Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
This week’s planned night work at the new roundabout on State Highway 51 has been delayed a week.
Instead stop/go traffic management at night will be in place from Sunday 3 to Monday 11 March from 6pm to 5am, while contractors re-align the road to meet the new roundabout.
In addition, next week’s planned daytime closure of the Awatoto Road intersection with SH51 will now go ahead from 11 March to 20 March. The road will be open as per normal this week.
Instead the intersection will be closed between 8am and 4pm daily from Monday 11 March til Wednesday 20 March.
During this closure period, access will remain for north and southbound traffic on the state highway.
During the closure, crews will be constructing the extension of Awatoto Road, which will connect with the new roundabout, while also finishing asphalting.
Signposted detours, through Te Awa Avenue and Waitangi Road will be in place during the daytime closures, for all road users travelling between Napier, Hastings and Taradale. These detours will add approximately 5 minutes to people’s journeys.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Principal Project Manager Jacob Laird says softer than anticipated aggregate has been discovered in the area where the road will be realigned to meet the roundabout.
He says the delays are unfortunate but it’s important the work is done now to ensure that material is removed and replaced with much firmer soil to future proof the road.
Mr Laird says the project remains ahead of schedule.
North and southbound state highway traffic will be using the new roundabout and realigned roads from the morning of 11 March while the new Awatoto Road extension is expected to be opened just over a week later.
