As we enter the busy Christmas and New Year period, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is urging motorists travelling in and out of Hawke’s Bay to stay safe and plan ahead.
“Traffic is often heavy on our roads over the summer holidays, particularly on State Highway 2 and on State Highway 5 heading to Taupo,” Regional Transport Systems Manager Oliver Postings says.
“We know that congestion and delays can be frustrating for motorists, but the most important thing is that everyone arrives at their destination safely.
“Motorists need to remember to drive to the conditions, keep a safe following distance and be patient in high traffic flows. It’s also worth using our interactive holiday journeys map to plan ahead and avoid heading out when traffic is heaviest.”
The Transport Agency will be shutting down as many road construction sites as possible between Waipukurau and Wairoa over Christmas, from 20 December to 6 January.
In most cases, safety cones will be removed to allow free-flow of the traffic. These sites will be re-established in the New Year.
SH2 between Waipawa and Waipukurau
Over the last couple of weeks, safety improvement works have been winding down with the completion of line marking between Limpus Road and Kaimotu Road. The shoulder along Waipawa Bridge has also been completed.
The remaining sites will be shut down for the Christmas period. In the New Year, contractors will be back to construct a slow vehicle bay in place of the existing Southbound passing lane, construct a new retaining wall, widen the shoulder over the Waipukurau Overbridge. Contractors will also complete line marking and install a safety barrier.
Elsewhere, side barriers and median barriers will be installed between Poukawa Road and Te Aute College, beginning at the north end.
SH2 between Paki Paki and Bay View
With approximately 70 per cent of the safety improvement sites complete for State Highway 2, this section of the highway is on track for completion in March 2020. The Transport Agency is pleased the northbound passing lane between Hawke’s Bay Airport and Bay View is complete in time for summer.
During the Christmas period, all sites will be disestablished and traffic will be able to travel at the designated speed of 100 kilometres per hour.
SH2 Bay View to Wairoa
All sites will be disestablished except for the State Highway 2/State Highway 5 junction. This will be under traffic management, with a lowered temporary speed of 70 kilometres per hour. These sites will be reinstated in the New Year.
This section of safety improvements is expected to be completed in March 2020.
SH5 Eskdale to Taupo
Leading up to Christmas repairs on Turangakumu Summit and Titiokura Summit will be complete. All sites will be disestablished for the Christmas period.
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