Works at the State Highway 4 Auraki Stream Road Retreat site south of Raetihi are progressing, with tree felling planned at the beginning of March.
The work will be carried out during the day over four days, from Tuesday 1 March to Friday 4 March.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Regional Manager Maintenance and Operations, Jaclyn Hankin, says SH4 between Whanganui and Raetihi will be closed between 6am and 6pm each day during this period to enable the works to be carried out safely.
“The detour for light vehicles will be down Field’s Track Road, with access through the Whanganui River Road closure point to detour down Field’s Track Road. The detour for heavy vehicles will be via State Highway 49 and State Highway 1.”
“Emergency services will be allowed through the closure, and we are working with local schools to ensure vehicles with children going to school in the area will be allowed through at designated times.”
The detours for this closure are significant and motorists are asked to plan ahead, avoid unnecessary travel or travel outside the closure times. The detour for light vehicles is expected to add approximately one hour to journeys, with the detour for heavy vehicles expected to add approximately two hours and twenty minutes.
“We have already removed most of the trees under short duration Stop/Stop traffic control to minimise the closure duration. Many of the trees that remain are expected to fall on the road once felled. Closing the road will ensure the safety of the teams involved as well as road users.”
Ms Hankin says the work is another milestone for the repair work on SH4 Parapara Road after a major flood event in June 2015.
“The current road is being affected by a slip at the Mangawhero River, so we are relocating the road away from where it has failed. This will mean a return to two lanes on this stretch of highway with no temporary traffic management or priority give way road layout.”
“The large culvert where the Auraki Stream currently goes under the highway is being extended to facilitate the new road alignment.”
Horizons Regional Council has approved consent for the main physical works, and a blessing was held for the site late last year with Ngāti Rangi, Te Korowai o te Awaiti, and Uenuku. New project boards were revealed, including Te Korowai O Te Awaiti Tohu.
SH4 Whanganui to Raetihi repairs project page
Waka Kotahi thanks everyone for their patience while these important works to improve the safety and resilience of SH4 are underway.
Project partners at the SH4 Auraki Stream Road Retreat project board reveal and blessing.
The tree felling site for the 1-4 March daytime road closures.
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