The NZ Transport Agency advises from Tuesday 30 April, the speed limit on State Highway 1 (SH1) will be reduced to 80km/h between Toetoe Road and Maungakaramea Road south of Whāngārei.
Acting Senior Project Delivery Manager Karen Boyt says this temporary speed limit will remain in place during the construction of the SH1 Loop Road Safety Improvements project, which is programmed for completion in 2021.
“Safety of our people and customers is a priority and reducing the speed limit to 80km/h approaching the project area makes it safer for drivers to transition in and out of the 50km/h construction zone,” says Ms Boyt.
“We are also installing centre safe hit posts as well as temporary steel roadside barriers to provide safe work areas for the construction crew.”
The section of SH1 between Loop Road/SH15 and Portland Road has a temporary speed limit of 50km/h, which will also remain for the duration of construction.
80km/h signs will be installed the night of Monday 29 April and the temporary speed limit will take effect from 6.30am on Tuesday morning.
“We want to remind motorists to take extra care while adjusting to the change in speed limit and travelling through the construction site, we ask all road users to slow down so everyone can get home safely,” says Ms Boyt.
The barrier and safe hit post installation will take place each night from 6.30pm until 6.30am from Monday 29 April until Friday 3 May, weather dependent.
During these nightworks, State Highway 1 traffic will be down to one lane with stop/go traffic control and a 30km/h speed limit through the work site.
The SH1 Loop Road Safety Improvements project includes construction of a single lane roundabout at Loop Road (North) and intersection improvements at the SH1/Portland Road intersection.
Funded through the National Land Transport Fund, the $27 million safety project commenced construction in March and is expected to take 24 months to complete.
