The NZ Transport Agency is urging Northland drivers to plan ahead and check the latest conditions before travelling in order to avoid unexpected delays with the busy summer road works season getting into swing from next week.
“The long dry days of summer are the best time for our crews to get stuck into road maintenance and construction to ensure roads are safe for drivers all year round,” says NZ Transport Agency Safety & Network Performance manager Tim Crow.
“We’ll be ramping up work starting next Monday (16 January) on SH1 on the north side of the Brynderwyns. We want to thank Northlanders for their great support and patience at the end of last year while we completed our pavement works in the southbound direction, and now we’ll be working hard to complete the project with work on the northern side.”
The $18m Brynderwyn Hills safety improvement project includes widening the current road, removing tight corners and installing a wire rope barrier to separate north and south bound traffic.
Following Waitangi weekend, contractors will being working on the final section of work on the project to Schultz road, aiming to complete this section by early March. In order to minimise traffic delays this work will be carried out at night, with the road closed to one lane. The highway will remain open to two lanes during the day.
Other works also starting next week will include:
SH15 drainage and pavement works, Parakao and Pakotai: Work at both sites will commence on Monday 16January. The work at Parakao is scheduled for completion by early February, with work at Pakotai to be completed by the end of March.
SH1 Akerama Curves: Work continues on the SH1 Akerama Improvements Project near Hukerenui, 35km north of Whangarei, from Barnes Road to Rusk Road. More passing lanes are being built and tight corners are being removed as part of the safety improvement work. The first section of the south bound passing lane has been constructed, but will remain closed until the project is completed this winter this year to keep workers safe.
SH1 Kensington Ave, Whangarei: Work has started again after the Christmas break, and the new roundabout is now open. Crews will soon be constructing a new retaining wall at the southern end of the site, completing final surface construction, opening the northbound sliplane and completing landscaping.
The Transport Agency is urging drivers to visit www.nzta.govt.nz/travel(external link) or call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49) for the latest information on road conditions in the region.
“Knowing what’s happening on the routes you plan to drive better prepares you for any delays and disruptions so you’ll have a better idea of when you will reach you destination.
“Please also take care when driving through road work sites, and follow the temporary speed restrictions to keep yourself our work crews safe, especially when our teams are working at night.”
