1, Main Street roundabout

• Sunday, 9 February to Wednesday, 12 February. 7 pm and 5 am.
• Full road closure at the Alfred Street, Freswick Street, Kinross Street, Symons Street and Park Terrace intersections before the roundabout.
• Local road detour in both directions for all vehicles, including heavies, via Alabama Road, Battys Road, Nelson Street, Hutcheson Street and Lansdowne Street. This detour is expected to add up to 10 minutes to travel time.
• Access will be available for emergency services.
• A 30 km/h temporary speed limit will be in place during the day outside of work hours. Road users must follow the instructions of contractors and obey all temporary speed limits and traffic controls.

More Information:

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

The New Year has seen the resumption of resilience and rockfall remediation work on State Highway 6 between Moeraki and Haast.

Severe weather in November saw State Highway 6 closed at the Epitaph Slip site following a major rockfall and flooding.

Major rock scaling work required to remove dangerous unstable rocks above the highway was put on hold over the holiday period so the teams on site could take a well-deserved break. 

There was no movement or other changes at the site over the break, and with the holiday period over, work crews have returned to the site to continue with further blasting and removal of material above the highway.

From this week, there will be weekly road closures at the slip site every Tuesday and Thursday, between 12:30 pm and 4 pm. These will continue until March.

The closures are essential. Because explosives are being used, it will not be safe to drive through the works area and the highway must be closed while rocks and debris are removed.

NZTA/Waka Kotahi appreciates the closures will create delays and disruption for drivers. However, it is critical this work be completed to improve the highway’s safety and resilience.

Because there are no available detour routes, driver must be aware of the  closures and plan their travel accordingly.

Updates on the highway’s status can be found the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website. Drivers are encouraged to check road conditions before they travel.

Works Schedule:

• Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, 12:30 pm to 4 pm. Closures will be ongoing until March.

SH6 CLOSED to all traffic at the Epitaph Slip Site. No immediate detour available. Drivers should avoid the area and time their travel to outside the closure periods.

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

UPDATE 13 January: Resurfacing work for State Highway 2 Masterton to Carterton will begin this Sunday, 19 January, weather permitting.

It will require night-time closures from Sunday, 19 January to Thursday, 23 January between   9 pm and 4:30 am.

Road users can expect delays on the route from 7 pm when traffic management is put in place.

These works have been previously delayed due to cold ground temperatures. If ground temperatures go below 15 degrees, these works may be further postponed.

State Highway 2 traffic will need to detour via detour via Cornwall Road and Hughes Line. Residents in the works areas will retain access to their properties.

A 50 km/h temporary speed limit will be in place on the detour route.

The highway will be open in both directions during the day. However, a temporary speed limit of 30 km/h will be in place for up to five days after the resurfacing works. It is essential drivers follow this speed limit as it helps prevent damage to the road and to vehicles.

Detour route

Earlier release: Postponement of SH2 Masterton to Carterton resurfacing due to cold temperatures(external link)

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

People are experiencing an increase in travel time on State Highway 2 (SH2), between Te Puna and Aongatete, and it’s set to continue now chipseal works have begun along the corridor, acknowledges NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

Chipsealing provides important waterproofing of the road surface which protects road pavements. Once crews have completed laying and rolling the new chip, traffic moving across the chip at temporary speeds over a 24-hour period to helps the chipseal bed in. 

While every endeavour is made to minimise the impact to traffic, with most of the works done at night, temporary speed limits and other traffic management during the day do slow traffic.

“SH2 is an incredibly sensitive piece of road and any reduced speed limits from work or incidents near or on this road sees changes in traffic flow,” says Sandra King, Bay of Plenty System Manager, for NZTA. Pavement rebuild works have now started at Snodgrass Road and the chipseal programme is underway north of Te Mete Road”.

“The impact on SH2 has been felt for some time – once a rural road passing through a few settlements, it’s developed into a busy commuter and freight route.

“The main cause of congestion is the sheer volume of traffic, with more than 6000 vehicles per day added to this corridor in the last 10 years. Last week also saw people returning to work or driving home from holiday, further impacted by a major scrub fire and an emergency incident contributing to the disruption.

Chipseal sites between Tauranga and Katikati have been programmed at night to coincide with reduced traffic volumes during the daytime over this school holiday period. This week, sites located between Clarke and Te Mete Roads and Barrett and Ōmokoroa Roads are under construction before anticipated wet weather sets in later in the week.  From Sunday, weather depending, work will commence on a site north of Ōmokoroa near Francis Road, and three sites between Hot Springs Road and Walker Road East.

As well as maintenance works, 2 roundabouts are in construction for the SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa Safety Improvements project at Apata Station Road, and Pahoia and Esdaile Roads.  There is also the roundabout construction at SH2 Ōmokoroa Road (more details below).

“We appreciate any delay to travel is frustrating. People should allow extra time for their journeys, and we thank them for their patience while this important work is completed,” says Ms King.

SH2 maintenance and works programme

• SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa Safety Improvements: 2 roundabouts are currently in construction. More information 
• SH2 Apata Station Road: Road widening works are underway in preparation for the new roundabout. Lane shifts are in place along with speed restrictions. Expect delays. 
• SH2 Ōmokoroa Road: Road widening and service relocation works are underway in preparation for the new roundabout. Lane shifts are in place along with speed restrictions. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays. Follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes. Expect delays especially during peak times. More information(external link)
• SH2 Snodgrass Road, Te Puna:Night work started on a road rebuild Sunday 12 January, taking approximately 6 weeks to complete near the Snodgrass Road and Te Puna Quarry Road intersection. While the work is taking place the entry into Snodgrass Road and Te Puna Quarry Road will be closed at the state highway end. Alternative roads are available to the south via Munro Road and to the north via Armstrong Road or Borrell Road. Work will start at 8pm each night finishing at 5.30am, there will be stop/go in place and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h during the day. 
• SH2 North chipseal programme:There are 9 chipseal sites on SH2 north of Tauranga which started on the night of Sunday 12 January taking 10 nights to complete between Clark Road and finishing near Aongatete. There will be a temporary speed limit in place the day after the chipsealing has been completed to allow the chipseal to bed in. The 2 chipseal sites south of Ōmokoroa will be completed by the end of this week with a sites at Te Puna and Ōmokoroa already completed over the last 2 days.

This work forms part of the government’s $2.07 billion investment into road and drainage renewal and maintenance across 2024-27 via the State Highway Pothole Prevention fund.

People are encouraged to plan ahead and see where disruptive works are by using the NZTA Journey Planner.

NZTA Journey Planner(external link)

NZTA thanks road users and the community for their patience.

*All dates are subject to suitable weather conditions.

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

New resilience work is underway this week at Utiku south of Taihape, on land between State Highway 1 and the railway corridor.

Work has now begun onsite and is expected to continue for at least four months.

During the work, crews will install new drainage in the area to boost the resilience of SH1 through this area and reduce risk to the road, which has been affected for many decades by a large, slow-moving landslide.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Project Manager Gareth Howie says drainage is critical to any project, but drainage for this project is particularly crucial as it will redirect water away from the hillside, road and railway elsewhere in the existing stormwater system.

“This work, to redirect the water from the hillside and improve drainage, will boost the safety and reliability of the state highway and ultimately the efficiency of travel for all road users, hopefully minimising disruptions in future,” says Mr Howie.

In August 2023, cracks in the road meant emergency repair work needed to be undertaken, in addition to the installation of monitoring.

Over the next four months, NZTA is planning to install up to 3 incline drains (drains running up the hill) at the site, subject to approvals, which will reduce risk to the main trunk railway line as well as SH1.

Each drain will consist of four ‘fans’. At each of the fan locations in the drain, groundwater will be intercepted and will flow through the drain and be redirected.

“Water will be directed through the slotted drains from the upper levels into one exit point at the base of the drain, then filtered through the open swales, down into the culvert system and into existing culverts and then down to the Hautapu River, which is the direction the water is trying to take naturally,” says Mr Howie.

“We are working with mana whenua to ensure that water discharged from the drains remains in the same catchment, and effects on the Hautapu River, wetlands and watercourses are minimised as much as possible.”

Each drain will take up to four months to install and NZTA will monitor the effectiveness of each one before moving on to install the next. There will be minimal impact to road users as a result of these works.

Other work at the site this construction season to ensure a more resilient and safer road includes the felling of trees overhanging the road, and application of a second coat seal on the road following the 2023 emergency works.

This work is likely to involve some traffic management.

NZTA is also planning to install more instrumentation in the area to enhance monitoring with real time capability for response.

We will keep people updated as these works progress.