Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has re-opened the northern section of the State Highway 1 Desert Road between Tūrangi to Rangipō to traffic from noon today (Friday 21 February).
The partial opening allows people in light vehicles to use SH1 to the SH1/SH46 intersection and access SH46 to connect to SH47.
NZTA Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations Roger Brady says today’s partial re-opening is ahead of schedule, and the remaining maintenance work underway on the Desert Road is progressing well, on track to be completed by mid-March.
The Desert Road, between Tūrangi and Waiouru, has been closed since mid-January in order to allow NZTA contractors to reconstruct 16 lane km (3 sites) of the road, improve drainage, clearing 15km of shoulders, and replace the deck of the Mangatoetoenui Bridge.
Work on the Tirau to Waiouru maintenance project is continuing to progress at pace, with further closures scheduled from Monday 3 March. Work will get underway on SH1 between Putāruru and Lichfield as well as between Ātiamuri and Wairakei, using full road closures to get the work done as quickly as possible.
From 5am on 3 March, SH1 will be closed from SH1/Princes Street, Putāruru to the Vosper Road/SH1 Lichfield intersection and there will be detours in place 24/7. The work will take approximately four weeks to complete (weather dependent). The local detour for light vehicles will be:
- Northbound via Vospers Road, Kells Lane, Lichfield Road, Golf Street, Arapuni Street, Princes Street
- Southbound via Princes Street, Arapuni Street, Grey Street, Lichfield Road, Vospers Road
From 5am, 3 March, the section of SH1 from the SH1/SH30 intersection (Ātiamuri) to the SH1/SH5 intersection (Wairakei Roundabout) will be closed and traffic will be detoured 24/7 for approximately five weeks. The detour for light vehicles will be:
- SH30, SH32 and Poihipi Road to Wairakei Drive and vice versa. The detour northbound and southbound via Whakamaru will add 30 minutes to your journey.
- All heavy vehicles traveling locally are encouraged to use SH5 via Rotorua which will add 43 minutes to the journey.
Those on longer journeys may prefer to take the heavy vehicle detour through Rotorua on SH5 to avoid both worksites. Those heading from Auckland or Hamilton south, and vice versa, may consider using SH3, SH4 and SH49. This route will add very little time to journeys.
NZTA Regional Manager Roger Brady says the work will significantly improve a critical section of SH1.
“We’re not just carrying out much needed road maintenance, we’re also completing total road rebuilding in some areas. That’s why we’re using full road closures to get the work done in the shortest time possible. If we did this work under traditional stop/go traffic management it could take up to four years to complete.
“We know the road closures are inconvenient and challenging for businesses, residents and all road users. We’re thankful for everyone’s patience and understanding as we work to get the job done as quickly as possible.”
Putāruru to Lichfield (detour map)
Ātiamuri to Wairakei (detour map)
