Benefits of short road closures – a case study

Closing a 100m section of busy road between Bethlehem and Tauriko allowed bridge works to be completed faster – saving time and reducing disruption for people working on and travelling through the area.

The situation

As part of the Takitimu North Link roading project in the south-west Tauranga area, work was required to complete the new Cambridge Rd overbridge between Bethlehem and Tauriko.

This work would involve digging out the existing road and realigning the road level to the required height, constructing a new pavement and installing footpaths, road signage, road markings and landscaping.

Cambridge Road work

Tauriko Enabling Works flythrough

Two options to choose from

Due to the height difference between the existing road and the new alignment, and with limited space to work in the residential area, the project considered 2 options to complete tie-in work:

1. A phased construction programme which would disrupt traffic and road users for approx. 9-months, including stop/go, reduced speeds, and temporary traffic management (TTM). The longer period of TTM would also have a greater safety risk to road users and local schools, as well as an expected impact on the wider construction programme.
2. A full closure of Moffat Road for a 3-month period with a detour, and significantly reduced TTM. The savings in TTM was invested in a short bypass road to help make the shorter programme option work, so while the construction cost was neutral the shorter disruption and safety benefit to the community was significant.

After consultation with stakeholders, and based on past project experience, the shorter closure option was chosen. Modelling of traffic flows was carried out to establish possible delays and effects of the closure, with the maximum delay forecast by modelling during the evening peak traffic of 9 minutes.

Moffat Road is used by around 1000 vehicles per hour in peak periods, and around 20,000 a day combined north and south of the work site. The road closure provided a much safer environment for all workers on site.

The process

A comprehensive communications and engagement approach with local and regional road users was undertaken. Proactive engagement with Tauranga City Council and NZ Police to enforce speed limits and weight restrictions was well received by the community.

Although some people living in surrounding residential streets experienced increased traffic volumes and heavy vehicles on local roads during this time, others “enjoyed 3 months of absolute bliss” with less traffic and held a community sausage sizzle ahead of the road closure being lifted.

Road users adapted well to the detour and monitoring established that the maximum delay for traffic on the detour was only 3.5 minutes at the evening peak. To provide an easier route for heavy vehicles, tolls were waived on SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Road.

The closure was implemented 8 January 2024 and the road tie in was finished and opened on 15 April 2024. 

Success

Public feedback during the closure was generally supportive, acknowledging efforts made ‘on the ground’ to monitor traffic as well as support school children returning after summer holidays. Online sentiment was supportive and informed, this was evident through the community discussing the project on community pages and having positive reputation impact for NZTA and contractors Fulton Hogan and HEB Joint Venture.

Check out some of the local feedback below:

• “Congratulations on an extreme number of hours and hard work in creating the new bridge. Thank you, look forward to using it.”
• “Being a very close neighbour, it has been great watching the progress.”
• “Well done to all the team. Wonderful job from what we have seen during this phase and near as on schedule. Thank you for keeping us up to date so well during the project.”
• “Shows how a Kiwi contractor can complete a job efficiently and expeditiously.”