State highway road work activity around Tairāwhiti clears for an enjoyable holiday road trip

Otoko Hill on State Highway 2 north of Gisborne is now back to two lanes for the Christmas holiday period.

Work has been continuing at Otoko Hill since Cyclone Gabrielle on a number of sites, replacing culverts, repairing roads and improving drainage.

While work will continue in the new year, the work sites will be back to two lanes over the holiday period. There will be a temporary lower speed limit still in place.

To minimise disruption for travellers over the holiday period, there will be no active work sites around the region from now until 6 January.

However there will be traffic management in place, including reduced speeds or one lane sections with traffic lights at a number of sites around the region including:

• Kopuaroa
• Mangahauini Gabions
• D9/Gudgeons
• Kemps Hill
• Makatote (Makarika) Valley

Early in the new year, road users can expect work to begin again around the region, including

• 6-24 January road renewal. SH2 north between Whakarau Rd and Waihuka Rd, Puha (weather permitting).  Stop/Go traffic management with 10–15-minute delays possible.  
• 13-30 January road renewal. SH2 south between Maraetaha Rd and Wharekakaho Rd, Bartletts (weather permitting).  Stop/Go traffic management with10-15-minute delays possible.  
• 13 January road resealing. SH35 between Christopher Rd and Pouawa Bridge.  Stop/Go traffic management with 10–15-minute delays possible.

Reminders will be communicated closer to the start of this work.

Holiday season driving

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has updated its online holiday journeys traffic prediction tool(external link), which shows predicted traffic flows over the Christmas and New Year holiday, based on previous year’s travel patterns. This handy ‘trip hack’ is a great way to plan your trips and avoid the stress of getting caught up in lengthy delays.

NZTA wants everyone to get to their destinations safely. More cars on the road, tired drivers and people driving on unfamiliar roads can all add up to make holiday driving stressful and risky. But there are simple things we can all do to stay safe.

We encourage everyone to check that their car is safe before heading off, keep your speeds down, drive sober, watch for signs of fatigue and share the driving on long trips.

Always drive to the conditions, which can change quickly. Check the weather forecast before leaving home, as well as our real-time traffic updates for any incidents or closures.

Tips for safe driving on your summer holiday

Drive to the conditions, allow plenty of time and take regular breaks to stay alert.

• Be patient when driving this summer so everyone can relax and enjoy the holidays together.
• Keep a safe following distance from vehicles in front so you can stop safely.
• Drive to the conditions – whether it's the weather, the road you're on, the time of day or the volume of traffic on the roads.
• Take regular breaks to stay alert.
• Allow plenty of time. You're on holiday, no need to rush. 

Vehicle safety

• Your vehicle must be safe to drive before you set off on your summer holiday.
• Check that the Warrant of Fitness or Certificate of Fitness is up-to-date on any vehicle you plan to drive, including rentals.
• There are basic checks you can do yourself, including:
  • Tyres – minimum tread is 1.5mm but the more tread, the better the grip.
  • Lights – check that all lights work so your vehicle is visible in poor light.
  • Indicators – ensure all indicators work so people know which direction you are moving.
  • Windscreen and wipers – check for wear and tear so you can see the road safely.