A shortened detour around the storm damaged Jackson's Culvert on State Highway 30 west of Awakeri will be opened to traffic on June 4, 2011.
NZTA Bay of Plenty acting state highways manager Richard Young says recent storm events in the region resulted in significant damage to the Jackson's Culvert located on SH30 west of Awakeri, at the junction with Maunder Road.
The culvert was not safe to carry traffic and a temporary detour has been in place along Western Drain Road, between SH30 and SH2.
"In order to minimise the impact on the local community while the culvert is replaced, we have worked to establish a new shortened detour, immediately adjacent to the damaged culvert," says Mr Young.
The maximum vehicle speed on this diversion is limited to 30km/hr for cars and 10km/hr for heavy vehicles to enable those travelling on overweight permits to continue using this route. The work to replace the culvert is expected to take up to 3 months and the diversion is expected to remain in place for the duration of works, scheduled for completion in September.
"The NZTA is very mindful of the pending Rugby World Cup, and we are strongly focussed on having the road reopened before this commences," says Mr Young.
"We acknowledge the impact and inconvenience these unexpected storm events can have on small communities when their vital transport links are disrupted, and the NZTA thanks motorists for their patience while we have been working to establish this temporary detour."
Updates on the highway can be found on the NZTA's road condition website: www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/current-conditions/highway-info/(external link)
