As summer gets closer, and the weather warms up, so too does maintenance activity on the region’s roads.
Waka Kotahi is reminding motorists travelling around Manawatū-Whanganui over the coming months to expect an increase in roadworks on our state highways, and to take care when travelling through construction sites.
Almost 100 lane kilometres of the state highway network in Manawatū-Whanganui are scheduled for renewal during the 2023/24 maintenance season.
Summer maintenance is well underway in the region, and crews have been busy in the lead up to Christmas with some road maintenance works already completed on State Highway 1 near Hunterville and Marton. A road rebuild north of Taihape has also just finished following seven weeks of night-time works, with just guardrail installation left to complete.
Upcoming night works for SH1 north of Taihape
Resurfacing is underway on SH3 near Dudding Lake and work to resurface a section of SH3 near Makirikiri Stream Bridge, Turakina is planned for early next year. This work will see a full rebuild of a section of the state highway currently in need of replacing.
Southbound detour for drainage and resurfacing on SH3 at Dudding Lake
Next month, motorists can expect to see a flurry of activity and road closures on SH1 in Levin as a result of a number of road maintenance sites planned for the area. Night-time asphalt resurfacing works are now complete at the SH1/Queen Street intersection, with just some traffic light timer checks to be carried out. Crews have moved to the SH1/Hokio Beach Road intersection to complete night-time resurfacing works there, and then will complete resurfacing works on SH1/Oxford Street before Christmas.
Detour in place for upcoming overnight closure of SH1 in Levin
These works include a number of road closures and detours, and motorists are advised to keep up to date with our interactive Journey Planner, which has live updates of roadwork, road conditions and any traffic warnings in place.
Journey Planner(external link)
Waka Kotahi Manawatū-Whanganui and Taranaki System Manager Liesl Dawson says this is always a busy time of year for our roading crews and contractors.
“It’s important road resurfacing works are carried out during warm, dry weather, that’s why people often see an increase in roadwork activity in the summer months.
“We’re aware of the disruption the work causes on the roads and while we do what we can to minimise it, we don’t take for granted people’s support – it really makes our work easier,” says Ms Dawson.
While you’re passing through sites, give roadworkers a friendly wave – please respect the crews out there and drive carefully when passing through sites.
Looking out for roadworkers (Facebook post)(external link)
The last thing we want for them is to cop abuse, or be injured or worse, while they're doing their work to repair the road and to keep you safe.
As well as road renewals, travellers this summer can expect to continue to see safety improvement work being carried out on our state highway network, such as new line marking and signage, the continuing construction of the new roundabout on SH1/3 outside RNZAF Base Ohakea, and stretches of flexible median, side barrier, painted wide centrelines and three turnaround bays between Ōtaki and Ohau. These safety improvements aim to make our roads safer for all road users.
Snapshot of upcoming maintenance works:
