Work to make State Highway 1 (SH1) between Piarere and Taupō safer is now underway, with contractors commencing site investigation works this week.
The first stage of safety improvements will see flexible median safety barriers and roadside safety barriers installed on the 4.5km stretch of SH1 between Maroa Road and Tram Road, south of Ātiamuri.
Stop/go traffic management will be in place between the hours of 9am and 3pm, Monday to Friday. A 30km/h temporary speed limit will be in place between 8am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, allowing contractors to safely set up and pack down the site each day.
As the area is remote with few alternative routes, road users are advised to plan ahead and expect delays. Electric vehicle owners should take care through this area, as there are no charging stations between Tokoroa and Taupō.
Physical works are expected to start in June and will take approximately eight months to complete, subject to weather and any Covid related delays. Where possible, physical works will be completed at night to minimise disruption to road users.
This work is part of the Road to Zero strategy, which underpins the vision Waka Kotahi shares of zero deaths and serious injuries on our roads. Road safety barriers help keep vehicles on the road, out of opposing lanes, and protect road users from roadside hazards like power poles and trees.
