Work is underway to connect the eastern and western ends of the new Mangatawhiri Deviation project to State Highway 2.
Work is underway to connect the eastern and western ends of the new Mangatawhiri Deviation project to State Highway 2.
NZ Transport Agency regional manager Kaye Clark said that the tie in works to construct the on and off-ramps which will connect the new deviation to State Highway 2 should take about 3 weeks to complete.
During the tie in works a temporary 30km/h speed restriction will be implemented and the contractor will use stop/go traffic control as necessary.
Sealing of the western off-ramp is planned for Thursday (7 August). Once this is complete eastbound traffic will be travelling on the new off-ramp, and westbound traffic will be travelling on the existing highway. This will remain in place until the deviation is complete.
Works on the deviation are continuing to plan, with completion expected in October.
"When the contractor gets a good run of fine weather they will complete final sealing, at this time traffic will be shifted onto the new deviation for periods of time; this will help bed the seal down. It will probably be another month or so after the sealing is finished before the road is opened fully to traffic," Mrs. Clark said.
Mrs. Clark thanked the local community for their ongoing patience, and asked motorists to stick to the sign posted speed limits, taking special care when travelling through the construction sites.
"It's exciting to be entering this final stage of construction and on the downhill run to completion, but delays on State Highway 2 are inevitable in the coming weeks because these works will at times disrupt state highway traffic," she said.
