Planned maintenance work and road closures – SH60 Tākaka Hill resurfacing

Local residents and regular users of State Highway 60 over the Tākaka Hill need to prepare for planned road closures in October 2022.

Andrew James, System Manager, Top of the South, says between Sunday, 2 October and Thursday, 20 October, the State Highway will be subject to night-time closures between 8 pm and 5:30 am.

"This is to allow annual summer maintenance work to be carried out. It'll see resealing of parts of the road on both sides of the hill. Because of the road's narrowness and to keep contractors safe, the route needs to be closed while this work is done. We have chosen to do overnight closures as this is when there is less traffic. It lets us complete maintenance and improvement in the shortest possible time, with the smallest amount of disruption."

Mr James says the work being done includes road resurfacing and other road maintenance work, such as water channel clearing. 

Closure locations and schedule:

• From Sunday, 2 October to Thursday, 20 October, State Highway 60 Tākaka Hill will be closed nightly (8 pm – 5.30 am) between Riwaka Valley Road (Riwaka) and Aaron Creek Road (Upper Tākaka). The road will be open on weekends. This includes Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, with the exception of the night of Sunday 2 October when road maintenance work begins.
• If weather or unforeseen circumstances interfere with the planned works, the closure may be extended by three nights, from Tuesday, 25 October to the morning of Friday, 28 October.
• The road will be opened at 1.00 am each night for traffic queued at the two road closure points: Aaron Creek Road and Riwaka Valley Road.  Road users who wish to travel over Tākaka Hill at the 1.00 am opening must be at the closure points by 12.30 am.
• Temporary speed restrictions will be in place, and traffic management staff will control traffic. 

Mr James says Waka Kotahi understands the closures and delays may inconvenience some road users.

“We do appreciate this type of work does cause disruptions. But the Tākaka Hill is a crucial local transport link and must be maintained and protected for residents and road users. I want to thank road users for their patience and understanding as our contractors get this work done.”

Road users are asked to drive carefully and stick to the temporary speed limits that may be in place while this work is being done.

Further work will be done on the Takaka Hill in the New Year.