Journeys on State Highway 58 (SH58) between Hutt Valley and Mount Cecil Road will be safer and more reliable, with the first stage of safety improvements on the road now complete.
Over the last two years, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency contractors have built uphill crawler lanes, straightened the road around the most challenging bends, and installed median safety barriers.
New electronic message boards and CCTV have also been installed to help monitor the road and keep people up to date with the latest traffic and travel information.
“We’re pleased to have Stage 1 of the SH58 Safety Improvements project completed well in time for Christmas, bar some minor work on the culvert and a few other items, which our contractors aim to have finished in the next few weeks,” says Regional Maintenance and Operations Manager Mark Owen.
“SH58 is one of the region’s key routes, linking the Hutt Valley and Porirua. We’re pleased to have now completed safety improvements on the three-kilometre section between Hutt Valley and Mount Cecil Road.
“It’s been challenging work on a busy highway carrying around 20,000 vehicles every day, but the end result is a much safer, more reliable and enjoyable journey for everyone who travels on this route.
“These changes provide people with better visibility, more safety features, and a smoother, less demanding journey, which will all help to prevent people being killed or seriously injured on this road. They’ll also support economic growth by providing better and more resilient access through this section.”
Since work started in October 2019, more than 85,000 cubic metres of earthworks have been moved, 25,000 tonnes of asphalt have been laid, and more than 8,000 trees and shrubs have been planted.
“We know how much people have been looking forward to this first stage of road works being finished. We would particularly like to thank everyone who lives along this road for their patience and understanding while this work has been underway,” Mr Owen says.
“With the first stage of work complete, our team can now fully focus on the next section of safety improvements on State Highway 58, between Harris Road and the Transmission Gully interchange at Pāuatahanui.”
Work is continuing further west on SH58, from Mount Cecil Road through to the Transmission Gully Interchange at Pāuatahanui, with the work being divided into two stages.
Construction on Stage 2A from Mount Cecil Road to Harris Road began in early 2021 and is expected to be completed in mid-2022.
Work on Stage 2B, between Harris Road and the Transmission Gully interchange at Pāuatahanui, is currently going through the final design and consenting process, with construction expected to start in 2023.
These safety improvements involve widening the road, adding sealed shoulders, installing roadside and median safety barriers, curve corrections, two new roundabouts and existing bridge improvements.
