Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Work to rebuild State Highway 2 through Waipawa in Central Hawke’s Bay has been completed earlier than scheduled following a raft of maintenance.
The work began in January and had been scheduled to finish at the end of this month.
Crews have spent the past 2 months installing new kerbs and channels, and renewing the stretch of road between Tamumu Road and Victoria Street, just north of the Waipawa township.
Renewing this stretch of road involved recycling the existing road materials with cement added to the road, to extend the life of the road and improve the journey through this section.
“We’re grateful to road users and to the community in Waipawa, including local businesses. The past 2 months has caused disruption to businesses during the kerb and channel installation and to residents at nights. However, by working at nights and some weekends, our crews have been able to complete more work, more quickly than if they were working during the day,” says Martin Colditz, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi System Manager for Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne.
“The community’s support has been invaluable allowing us the chance to get on and complete it as quickly as possible.
“This stretch of SH2 through CHB is a key route linking Hawke’s Bay to Manawatū and beyond.
“We know Waipawa has had its fair share of road work in the past year or so and the maintenance carried out this summer will ensure the state highway remains a resilient and reliable route for local communities and for commuters who use the road,” says Mr Colditz.
Central Hawke’s Bay Mayor Alex Walker was delighted with the result, and received positive feedback from businesses about the mahi as it was being done.
“NZTA and its contractor ensured there was a practical approach, good communication with all stakeholders and done at a good pace, ensuring it all went smoothly. Ka pai.”
Crews will be returning next month to do some further heavy maintenance, which will include resealing another section of the road just north of Tamumu Road. Both sites will then have a second coat seal applied – we expect that to take place next summer.
When we rebuild a section of the road and apply a chipseal finish, it’s normal to come back later to carry out a second coat seal. This locks in the seal to make it waterproof, keeps it stronger and safer for longer, and helps reduce the likelihood of flushing occurring. That work will be communicated closer to the time.
This work forms part of the government’s $2.07 billion investment into road and drainage renewal and maintenance across 2024-27 via the State Highway Pothole Prevention fund.
