Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Nelson drivers coming into or exiting the Nelson city area need to take a little extra care from next week as two major infrastructure renewal projects begin on Haven Road, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
“Ahead of Waka Kotahi resealing Haven Road in the first half of 2022, Nelson City Council is upgrading the stormwater and sewer system on this part of SH6,” says Waka Kotahi Journey Manager Tresca Forrester.
“This piping work is expected to be completed in February/ March. The stormwater project gets underway next week, from 18 October. Temporary traffic management is needed to do this work safely on this busy main road and we ask all drivers to be careful around crews, cyclists and other road users.”
The sewer replacement project starts in November and goes through into February. Once the pipes are in place, the road resealing work will follow.
Two major project teams will be working alongside each other on State Highway 6: stormwater relocation and replacement on Haven Road between the QE2 Drive roundabout and Vickerman Street/ Fountain Place, and wastewater pipe renewal within the Haven Road/Russell Street area.
“Two lanes of traffic will be maintained on Haven Road until the end of the year, under a temporary speed limit,” says Ms Forrester. “In the New Year, there will be short-term diversions in place from 10 January while the stormwater project work progresses across QE2 Drive.” (See Nelson City Council links below for detour routes and letters to residents.)
Effect upon parking, people on bikes, pedestrians
This work will reduce parking on Haven Road and the cycle lane will be closed also in places. Drivers need to be aware they may need to share their lane with cyclists through short, low speed sections and ensure the people on the bikes can take the centre of the lane safely. The shared footpath will be open most of the time, but will be detoured from time to time when the piping project has to cross it.
Ms Forrester says while road users should build in extra time around their Nelson city trips, crews would be doing their best to minimise delays, particularly in the lead-in to Christmas. “There are lots of pedestrians around at this time of the year, so we really need everyone to take their time and allow extra travel time to keep everyone safe.”
Once these infrastructure works are completed, Waka Kotahi crews will seal the road in March.
Long weekends and Xmas/ New Year holidays
Works will be minimised with as much traffic management removed as possible over the upcoming weekends of Labour Weekend (Saturday, 23 October to Monday, 25 October), Christmas/New Year break, Waitangi weekend (Saturday, 5 February to Monday, 7 February) and Nelson Anniversary weekend (31 January).
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