Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency will complete an extensive programme of road repairs, renewals and resurfacing on state highways throughout Taranaki this summer.
Taranaki System Manager Ross I’Anson says the $18 million maintenance programme in Taranaki is intended to maintain and improve state highways across the region to make them safer and more resilient.
“In Taranaki, we generally schedule these works for March-April, when we expect more settled weather.
“However, much of the work scheduled for earlier this year was unable to be completed due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Since the lockdown, wet weather has seen some sections of Taranaki state highways significantly deteriorate.
“This summer we’re undertaking a much larger maintenance programme to compensate for the lost time and to address as many issues on the network as possible,” says Mr I’Anson.
State Highway 3 Kakaramea south of Hawera has recently been rebuilt and SH3 Mangamaio, north of Urenui is programmed to be completed before Christmas.
Significant sites for the new year include SH3 at the Rugby Road underpass between Tariki and Norfolk Road near Stratford, SH3 at Inglewood, and north of Urenui. We will also be carrying out maintenance at other locations along SH3 so there will be some disruption to traffic.
Work to repair the failed road surface at the intersection of SH3 and Rotokare Road, south of Eltham was scheduled to be undertaken before Christmas but has been postponed until early in the new year due to wet weather. Crews will undertake temporarily repairs before Christmas, until the road can be permanently repaired in January.
Road repairs will also be undertaken on SH3 New Plymouth to Stratford, SH43 at Whangamomona and SH3 Waitara to Urenui in December before resealing in the new year.
“Waka Kotahi is committed to ensuring the safety and reliability of our roads,” says Mr I’Anson.
“Taranaki is a challenging environment for road maintenance. The volcanic ground conditions, coupled with significant groundwater and rainfall, mean the road surface isn’t as resilient as in other regions.”
Motorists are advised to take care on the roads during the busy summer months.
“The roads are likely to be very busy over summer, with more people travelling to holiday destinations and more work sites and road workers.
“Traffic management, such as temporary speed limits, signs and cones, is used to alert road users to a change in the road or to works ahead, and it helps to ensure the safety of our road workers.
“Please be patient. When motorists disregard the traffic management, they put their safety, and that of other road users and our road workers at risk.”
With the exception of emergency works, all road works will be paused from 23 December to 5 January, keeping the roads clear for people to travel safely over what is expected to be a busy Christmas holiday period.
People who would like to report a maintenance issue on a state highway can do so by calling 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49).
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