Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advises contractors will be undertaking essential maintenance activities across the western Bay of Plenty next week.
Bay of Plenty Transport System Manager Rob Campbell says these essential works allow Waka Kotahi’s contractors to ensure the road remains safe for all road users.
“Safely maintaining New Zealand’s state highway system is considered vital at this time in order to ensure that critical functions to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus can continue.”
Work to complete road reconstruction on a section of State Highway 2 near Paengaroa will get underway from today and is expected to continue through to the week beginning Monday 13 April, weather dependent.
The work will take place on the north side of the road between the Wilson Road South and Wilson Road North intersections from 7.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday. Work was completed on the south side of the road prior to the COVID-19 Level 4 lockdown.
This work will allow Waka Kotahi’s contractors to complete work on what is currently an active work site and seal the road ahead of winter to ensure the road remains safe for all road users
There will be a 24 hour a day 30km/h temporary speed limit in place for the duration of the works. This will remain in place for 5-10 days following completion of the works to enable our contractors to monitor how the seal beds in with lower traffic volumes than normal. During the works, traffic travelling on the north side of the road will be shifted onto the south side of the road and separated from traffic travelling in the opposite direction by cones.
For more information, please see the Traffic bulletin(external link) issued earlier this week (noting the change of start date from Wednesday 1 April to Friday 3 April).
Work to renew rumble strips at the above locations will get underway from Sunday (5 April) and will continue through Easter weekend.
Work on SH29 and SH29A will take place between 9am and 5pm, with work on SH2 taking place overnight between 8pm and 5am.
The works will be mobile operations, with traffic management trucks and may require minor lane shifts or closures.
Rumble strips are important long-term safety devices for the highway, as they are used to separate road lanes and help prevent vehicles accidentally leaving the road. They must be laid during dry, warm weather, as cold, wet weather affects adhesion and drying times.
Work to renew raised lane markings (cats eyes) on SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link between the Paengaroa roundabout and Domain Road interchange will get underway from tonight (Friday 3 April) and will are expected to be completed ahead of Easter weekend.
Work will take place overnight between 8pm and 5am and will be mobile operations, with traffic management trucks and may require minor lane shifts or closures.
Raised lane markings are important long-term safety devices for the highway, as they are used to separate road lanes, aid road users driving at night and help prevent vehicles accidentally leaving the road. They must be laid during dry, warm weather, as cold, wet weather affects adhesion and drying times.
With the exception of the raised lane marking renewal on SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link, which is expected to be completed ahead of Easter weekend, all other works will continue through Easter.
Mr Campbell asks people to be patient and respectful to roadworkers and look out for their safety and wellbeing.
“If you see contractors out on the roads during the shutdown period please remember that they are carrying out essential work to keep us all safe.
“If you are using the roads during this period remember to comply with any temporary speed reductions through roadworks to keep workers safe. They are doing vital work and we all owe them a debt of gratitude.
“Only head out for essential supplies or services, otherwise, please stay safe, and stay home.
“If you must drive to access essential supplies or services please take care, drive to the conditions and obey the speed limits.”
Mr Campbell also notes that while Waka Kotahi does its best to provide up-to-date information, given the current operating environment under the COVID-19 alert system Level 4 some road works may change at short notice, and people were encouraged to visit Waka Kotahi’s Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)) for real time information about their journeys.
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