Contractors get ready to install raised safety crossings in Waipawa

Waipawa’s safety improvement project is nearing its second stage.

Work on State Highway 2 / Waipawa’s main street began last Monday to upgrade part of the stormwater network and install two raised safety crossings.

From next week, construction will begin on the two raised safety platforms, replacing the existing crossings.

This work is scheduled to take a fortnight and during this time, there will be a detour in place of the northbound lane. The northbound lane will be closed during the work. Southbound traffic will always stay on the state highway.

The northbound detour will take people down Kenilworth Street and right into Waverley Street before rejoining SH2.

Fourteen carparks will be available right outside the main street shops.

Parking outside the shops:

• Southbound traffic wanting to park outside the shops will be guided onto the closed northbound lane and into a carpark, before being directed to merge back into the traffic flow when leaving the carpark.
• Northbound traffic wanting to park outside the shops need to approach the parks from the south - motorists will need to take the detour down Kenilworth Street, right into Waverley Street before turning right onto the SH2 and being directed into a park.

Waka Kotahi Director of Regional Relationships Linda Stewart says additional parking is also available on the right side of Kenilworth Street; on Ruataniwha Street and more across the road from the shops, next to the museum and behind the shops on Islington Drive and Waverley Street.

Pedestrian access to the shops will remain.

“It’s essential people can continue to access the town centre and its retailers and we encourage people to continue to support local. We know the works have caused frustration and it’s been really important to hear people’s concerns and make sure we can adapt our traffic management.

“It’s a fine balance between keeping people safe during the project, completing it as efficiently as possible and making sure the township remains as accessible as possible.

“Please also be kind to our road workers. Many of them live in Central Hawke’s Bay and the community has been advocating for many years for safety improvements to the main street to help slow traffic and create a more people-friendly town centre, which these crossings will help do.”

There are two more stages to the works, from next week:

• 25 September – 7 October: The raised safety crossings will be installed. During this time, a 24/7 northbound detour will be in place and parking outside shops will remain.
• 8 October – 15 October: The approaches to the raised crossings will be asphalted. During this time, the detour will be in place between 7am and 7pm. Parking outside shops will remain.