Waka Kotahi expects temporary changes to the access onto Junction Street from State Highway 3 will accelerate the SH3 New Plymouth to Hāwera Safety Improvements Project.
As the project continues, access to and from SH3 from Junction Street will be closed between 24 October and late December 2023. The closure will enable contractors to work at the site without moving traffic, potentially shaving an estimated two to three weeks from the project’s timeline.
The Junction Street works include installation of flexible median barriers immediately north of Junction St, and between Junction St and Mangorei Road, New Plymouth.
In addition, plans are in place for the installation of an intersection speed zone to increase safety for all road users by detecting when traffic is approaching the highway from Junction St or turning right into Junction St from the highway, and temporarily reducing the local SH3 speed limit to 60kmh.
The 420-metre southbound passing lane at Junction Street, which is much shorter than the minimum safe overtaking length of 600m-800m, will also be removed as part of these works.
In addition, Waka Kotahi is planning the installation of six kilometres of flexible median barriers at five sites between Inglewood and Hāwera, to begin in early 2024.
Once contractors have finished these works at Junction Street, they will move onto the next stage of the project at the intersection with Mangorei Road, which will involve a roundabout.
We appreciate the support of road users taking alternative routes to get to and from Junction Street, as we realise these are likely to add to people’s travel time.
The entire New Plymouth to Hāwera project will improve safety over more than 65km of Taranaki highway, through the installation of flexible median barriers and turnaround facilities on SH3 and widening of the centreline on SH3A.
