Te Matau-a-Māui – Hawke’s Bay 2023 update

Safer, more reliable and resilient access for remote communities, farming, forestry, freight and tourism are important for economic growth and prosperity in Hawke’s Bay.

Investment in the region’s land transport system through the 2021–24 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) is supporting improved access to and safety on the network to help get goods to market, as well as maintaining growth in tourism. We are making improvements to critical network links for everyone travelling within and through the region.

Keeping the land transport system maintained is a large part of the NLTP investment in Hawke’s Bay. During the 2021-24 NLTP period, $426 million is forecast for maintenance and operations work across the region. The extremely wet spring, two cyclones and resourcing constraints significantly impacted the forecast maintenance programme for 2022/23. Work that couldn’t be completed has been deferred to the 2023/24 season.

Cyclone Gabrielle has left extensive damage across Hawke’s Bay that will take time to repair and rebuild. Any funding for this work is separate to what is forecast in the 2021-24 NLTP. The key links into and around Hawke’s Bay have been reopened, and we’re using short-term measures to keep the region moving. Recovery works are ongoing.

We’re also working on a Hawke’s Bay Resilience Strategic Response which identifies a recommended broad rebuild work programme for the region. SH51, SH50, SH5 and SH2 (from SH2/SH5 intersection to Takapau in Central Hawke’s Bay) are included in this programme. This work builds on existing strategic work already done in the region, including the SH5 Programme Business Case, applying a stronger focus on resilience. A separate recommended programme covers SH2, SH35 and SH38 in Tairāwhiti, Wairoa and northern Hawke’s Bay. All future works are subject to funding.

In addition to the Resilience Strategic Response work, Waka Kotahi is collaborating with local council partners and engaging with key stakeholders on a Hawke’s Bay State Highway and Local Road Future Function and Form Review. This will highlight what the major challenges are in the region and what parts of the network need further study, investigation and investment.

Investment through the Provincial Growth Fund and regional package of the NZ Upgrade Programme (NZUP) is targeted at improving inter-regional freight routes in Hawke’s Bay and upgrading roads and bridges to improve safety.

Public transport

In urban areas, our investment looks to encourage a shift from a reliance on private vehicle use to public transport, walking and cycling. Co-investment with our partners will also provide safer and improved access to schools, employment and goods and services that have great social and economic benefits. This will help create an urban environment where people want to live, work, study and play.

MyWay is an on-demand public transport service trial in Hastings, designed to suit people’s schedules and combining the benefits of public transport with the convenience and flexibility of travelling by car, taxi or shared ride services. The impact of Cyclone Gabrielle has slowed progress on the trial although it is ongoing.

State Highway 5 improvements

A Programme Business Case for SH5 between Napier and Taupō is in development. Its purpose is to set out a mid to long-term vision for SH5 and to inform future improvements to address safety and resilience along this corridor.

In addition to this, a programme of safety improvements on SH5 is getting underway in September/October 2023. It includes a review of road signs and markings along the whole corridor and site-specific road safety improvements such as roadside signage, guardrails, lining improvements and rumble strips.

Road safety

Following the implementation of new safer speeds in Hawke’s Bay in recent years, the way we manage speeds has recently changed. We now need to develop speed management plans with a whole-of-network approach every three years, aligning with the NLTP cycle. As this legislation has come into effect during the current 2021-24 NLTP period, Waka Kotahi has developed an Interim State Highway Speed Management Plan (ISMP) which includes remaining speed-related activities within this NLTP.

The ISMP’s proposed changes for Hawke’s Bay primarily aim to benefit children and their caregivers so they can feel safer walking or biking to kura.  Changes to speed limits on other sections of state highways in the region will be considered when we develop the full State Highway Speed Management Plan.

Completed in the last 12 months

• A Programme Business Case for SH5 between Napier and Taupō was started in November 2022.
• During the 2022/23 summer maintenance season, we completed 38 percent of planned reseals, 69 percent of road rehabilitations, 33 percent of drainage sites and 95 percent of thin asphalt sites were completed. Sites that weren’t completed have been deferred to the next construction season.
• A new permanent speed limit was proposed for SH50 Links Road from Pakowhai roundabout to Waiohiki Road intersection, an intersection speed zone for SH2/SH50 intersection, and variable speed limits proposed on SH2 and SH51 outside six schools. This will be progressed once the Interim State Highway Speed Management Plan (ISMP) has gone through certification.
• The SH2 College Road to Silverstream project, increasing regional development, safety, resilience, and accessibility, was completed. It included 1.7kms of road realignment and new passing opportunities.
• Steady progress was made on the $32.5m SH2/SH35 passing opportunities project, with three slow vehicle bays built at Matahorua, Kotemaori and Wharerata.

Underway or about to start

• Changes are being made on SH50 to the Prebensen Drive, Taradale Road, and Hyderabad Road roundabouts to improve safety. A new shared path will make it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to travel from Ahuriri and connect to the Hawke’s Bay cycle path network. The first stage of this project was completed in September 2022. Stage two was to start in August 2023, followed by stage three from November 2023.
• The SH51 Napier to Cliveproject started in May, including the installation of side and median barriers between Waitangi Road and Awatoto Road. The next stage will see side and median barriers installed between Ellison Street/Marine Parade intersection and Waitangi Road. A permanent offline roundabout will be built to improve safety at the Awatoto Road/SH51 intersection. Construction is scheduled to start in September 2023.
• We’re extending the Tall Oil Pitch trial on three sections of SH38 between Aniwaniwa (Hawke’s Bay) and Murupara (Bay of Plenty) including guardrail installation and short-term resilience work, to improve the journey between Waikaremoana and Murupara. Tall Oil Pitch is a by-product of the wood-pulping process. The project is delivered in partnership with Tūhoe. Construction is expected to start in spring 2023.

Funding overview

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