Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advises essential works on state highways will continue across the western Bay of Plenty this week.
Bay of Plenty Transport Systems 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.”
Works to complete road reconstruction on a section of SH2 near Paengaroa will continue this week and are expected to be completed during April.
The work is taking place on the north side of the road between the Wilson Road South and Wilson Road North intersections from 7am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Work was completed on the south side of the road prior to the COVID-19 Level 4 lockdown.
This work will allow Waka Kotahi’s contractors to complete work on what is currently an active work site and seal the road ahead of winter to ensure the road remains safe for all road users.
Work to complete road reconstruction on SH2 at Forta Leza, south of Katikati, will take place next week.
These works were underway prior to the COVID-19 Level 4 lockdown and must be completed to ensure the road remains safe for all road users.
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, which will take place between 9am and 5pm.
Work to perform maintenance on the concrete barriers on SH2 at Takitimu Drive will take place next week, commencing Tuesday 14 April.
Work will take place during the day between 9am and 5pm and will consist of lane changes with a temporary speed limit of 50km/h.
These barriers are important safety devices for the highway and this work ensures they are functioning correctly to help avoid flooding of the road.
Work to renew rumble strips at the above locations will continue through Easter weekend and into next week.
Works will predominantly take place overnight between 8pm and 5am, however some day works on SH29 will take place between 9am 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 raised lane markings (cats eyes) at the above locations will continue through Easter weekend and into next week.
Work will take place overnight between 8pm and 5am and will be mobile operations, with traffic management trucks and may require minor lane shifts or closures.
Raised lane markings are important long-term safety devices for the highway, as they are used to separate road lanes, aid road users driving at night 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.
When these works are being carried out, the traffic management can range from Stop/Go to shoulder closures. These are essential to the safe operation and resilience of the transport system.
Some work may be carried out during Easter weekend, when roadworks are normally on hold due to holiday traffic.
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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