New low growth grass is about to be planted along the verges of State Highway 1, between Pokeno and Rangiriri, to minimise road maintenance costs and mowing emissions.
New low growth grass is about to be planted along the verges of State Highway 1, between Pokeno and Rangiriri, to minimise road maintenance costs and mowing emissions.
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) plans to begin the replanting project within the next week by spraying the existing grass. Once the spray has taken effect, approximately 10 days later, the verges will be mowed as low as possible then ploughed and reseeded with a mix of New Zealand Browntop, Perennial turf grass and a prostrate white clover.
NZTA West Waikato Area Engineer, Gerhard van Blerk says the work is weather dependant and a window of four to five clear days is needed for the spraying to take place.
Mr van Blerk says, “The new grass is being planted to reduce mowing emissions and the cost of road maintenance and traffic management. It will require less road side mowing and associated road works, and will keep the highway verges looking a lot tidier for longer. The verges will look a little rough for a time while the new grass grows, but the end result will be a lot better.”
Motorists are encouraged to avoid driving on the verges, unless absolutely necessary, once the new grass has been sown.
