Daily closures for Waioeka Gorge road renewals – EXTENDED

Due to recent poor weather, contractors require an extra three days to complete resealing works on State Highway 2 in the Waioeka Gorge this week, with the completion date now Friday 3 November.

From Wednesday 1 November, the road will be closed from Waioeka Pa Road to Matawai between the hours of 7am and 5pm each of the three days. During the day there will be three opening periods of 20 minutes each, at 9am, 12pm and 2pm. 

Road width through the Gorge is narrow, and the confined space makes it challenging to allow road users past the machinery required to reseal roads. Safety of road users and road workers is a core value for Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and Higgins, the road maintenance contractor undertaking the work. Significant planning has taken place to find the best time and method for completing the work while allowing traffic to travel through the Gorge. 

“We have to balance disruption to road users against efficiency and safety, ” says Roger Brady, Acting Regional Manager Maintenance and Operations for Waka Kotahi.

“We acknowledge that these works are disruptive, however in this instance closing the road is the only way to undertake the work safety.”

Following the closures there will several days of resealing completed at sections with more width. This will be carried out under stop/go traffic management with temporary speed limits. Overall, almost 20 lane kilometres will be resealed across 24 sites. 

All chipseal sites require time to allow the new seal to bed into the existing road surface. During this time the road will be unmarked with a temporary speed limit, and cones delineating the newly sealed area. Road users are asked to adhere to any signage, temporary speed limits and instructions from crew members. 

Status of SH2 Waioeka Gorge while the closures are in place from 1 to 3 November:

Waka Kotahi thanks road users for their patience while we carry out this vital work.