Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advises essential works on state highways will continue across the eastern Bay of Plenty this week.
Bay of Plenty Transport Services System Manager Rob Campbell says while people should only be travelling to access or provide essential services or supplies, it is important they know what to expect on the roads.
“Safely maintaining New Zealand’s state highways is considered vital at this time to help ensure the safe movement of essential goods like medical supplies to hospitals and food to supermarkets during New Zealand’s COVID-19 response.”
He also encourages people who do need to travel to take care on the roads to keep themselves, other road users and roadworkers safe.
“Please stay safe, stay home and save lives. If you must drive to access or provide essential services or supplies, take care, watch out for walkers and cyclists, drive to the conditions and obey the speed limits.
“If you see contractors out on the roads during the lockdown period please remember they are carrying out essential work to keep us all safe.
“Be patient and respectful and look out for their safety and wellbeing. These people are stepping outside their bubbles to do vital work to keep us all safe and we all owe them our thanks.”
Road resurfacing works will take place on SH36 Mangorewa Gorge, approximately 1km South of Te Matai Road, between 6am and 6pm on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 April.
There will be a temporary speed limit of 30km/hour in place for the duration of the works. Due to road width constraints, the road will also need to close for durations of up to one hour while heavy machinery is moved within the worksite and the road sealing takes place. Waka Kotahi suggests motorists consider an alternate route or delay their journeys.
This section of road requires resurfacing to ensure it performs as expected to ensure the safety of road users. Rough, uneven or overly smooth road surfaces can pose a risk to drivers and this work ensures the road is in the best possible condition for the wet, cold winter months.
Road resurfacing works will take place on SH30 Rotoma Hills, between Matahi Road and SH34 between 6am and 6pm on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 April.
There will be a temporary speed limit of 30km/hour in place for the duration of the works. Due to road width constraints, the road will also need to close for durations of up to 30 minutes while heavy machinery is moved within the worksite and the road sealing takes place.
This section of road requires resurfacing to ensure it performs as expected to ensure the safety of road users. Rough, uneven or overly smooth road surfaces can pose a risk to drivers and this work ensures the road is in the best possible condition for the wet, cold winter months.
Works to repair an unstable section of embankment on SH2 at Oponae, three kilometres east of Waiata Road in the Waioeka Gorge, will continue this week and are expected to be completed before the end of May.
The embankment was previously damaged during heavy rain and has since been reduced to one lane under priority Give Way.
Temporary traffic management will be in place for the duration of the work, including a 30km/h temporary speed limit. Stop/Go traffic management will be in place from 6am–5pm and traffic lights in place overnight from 5pm–6am, Monday to Friday. Some weekend work may be required.
Completing this work now will ensure this section of road is robust enough to remain open despite the high river levels that are normal in winter.
For more information, please see the traffic bulletin issued last week:
SH2 Waiōeka Gorge repairs to start Monday – 2 April 2020
Work to renew rumble strips on SH5 between the SH30 and SH38 intersections is expected to continue this week, dependent on the availability of key machinery.
Work will take place on weekdays (excluding Easter) between 7am and 5pm. There will be a combination of Stop/Go with a temporary speed limit of 30km/h and lane changes with a temporary speed limit of 50km/h in place during the works.
Rumble strips are important long-term safety devices for the highway, as they are used to separate road lanes and help prevent vehicles accidentally leaving the road. They must be laid during dry, warm weather, as cold, wet weather affects adhesion and drying times.
Work to renew rumble strips at the above locations will get underway from Tuesday 14 to Friday 17 April.
The works will take place between 7am and 5pm. There will be a combination of Stop/Go with a temporary speed limit of 30km/h, and lane changes with a temporary speed limit of 50km/h in place during the works.
Rumble strips are important long-term safety devices for the highway, as they are used to separate road lanes and help prevent vehicles accidentally leaving the road. They must be laid during dry, warm weather, as cold, wet weather affects adhesion and drying times.
Critical routine maintenance, such as road surfacing repairs, drainage and vegetation works will continue. These are essential to the safe operation and resilience of the transport system.
When these works are being carried out, the traffic management can range from Stop/Go to shoulder closures.
Some work may be carried out during Easter weekend, when roadworks are normally on hold due to holiday traffic. This includes the SH2 Oponae, Waioeka Gorge work, which will continue over the Friday, Saturday and Monday of Easter weekend.
While Waka Kotahi does its best to provide up-to-date information, given the current operating environment under the COVID-19 alert system Level 4, and weather dependency of some works, some road works may change at short notice, and people are encouraged to visit the Waka Kotahi’s Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)) for real time information about their journeys.
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