Work to make State Highway 2 between Wainui Road and Ōpōtiki safer for road users will get underway this month.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advises the contract to complete the first 8 km section of the SH2 Wainui Road to Ōpōtiki Safety Improvements project has been awarded to Splice Construction, with contractors setting up on site last week.
Construction will begin between the SH2 intersection with Wainui Road and the SH2 intersection with Ōhiwa Beach Road. Work is expected to take four months to complete.
Waka Kotahi Director Regional Relationships David Speirs says the project will make this important stretch of state highway safer for all.
“It’s fantastic to be starting construction on the first section of these safety improvements, which will include shoulder widening, side barriers at high risk locations, with centreline and edge line rumble strips and road marking throughout.
“There are a number of benefits of this project. Not only will these safety improvements save lives, but the project will employ local workers where possible,” says Mr Speirs.
The project is split into three sections with initial funding of $7.6 million enabling the completion of safety works for the first section. Waka Kotahi expects to confirm timings for sections two and three in mid-2021.
Mr Speirs says Waka Kotahi has also heard significant concerns from locals about tailgating and dangerous overtaking along this corridor.
“Waka Kotahi will complete a technical assessment of the current speed limits along this section of SH2 by mid-2021.
“Once the technical assessment is completed, and if it determines the current speed limits are not safe and appropriate, there will be further steps to complete before changing any speed limits, including engagement and consultation with the community,” says Mr Speirs.
“We will work closely with the local councils, our road safety partners and the community, as local knowledge is a vital contributor to the speed review process.
“We look forward to making a real difference to safety on this stretch of SH2 for the benefit of all those who use it.”
Traffic impacts – what’s happening and when?
From mid-March, people will notice construction starting on site. There will be seven work sites between the intersections with Wainui Road and Ōhiwa Beach Road. To minimise traffic disruption, the contractor will work on a maximum of two sites at any time.
During construction there will be Stop/Go traffic management with temporary speed limits in place.
Minor delays are expected and motorists are advised to take extra care when driving through the work sites and to adhere to all traffic management for their safety, and that of road workers and other road users.
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