SH2 Wainui Road to Ōpōtiki latest news and Covid-19 works update

Kia Ora,

Firstly, we would like to acknowledge the past two weeks and the change to Covid-19 Alert Level 4. We understand it can be a tough time for many New Zealanders.
This newsletter will provide an update on the safety improvements project and outline our Covid-19 protocols as we move to Alert Level 3.

Project Update
We’re pleased to let you know our contractor, Splice Construction, has almost completed work on four of the seven sites we are upgrading as part of the first section of the SH2 Wainui Road to Ōpōtiki safety improvements project.

Splice has been busy prior to moving to Covid-19 Alert Level 4, finishing off the earthworks, road widening and laying new seal on sites three to six, through Waiōtahe. You can see where these are on the map below.

The next step will be to install roadside safety barriers. These will be put in as soon as Splice is able to get back on site. For more information about road side barriers, you can read about them here.

Figure 2: Site 4 awaiting the installation of the final road barrier

Lockdown and what it means for this project

Our work sites have been closed during Covid-19 Alert Level 4, with only essential work allowed to continue on project construction sites.

Contractors will resume some construction works during the Covid-19 Alert Level 3 period. Please remember to comply with any temporary speed reductions through roadworks to keep our workers safe.

If you see anything around our sites that needs to be addressed during this time you can call us on 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49).

You may have questions about what this closure will mean for the project completion date. We are still working to establish this information and we will keep you updated.

Waka Kotahi remains committed to keeping New Zealanders moving and we will resume construction work as soon as we’re safely able to.

What about speed?

In our last update, we told you about the technical assessment that was being done on the speed limits on State Highway 2 between Paengaroa and Ōpōtiki.

The purpose of this is to ensure the current speed limits along this road are set where they need to be to keep us all safe.

A reminder, if the technical assessment determines the current speed limits are not safe and appropriate, there will be further steps we will need to complete before changing any speed limits, including engagement and consultation with the community.

We will keep you updated as we progress with this review.

More information

For more information on the SH2 Wainui Road to Ōpōtiki project, or if you have any questions, contact Project Manager Malcolme Flattery at bopprojects@nzta.govt.nz