Te Ara Tūtohu: Waitara to Bell Block

24 July 2024

Kia ora!

Read on for the latest updates on Te Ara Tūtohu: SH3 Waitara to Bell Block safety improvements project.

Princess Street roundabout and pedestrian underpass now open

A significant milestone has been achieved on Te Ara Tūtohu: State Highway 3 (SH3) Waitara to Bell Block safety improvements project with the roundabout and pedestrian underpass at the intersection of SH3 and Princess Street now complete.

This roundabout is the first of four being built as part of these improvements, making the road safer and supporting growth in the area. We’ve also built the underpass to provide a safe place for people to cross the road, including students walking to and from nearby schools.

The Princess Street roundabout has been built first because this intersection has the highest crash rate. There were 17 crashes at this intersection between 2017 and 2021 – more than any of the other intersections along the route.

The underpass features artwork as part of the wider cultural narrative for the road between Waitara and Bell Block. Manukorihi, Ngāti Rahiri, Otaraua, Pukerangiora and Puketapu hapū (ngā hapū) have worked with Tihei Design and Workshop Studio to develop the cultural expression.

On Tuesday this week the completion of the roundabout and underpass were celebrated.

More than just a roundabout

Construction of the roundabout and underpass involved completing a significant amount of work all while navigating changing weather and leaving the road open for most of construction so people could get where they needed to go.

Before work on the roundabout itself could begin, stormwater work took place to ensure that water would drain away quickly from the road and to prepare for future housing development. This involved digging 5 metres into the ground to install new pipes – all while navigating a network of gas, power, and internet cables and a high ground water table which required water to be constantly pumped out of the work site.

Key to the new stormwater system is a new stormwater wetland swale that has been constructed at Manukorihi Park. The wetland swale has been planted with special plants that help remove contaminants. Once treated, the water flows into the stream in Manukorihi Park, which eventually flows into the Waitara River. A stormwater outfall has also been constructed at the Waitara Awa which will safely discharge excess water in the event of heavy rain – preventing the wetland swale from flooding.

The construction of the pedestrian underpass was a mammoth task. Over 1500m3 of earth was removed to make way for the underpass, that’s enough earth to fill almost 5,000 bathtubs, all while the highway stayed open to traffic.

The pedestrian underpass itself is made up of 19 concrete frames each weighing 15 tonnes. Because the frames are so heavy a special crane strong enough to lift each one was brought in to put them in place.

Either side of the underpass we have planted a variety of native plants next to the shared use path. Alongside the roundabout, the plants  remind people that they are driving in an urban area with pedestrians around – helping to increase safety.

With the stormwater system complete and the underpass in place, the road could be rebuilt, and the roundabout installed. This involved widening the road in places, laying concrete foundations to ensure the road at the intersection is long lasting, laying down metal and asphalt and of course building the roundabout itself – all while allowing traffic to travel through the intersection.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation through construction of this important improvement that benefits your community.

More information

For more information on Te Ara Tūtohu: Waitara to Bell Block, contact us at w2bb@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/w2bb