SH51 roundabout project entering final phase

Asphalting of the new State Highway 51 roundabout at Awatoto begins on Monday.

The construction of the new roundabout is entering the final stages along with the realignment of the state highway to connect with the roundabout.

North and south bound traffic will be able to use the roundabout from the end of this month. 

As part of the final stages of work, the following traffic management will be in place on SH51:

• Ten nights of stop/go traffic management will be in place between Sunday 18 February and Monday 27 February. The traffic lights will be in operation between 6pm each night and 5am the following morning, while the road is reduced to one lane as contractors realign the road to connect with the new roundabout.
• Nine days of closures at the SH51 intersection with Awatoto Road will be in place between Wednesday 28 February and Thursday 7 March. The road will close each day between 8am and 4pm and reopen overnight.

During the closure, crews will be constructing the extension of Awatoto Road, which will connect with the new roundabout, while also finishing asphalting and landscaping the area between the realignment and the railway line with native plants.

A signposted detour, through Te Awa Avenue and Waitangi Road will be in place during the daytime closures, for all road users travelling between Napier, Hastings and Taradale. These detours will add approximately 5 minutes to people’s journeys.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Principal Project Manager Jacob Laird says he’s mindful of the temporary disruption the work is causing for residents and for road users.

“We’re users of the road too and we do appreciate people’s understanding of the road layout changes and the delays.

“We’re building this roundabout and realignment as efficiently as we can to minimise those delays and disruptions.

“Driving the road every day, it’s really exciting looking towards the coast and seeing the progress. The roundabout and realigned road is another piece of the puzzle making SH51 safer for all road users travelling between Napier and Hastings.