SH16 Berry's Bridge

Safety improvement work starts on SH16 Huapai to Waimauku

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has been working closely with our contractors Fulton Hogan planning for work on SH16 safety improvements to begin when we moved to COVID-19 Alert Level 2. This work is part of the Safe Network Programme, a collaborative initiative that aims to save up to 160 deaths and serious injuries every year by making New Zealand’s highest-risk state highways and local roads safer.

With the move to Alert Level 4 on 26 March, we stopped all other non-essential maintenance and capital project work. We were able to continue some essential state highway maintenance during the Alert Level 4 and 3 lockdown periods in order to keep the network safe for the movement of essential goods and to support lifeline functions.

Working in Alert Level 2, the safety of everyone continues to be our priority.  To ensure the construction site remains safe we have a range of measures in place including restricted access to the construction site, physical distancing requirements for workers, safe traffic management and appropriate environmental controls.

We ask you to please respect physical distancing of our staff, and to not approach our teams or enter our work sites.

Thank you, Kia kaha

SH16 Waimauku

Karakia marks the start of work

The project team has worked in partnership with two local iwi, Ngāti Whatua o Kaipara and Te Kawerau a Maki, from the outset of the project. SH16 is an important connection between the north and the city for Ngāti Whatua o Kaipara, and with a high crash rate on this highway, local iwi are keen to see this road made safer for all.
 
At dawn yesterday Ngāti Whatua o Kaipara iwi members, led by local kaumatua Glenn Wilcox and Whaea Te Kahui iti Morehu, performed a karakia to bless the workers and the site prior to work beginning on SH16. Starting the work with a karakia is important for ensuring that the workers are kept safe, and that they can return to their whānau at the end of each day.

SH16 Berry's Bridge

Work starting on Berry’s Bridge

Now that COVID-19 restrictions have eased we will get started with some initial construction where we can. This week, work will begin on the relocation of the gas main at Berry’s bridge which we expect to complete in late July. This is the first part of works in preparation for this bridge being widened.

Work will take place Monday to Saturday and our crew will be on site from 7am to 5pm.  To keep our workers safe while on site there will be a temporary 50km/h speed zone.

When materials are being delivered or our workers are operating on the bridge, we may reduce traffic to one lane. In this case we will operate a stop-go sign on both Foster Road and SH16, and temporarily reduce the speed limit to 30km/h.

To keep traffic flowing in peak times, we will only reduce traffic to one lane between 10.30am and 3pm, if required.

At the end of each day, we will remove most traffic management, and return the speed limit to 100km/h.

Please allow additional time for your journeys and slow down around our workers to keep them safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What work kept going during lockdown?

The team continued their planning work during the lockdown including working with utility provider Vector around the gas main that needs to be relocated, applying for the required permits for traffic management and working on the plan for the relocation of the gas main.

When will work resume?

A small number of staff will be on site performing set-up activities from this week.

Approximately how many people will be on site?

In order to minimise unnecessary contact and maximise physical distancing, we will be running small task-specific crews on site.  As time passes and we move to lower COVID -19 alert levels, more of the team will be able to return to work on the project.

Has the lockdown led to any changes to the work plan? What will we notice that’s different?

Safety will continue to be the overarching priority on all Waka Kotahi work sites. 

The SH16 project site will reflect all mandatory changes required under Alert Level 2 with rigorous rules for entering and leaving the workspace (contact tracing), personal hygiene, record keeping, physical distancing, waste disposal, and equipment use and cleaning. Only activities that can be carried out safely will be allowed.

All office staff and those not physically required to be on site will continue to work from home under the current Alert Level 2.

More information

For more information on the SH16 Brigham Creek to Waimauku project, or if you have any questions, please get in touch with Kathy Chinn, Communications and Engagement Manager, on 021 064 4777 or email Kathy.Chinn@nzta.govt.nz

Project Frequently Asked Questions

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/BC2W