A section of SH2 north of Dannevirke has been reduced to one lane to help keep people safe, after a slip that occurred earlier in the year worsened recently.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advises the area near Otanga Road is now under stop/go traffic management using temporary traffic lights and people are advised to plan for possible delays.
The slip happened in June this year after heavy rain.
Manawatū-Whanganui System Manager Maintenance and Operations, Rob Service, says contractors have done their best to keep both lanes operating since then by topping up the road surface.
“To date, about 60 tonnes of asphalt have been added.
“However, we recently identified further slipping after more wet weather and decided to reduce the road to one lane. People were also not complying with the reduced speed limit that was in place for safety reasons.”
“We have identified issues at the site with instability of fill material from an old road realignment. Reducing the road to one lane has now moved traffic away from the unstable ground where there is significant damage to the road.”
Crews are monitoring the site 24/7 to ensure the safety of road users.
“We are aware there were long traffic queues and delays at this site over the weekend, and it is likely this could occur again on Labour weekend.
“We are working to confirm long term repair solutions to address the instability and return the road to two lanes as soon as possible, however, the traffic lights will likely remain in place for some time,” Mr Service says.
People should also plan for possible delays on SH2 in Tararua, which is also a hot spot for planned maintenance works over the summer construction season. Several sections of the road will be resurfaced and a number of full road renewal sites are planned between Woodville and Norsewood.
"We acknowledge the disruption our works can have to people’s journeys and want to reassure the public that we are doing our best to minimise the impacts as much as possible, while prioritising the safety of everyone involved.”
Mr Service recommends road users check the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website before heading out.
Journey Planner(external link)
“Our Journey Planner is the most up-to-date source of information for work taking place on the state highway network. Keep yourself informed and plan your journey to minimise any potential disruption or delays.”
Waka Kotahi thanks motorists for their patience and understanding while we undertake these works.
