The NZ Transport Agency is thanking Northland drivers for their patience while maintenance work is underway to upgrade a section of State Highway 1 on the Brynderwyn hills.
The highway has already been closed for five nights in both directions while the surface is re-laid on the south side of the hills. Weather permitting, the second closure will need to be the same length of five consecutive nights starting this Sunday (6 April) through to Thursday (10 April) to complete all safety work.
“Our contractors (Downers) open the highway as soon as possible each morning – and we use our roadside electronic signs to keep customers informed,” says the Transport Agency’s Northland Journey Manager Jacqui Hori-Hoult.
“The support we get from our customers is an important part of completing our work successfully. Closing the highway and diverting traffic allows our contractors to work safely and quickly, and ultimately minimise the disruption for drivers.”
Ms Hori-Hoult says the overnight maintenance work is a complex operation.
“There’s a huge amount of critical planning involved – from the travel time of the trucks arriving on site, to the temperature of the asphalt or “black stuff” we lay, the constant rolling to ensure the shape and quality of the new surface fits so that it is ready for opening each morning including line-markings.
”Our traffic controllers have been able to contact drivers of over dimension vehicles wanting to come over the Brynderwyns earlier, and that’s also minimised delays for other road users. It’s a fantastic team job on a challenging and windy section of highway,” Ms Hori-Hoult says.
When the second round of overnight work on the Brynderwyns starts on Sunday, there will be detours in place via Paparoa/Oakleigh (northbound) and between Waipu and Mangawhai (southbound). The detours will add between 30 and 45 minutes to journey times.
Meanwhile, the Transport Agency says care will be needed on SH1 at Ruakaka the following weekend due to overnight maintenance work.
Weather permitting, the highway will be upgraded over four nights – Sunday 13 April to Wednesday 16 April.
The top surface of the highway will be removed on Sunday and Monday night. A new surface will be laid on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Contractors will be working between 7pm and 4am and traffic will be able to travel through the site while work is being carried out.
“This work – together with the re-surfacing on the Brynderwyns - is part of our maintenance programme to keep Northland’s state highway network in a good condition and ensure the safety of road users,” says Ms Hori-Hoult. ”
Further information concerning this work is available by contacting the Transport Agency’s Northland help desk on 0800 111655 or 0800 4 HIGHWAYS. Sign-up for free email alerts on a specific route at www.onthemove.govt.nz(external link)
For more information please contact:
Ewart Barnsley
Auckland/Northland Media Manager
NZ Transport Agency
T: 09 928 8720
M: 027 213 7616
E: ewart.barnsley@nzta.govt.nz
The NZ Transport Agency works to create transport solutions for all New Zealanders - from helping new drivers earn their licences, to leading safety campaigns to investing in public transport, state highways and local roads.
