Two months into the project, significant progress has been made on stormwater infrastructure for State Highway 3 Waitara to Bell Block safety improvements.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Director of Regional Relationships, Linda Stewart says despite wet weather battering the region recently, work to install a stormwater pipe under the ground along SH3 from Manukorihi Soccer Fields to Princess Street is on track to be completed in May.
“The stormwater work is progressing well, putting us in an excellent position to start construction of the roundabout and underpass at the Princess Street intersection later in the year,” says Ms Stewart.
Design and consenting work will continue through the winter months. A trial embankment will also be constructed at the De Havilland Drive/SH3 intersection in Bell Block in April, using rock material from the stormwater excavations.
The trial embankment will provide information on how the ground reacts to weight, informing the design of the future De Havilland Road Roundabout.
Once built, the new Princess Street roundabout and underpass will reduce the risk of crashes resulting in deaths and serious injuries on this busy section of highway and provide much safer access for the Waitara community.
The project, which is being jointly delivered by Waka Kotahi and New Plymouth District Council, will address current flooding issues around Princess and Rahiri streets, in addition to carrying stormwater runoff from the new roundabout when it’s built.
Since work began in January, light northbound vehicles have been detoured through Waitara, adding about six to 10 minutes to journeys north.
Northbound freight vehicles are continuing to use SH3 under traffic lights to avoid potential safety issues associated with large vehicles travelling through Waitara.
“The detour is operating well for the most part, thanks to the cooperation of the Waitara community, road users and the freight industry,” says Ms Stewart.
“Most people are adhering to the traffic management in place, but crews have noticed a few light vehicles waiting at the lights with freight to travel north on SH3.
“Please take the detour if you are driving a light vehicle; it takes about the same amount of time as waiting at the lights on the highway. The traffic lights cycle time is designed for the truck traffic flows and introducing cars creates delays for northbound and southbound vehicles.”
Following consultation with local schools and businesses, a number of safety measures were put in place on the detour route ahead of work starting, including temporary speed limits, flexible marker posts to separate traffic, and pedestrian crossings.
Additional safety improvements, including changes to an intersection near Waitara High School and Waitara East Primary School and the addition of hatched (no stopping) yellow lines to the SH3/Princess Street intersection have been made this year in response to feedback from the community.
Ms Stewart thanks the Waitara community, local hapū, community representatives and road users for their ongoing collaboration on the project .
“Please keep your feedback and suggestions coming. Your local knowledge and experiences are helping us make the worksite and detour route as safe as possible.”
The SH3 Waitara to Bell Block safety improvements project includes roundabouts at four high-risk intersections along with sections of median barrier, wide centrelines and other safety improvements.
The project is delivering on New Zealand’s Road Safety Strategy, Road to Zero 2020 – 2030, which aims to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads by 40 percent over the next decade.
