Extensive safety improvements on State Highway 1on the Brynderwyn Hill in Northland are due to begin next week.
The $16m NZ Transport Agency project on the Brynderwyns to improve safety for all road users is located on the north side of the hill near the summit.
The project includes several improvements:
“This is an important safety project for us in a high-speed and challenging section of the Brynderwyns,” says the Transport Agency’s Highway Manager, Brett Gliddon. “The upgrade will help straighten out some of the difficult curves and make driving safer and reduce the risk of crashes.”
The Whangarei-based contractor, United Civil Construction, will start enabling works before major earthworks get underway. The project is expected to be completed in 2016.
“The project is a large-scale one and there will be some disruption for drivers while we deliver these improvements. Some of the passing lanes will be shortened or closed, and people will need to drive with care and be patient,” Mr Gliddon says.
Contractors will work between 7am and 7pm. No night work is planned at this stage.
Elsewhere in Northland, Mr Gliddon says good progress is being made on repairs to sections of the state highway network damaged by storms in July and October.
SH1 Maromaku slip, south of Kawakawa: This was the largest slip to affect the network after the July storm. Geotechnical work to investigate the stability of the land in the area of the slip is underway, and design work on the permanent repair to the highway is being completed. The Transport Agency plans to start work to repair the highway itself next March and to have that work completed and the highway fully restored before next winter. In the meantime, the two-way temporary diversion route will remain in operation.
SH1, Turntable Hill north of Moerewa: Drainage work has started, and piling works to stabilise the highway and hill will start next week (8th December). Repairs will continue until the Christmas break and recommence after the holiday. Repairs are expected to be completed by the end of next February. During this period, the uphill passing lane will remain closed for safety.
SH12 Waipoua forest: Geotechnical works to investigate the stability of the land will start shortly, and repairs to the slip are planned to start next March. Talks are underway with local and national bodies on the most effective way to treat waste from the repair site to prevent any risk to surrounding kauri trees. Until the repair works are complete, this section of SH12 will be reduced to a single lane under a ‘give and take’ system.
“We regret any inconvenience to people who rely on these sections of the network. We’ve already had great support from the community and we want that to continue while we deal with these complex slips and repair them as quickly as we can,” Mr Gliddon says.
More information on the Brynderwyn project, and other Whangarei Improvements, is available at on-line at www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/whangarei(external link) or by calling the project team 0800 PROGRESS (0800 776-4737).
The Transport Agency is also planning an open day for all its current project in Northland. It will be held in at the Toll Stadium in Whangarei next Thursday (11 December) from 3pm until 7pm.
“We hope as many people as possible can come along so that we can explain the work we and our contractors are doing across the region to keep Northland’s state highways in good shape,” Mr Gliddon says.
For more information please contact:
Ewart Barnsley
Auckland/Northland Media Manager
NZ Transport Agency
T: 09 928 8720
M: 027 213 7616
E: ewart.barnsley@nzta.govt.nz
