The NZ Transport Agency is approaching the home straight to complete repairs on a significant slip on State Highway 1 south of Kawakawa.
Flooding last July caused the slip, closing the highway for seven days and requiring a temporary route to be built.
The Transport Agency’s State Highways Manager Brett Gliddon says work has now been completed to drive 39 reinforced concrete piles 21 metres into the ground.
“The next stage is to construct a stabilised-earth retaining wall and to fill the enormous hole left by the slip, by replacing it with more than 8-thousand cubic metres of fill. This material will be trucked from Whangarei and stockpiled north of the slip, so there will be an increase in the number of trucks entering and exiting the worksite.”
“Contractors will now be working between 7am and 6pm, seven days a week to get the repairs finished and make this stretch of the highway safer and more resilient ahead of any more severe winter weather.”
“There is a 30km an hour speed limit and it may be necessary to stop traffic at times to allow northbound trucks to safely enter the northern end of the slip area. There will be ‘truck crossing’ signs posted in the area, and all motorists are asked to take extra care to ensure their safety as well as that of those working on the repairs.”
“We apologise for any disruption to people’s journeys and thank everyone for their ongoing patience as we make the final push to complete this work.”
Mr Gliddon says additional drainage is also being installed at the base of the retaining walls to further stabilise the slope. The highway will be rebuilt along the existing alignment and barriers will be installed to improve safety.
