Gisborne drivers can look forward to smoother and safer journeys in the region, as excellent progress continues on a joint Gisborne District Council and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency asphalting programme which began in March this year.
Waka Kotahi and council are working together closely to sequence and carry out extensive nightworks across state highways and local roads in the region, including asphalting and bridge improvements, with as little disruption to road users as possible.
Waka Kotahi Regional Manager Maintenance and Operations Jaclyn Hankin says despite extreme weather challenges, the team has completed almost all of the local road work and will be moving to the state highway sections of the city’s roading network later this month.
“The asphalting team is a dedicated specialist workforce brought in from Wellington, so we’ve been able to do this work without diverting any people from the essential work to repair damage from the recent Tairāwhiti extreme weather event,” Ms Hankin says.
GDC Director of Lifelines David Wilson says the work done to date is already having a positive impact in the region.
“The works completed so far have made a significant difference to the quality of the roundabouts in the city, and we look forward to the final sections being completed.”
Work on the stretch of road from Harris Street/Four Square to Grey Street, which includes the Gladstone Road Bridge, will get underway from Monday 30 May.
The Gladstone Road Bridge is a major component of the programme of work, which will include asphalting and resurfacing of the bridge deck and replacement of the deck joints. Structural repairs to the underside of the bridge have already been completed.
The work is expected to take approximately three weeks to complete and will be undertaken overnight between 7pm and 5am. The Gladstone Road Bridge asphalting is expected to be completed by late-June.
There will be temporary road closures and detours in place for these night works. During the day, the road will reopen with temporary speed restrictions in place.
People are asked to follow the directions of traffic management staff and signs.
Waka Kotahi and GDC will work to minimise disruption to the heavy haulage industry during the bridge work.
Further local road asphalting is to be completed following the bridge work, with the full programme expected to be finished in July.
![Gisborne asphalting programme map [JPG, 511 KB]](/assets/media-releases/img/20220526-SH35-Gisborne-asphalting-programme-map.jpg){kind=link}