Lower speeds on a stretch of SH1 while flexible median barrier is installed.
A temporary speed restriction will be in place on State Highway 1 (SH1) between Foxton and Manawatū River Bridge next week when flexible median barrier is installed. Our contractor has begun overnight work this week to parepare this stretch of SH1 for the installation of the barrier.
The work continues the safety improvement work already underway on SH1 between Levin and Foxton. Following this week’s preparation work, the barrier posts and wire rope will be installed between Foxton and the Manawatū River Bridge next week. During that installation, both lanes of the highway will remain open but a 50 km/h speed limit will be in place through the work site.
Please keep to the temporary speed limit to keep workers and other road users safe. The wire rope install will begin at the southern entrance to Foxton and progress southwards. The area of work will shift further south each night as the posts are installed. In the event of bad weather, these works will be carried out on the next fine evening.
We will advise of any changes to the planned traffic management. Construction of the turnaround facility at Oturoa Road is expected to be completed by mid-2024 but could be delayed by weather and ground conditions. More information about the project is available on our website.
SH1 Levin to Foxton safety improvements
Contractors working on the State Highway 1 safety improvements between Levin and Foxton will spend next week preparing to install new flexible median barrier between Foxton and the Manawatū River Bridge.
Next week’s work continues the safety improvement work already underway on SH1 between Levin and Foxton.
The safety improvements project also involves a new roundabout at the intersection of SH1 and Waitārere Beach Road, stretches of painted wide centreline, roadside and median barrier and new turnaround facilities.
Construction of these SH1 improvements is being completed in stages with all work due to be finished by mid-2027.
NZTA Regional Manager of Infrastructure Delivery Rob Partridge says the changes will make these stretches of road safer for all road users.
“We know the construction process will be disruptive and we thank people for their patience. We also know these median barriers and other changes will have immediate safety benefits, while also maintaining efficient travel.”
The latest stage of the project – installation of flexible median barrier between Foxton and Manawatū River Bridge is starting this Sunday 12 May.
From Sunday our contractor will be drilling holes in the centreline in preparation for the barrier posts to be installed. These works will be completed at night between the hours of 7pm and 7am to minimise disruptions to traffic.
While this work is underway, both lanes of the road will remain open throughout this work, but both directions will be shifted closer to the centre line and a lower speed in place.
Please adhere to the temporary speed limits to keep all road users and contractors safer on site.
This work is expected to be completed by Thursday 16 May.
Following next week’s initial works, contractors will return to site the following week, from Sunday 19 May, to begin installing the barrier posts and wire rope for the median barrier. We will provide an update later this week on what traffic management will be in place while this work is completed.
Next week our contractor will also be installing traffic islands at the intersection of SH1 and Newth Road in preparation for the flexible median barrier being installed on the highway. These works will be completed during the day between the hours of 7am and 5pm.
During these works, there will be no access to Newth Road from SH1. From 5pm each day, motorists will be able to access Newth Road from the southbound lane of SH1 but there will be no access from the northbound lane. A temporary speed limit of 50km/h will be in place at the intersection until works are complete.
Motorists needing to travel to or from Newth Road are advised to detour via Ridge Road and Purcell Street. The detour is expected to add up to 10 minutes to journey times.
Once the traffic islands are installed, access to and from Newth Road via SH1 will be via the southbound lane only in preparation for the flexible median barrier to be installed.
Once the traffic islands are installed, people travelling north on SH1 who want to access Newth Road can use the new turnaround at the southern entrance to Foxton, which will be operational from this Friday. People who want to travel north from Newth Road on SH1 can use the existing turnaround underneath the Manawatū River Bridge.
More information about the project is available on our website.
