State Highway 3 at the southern end of Woodville will reopen to traffic tomorrow morning from 9am, following the completion of construction work on a new roundabout.
The new roundabout will link SH3 to the new Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū-Tararua Highway, which is scheduled for completion in mid-2025.
The work on the roundabout was expected to be completed by 30 March but as it is now finished, the road can be reopened a few days earlier than expected.
A temporary speed limit will remain in place on this stretch.
Te Ahu a Turanga project spokesman Grant Kauri says completing this work on the roundabout is a major milestone towards the completion of the new highway.
“We’re now getting closer to being able to open the new highway – this new roundabout is a crucial part of this and a great addition to the state highway network.
“People driving through Woodville and to or from Saddle Road will be able to drive around the roundabout from tomorrow. While the highway isn’t yet open, people will get a clearer view of it.
“We know the closure of this section of SH3 over the past 5 weeks has caused delays for road users and nearby residents and we’re really grateful for people’s support. By closing the road, we’ve been able to complete the roundabout work a lot quicker than if the road had remained open,” says Mr Kauri.
Next season, it’s likely you’ll see crews return to the roundabout to apply a 2nd coat seal to the road.
This is normal. When we rebuild a section of the road and apply a chipseal finish we need to come back later to carry out a second coat seal. This locks in the seal to make it waterproof, keeps it stronger and safer for longer.
For more information about the Te Ahu a Turanga project, please head to :
Te Ahu a Turanga – Manawatū Tararua Highway
