With the arrival of summer’s warmer and drier weather, the NZ Transport Agency is accelerating its maintenance programme to make Northland’s state highways safer.
“People paint their homes at this time of year to give it a protective seal from wear and tear and exposure to the weather, as well as increasing its durability – maintaining our highways is exactly the same thing,” says the Transport Agency’s Journey Manager for Northland and Auckland North, Jacqui Hori-Hoult.
“Pot holes, cracks and slippery surfaces that have lost their skid resistance affect every road user by increasing the risk of crashes. Maintaining surfaces can help keep our communities – and our visitors to Northland – safe when we use the highways.”
Ms Hori-Hoult says the maintenance work in the region will affect travel plans but it is essential the Transport Agency completes its work during the summer.
“We acknowledge that Northland is a popular holiday destination and highways will be busy, but there’s no better time than now to complete our work.”
Warm temperatures and dry air helps the new seal stick to the existing surface more effectively. If the work was done in winter, the cold ground would mean the new surface would harden and crack, and stones in the chip seal could pop out if exposed to cooler temperatures.
“Then we’d just have to do the work all over again next year – causing even more inconvenience,” Ms Hori-Hoult says.
Mr Hori-Hoult says the Transport Agency will do everything it can to reduce disruption at maintenance sites, but it is also important all road users are patient and observe speed limits.
“Speed restrictions are there to protect both drivers and our workers. They also help protect windscreens and vehicle surfaces, which can be damaged when people drive too fast and flick up loose chips. So please stick to them, no matter what.
“Even if there is no surface work happening onsite, we ask that drivers keep their speeds down to let the new surface settle – otherwise it can get ripped up, and we’ll need to start all over again.
“It is an essential part of our programme to avoid expensive long-term repairs, and to help people have journeys on our region’s state highways that are smoother and safer.”
State highway maintenance is currently underway at a number of locations in Northland and the northern areas of Auckland. More information is available for road users at 0800 111655.
State Highway 1 north
Whangarei: highway improvements SH1/SH14 intersection
Whangarei: signs maintenance & road marking (Ross Road)
Ross Road: guardrail repairs
Whangarei-Wellsford: intersection highway markings
Kauri rail overbridge: repairs
Otaika Stream bridge: repairs
Dome Valley: culvert upgrade & shoulder widening (Falls to Waitaraire Stream bridge)
Te Hana: guardrail repairs (Vipond Road) & hazard removal
Wellsford: signs maintenance
Puhoi: guardrail repairs
Turntable Hill: slip repairs
Waipu: left turn lane improvements (Nova Scotia Drive & Shoemaker Road)
Ruakaka: repairs to highway surface (Halse Straight)
Pukekaroro: guardrail repairs (Baldrock Curve)
Moerewa-Kawakawa: repairs to highway surface
Kaitaia: pedestrian improvements (Davis Street & Te Ahu Centre)
Awanui-Ohaeawai: highway marking
Te Paki: clearing slips
Highway re-sealing: various locations
Highway marking: various locations
Vegetation control and mowing: various locations
State Highway 10
Pakaraka: watercutting (Stoney Creek)
Kerikeri roundabout: highway surface re-sealing
Black River Road-Church Road: repairs to highway surface
Lake Ohia: left turn lane upgrade (Inland Road)
Taipa: guardrail repairs (Parapara Road)
Kaeo: repairs to highway surface & 50kph speed restriction
Highway re-sealing: various locations
Vegetation control: various locations
Highway marking: various locations
State Highway 11
Haruru Falls: lighting upgrade
Lemons Hill, Opua, Te Haumi, Whangae: 50kph speed restriction – chip loss sites
Waitangi: 70kph speed restriction – chip loss site
Highway marking various locations
Vegetation control: various locations
Highway repairs: various locations
State Highway 12
Mamaranui-Dargaville: highway marking
Vegetation control: various locations
Highway repairs: various locations
Highway marking: various locations
State Highway 14
Vegetation control: various locations
State highway 15a
Ruakaka: highway re-sealing
State Highway 16
Wellsford-Kumeu: drainage maintenance
Helensville: guardrail repairs
Araparera: storm damage repairs; 50kph restriction
Kumeu: fibre optic cable laying
Vegetation control: various locations.
