Roadworks on Saddle Road and the Ashhurst roundabout were completed earlier than planned last week, despite one full day of work lost due to bad weather.
NZ Transport Agency Regional Transport Systems Manager Mark Owen says the early completion meant the planned Saturday closure of the Saddle Road westbound lane did not need to go ahead.
“We do our best to minimise road closures as we know these can be a significant disruption to people who use the roads regularly,” Mr Owen says.
“Our contractors did a great job completing the work to a high standard ahead of schedule, meaning that the road was fully open on Saturday. In the longer term, heavy vehicles will find it a lot easier navigating the Ashhurst roundabout.”
State Highway 4 between Te Hue Road and Fields Track at Kakatahi was also closed last week for stabilising works, aimed at improving the resilience of the road.
This work had to be paused when the road needed to be re-opened for an afternoon to be used as a detour following a serious crash on nearby State Highway 1, however the work was still completed on time.
“We’re pleased that we were able to keep disruption to motorists to a minimum. Ultimately, this work will result in better journeys for all road users,” Mr Owen says.
“It is also worth noting the quick thinking and collaboration of the contractors and Wellington Transport Operations Centre to re-open State Highway 4 as a detour when it was needed.
“We’d also like to thank Ashhurst and Kakatahi residents for their patience and understanding throughout these roadworks.”
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