Works to improve the quality and longevity of State Highway 1 at Bulli Point, south of Taupō, will get underway from Sunday 16 February under a revised traffic management plan.
Acting Waikato Systems Manager Rob Campbell says the schedule for the works has been revised to better accommodate road user requirements, following concerns from the community about the timing of the planned road closures.
“Full road closures, which had been planned for between 6pm and 6am, will now take place between 7pm and 5am to allow more time for people commuting between Tūrangi and Taupō. Outside these hours the road will be down to one lane, with Stop/Go traffic management in place.
“All works will stop from 5pm every Friday afternoon through to Sunday evening.
“We appreciate this will be a challenging time for motorists and the community in general, and we will be working with Taupō District Council, emergency services and our contractors to keep the community informed of progress.”
Mr Campbell says the project team is meeting with emergency services in the area to confirm details of the traffic management plan and to ascertain their requirements including emergency vehicle access, height/weight restrictions and priority access for staff/volunteers.
“It is standard practice to allow emergency services through a work site once the site has been made safe to do so. Our contractors are fully aware of the contingency plans in place should this be required and will manage emergency services through the site safely.
“The Transport Agency thanks road users for their patience.”
The programme includes the installation of a roadside culvert, the construction of retaining walls on both sides of Bulli Point to protect against subsidence, and asphalt resurfacing along 2.2km of the highway.
The first big piece of work will be the construction of retaining walls on both sides of Bulli Point, to protect against subsidence.
The Transport Agency acknowledges that the work will be an inconvenience to motorists, however, combining the work is much more efficient for road users and the community as it minimises the duration of closures.
These works are needed to avoid significant issues that would see the road closed completely for a much longer period in the future.
See our previous media release Major road upgrades to SH1 at Bulli Point in February and March (external link)for further information about the works.
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