Drivers travelling through the Waikato are advised not to put all their eggs in one basket by planning ahead and expecting delays with holidaymakers anticipated to hit the highways for the long weekend.
While all non-essential work has been paused on the state highway network over the Easter period, there are still some worksites where traffic management and temporary speed limits are in place says Roger Brady, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Regional Manager Maintenance and Operations.
“We’re at the tail end of our busiest ever summer of maintenance on the state highway network across the motu. While we’ve made great progress with our programme of resealing and renewal, there are still a few sites yet to be completed. In addition there are some sites with ongoing safety or improvement work where drivers will need to take care,” Mr Brady says.
“Please be patient on the roads this long weekend and stick to the temporary speed limit when travelling through work sites to help keep everyone safe.”
“As always we advise anyone planning to get away to check journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link) for up to the minute traffic and travel information,” Mr Brady says.
Here are the main sites to look out for on State Highway 1 when travelling through the Waikato this Easter:
- The sealing work on the Rangiriri section of the Waikato Expressway will be wrapped up for Easter, with traffic once again on two lanes in each direction, however speed restrictions may be in place while the new seal beds in.
- Further south, work continues on remedial and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Expressway south of Taupiri. All work is behind temporary steel barriers and there will be a single lane in each direction and speed restrictions over Easter. Delays can be expected and motorists may want to consider alternatives like SH1B.
- Work to make SH1 safer at Karapiro is ongoing with road widening, barrier installation and the construction of turnarounds. A 50 km/h speed restriction will remain in place through the site. Just to the south of the safety improvements, work continues on the SH1/SH29 roundabout with construction taking place away from the current intersection.
- Just north of Tokoroa, road rehabilitation continues until early April. Over the Easter long weekend, the site will have one lane open in each direction and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h. Light vehicles may be detoured around the site on local roads while heavy vehicles remain on SH1. Please follow the directions of onsite signage.
- At Ātiamuri, road widening is underway for safety barrier installation on a section south of the Waikato River Bridge. Work is behind temporary safety barriers in some places and there will be a 70km/h restriction over the weekend.
- Road widening and safety improvements continue on SH1-East Taupō Arterial between SH5-Napier Road and the airport roundabout. Traffic remains at one lane in each direction, with a speed restriction in place.
