Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Crews working on Te Ara Tūtohu: State Highway 3 Waitara to Bell Block safety improvements will soon begin work on a second new roundabout – at Waitara Road.
To date, crews working on the SH3 project in Taranaki have been constructing the first of four new roundabouts, at Princess Street.
Next Monday (6 May), work will begin on the roundabout at the intersection with Waitara Road.
Traffic management
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is working with its contractor to ensure construction of the roundabout causes as little disruption as possible.
On the evening of 5 May, workers will set up the worksite for Stage 1 of construction. Between 8pm and 5.30am, stop/go traffic management will be in place on SH3 through the intersection with Waitara Road. A 30km/h temporary speed limit will also be in place. Tate Road (from the intersection with Raleigh Street though to SH3) will be closed to everyone except residents.
From Monday 6 May:
- A 50km/h temporary speed limit will be in place on SH3 through the intersections with Waitara Road and Raleigh Street, and on Raleigh Street from the intersection of SH3 through to the intersection with Tate Road.
- SH3 will remain open to two lanes of traffic.
- There will be no right turn into Raleigh Street.
- Tate Road, from the intersection with Raleigh Street though to SH3, will be closed to everyone except residents. This will allow workers to complete necessary work on the road in preparation for it connecting with the roundabout.
- All properties on SH3, Raleigh Street, and Tate Road will be accessible for residents during these works.
Traffic management will change as we work through each stage of construction. To stay up to date on how the construction may impact your journey, visit our website or the NZTA Journey Planner.
About the roundabout
The roundabout, as well as safety improvements to Raleigh Street and Tate Road, will be completed in five stages.
The first stage of construction, beginning next Monday, will see the installation of new drainage pipes and a stormwater swale, the relocation of underground services, and the installation of temporary road pavement next to the northbound lane of SH3. This will be needed to allow traffic to flow in both directions as construction progresses.
Construction on the Waitara Road roundabout is expected to be complete by late 2025.
NZTA Regional Manager of Infrastructure Delivery Rob Partridge says SH3 is an important connection between New Plymouth, Waitara and beyond.
“It connects the Taranaki and Waikato regions, providing an important link for Port Taranaki, the New Plymouth Airport and major industries to the rest of the upper North Island. Making sure this connection is as safe and efficient as possible is a top priority for NZTA and road users in the region.
“Ultimately the project will help to secure that connection.”
Geotechnical investigations between Mamaku and Waitara Roads
Next week, we will also complete geotechnical investigations on SH3 between Mamaku and Waitara roads.
The geotechnical assessment is needed to develop plans for installing flexible median barrier along this stretch of road once construction of the roundabout at the intersection of SH3 and Waitara Road is complete.
For the geotechnical assessment to be safely carried out, there will be Stop/Go traffic management at the intersection of SH3 and Nelson Street from 6-9 May between 8am and 5pm. A temporary speed limit of 30km/h will also be in place. Delays are expected to add up to 5 minutes to journey times.
Workers will also complete investigations in the road shoulder at various locations between Mamaku and Waitara Roads. When this work is happening a 30km/h speed limit will be in place next to the investigation site.
For further information about the SH3 Waitara to Bell Block safety improvements project and to sign up to email updates visit the project page.
