Te Ara Tūtohu: Waitara to Bell Block

30 April 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 construction site

Construction to start on Waitara Road roundabout

On 6 May work will start on the roundabout at the intersection of SH3 and Waitara Road.

The roundabout, as well as safety improvements to the section of Raleigh Street between SH3 and Tate Road, will make it easier for people to get on and off the highway. Once the roundabout is constructed, people will be able to access Tate Road directly from SH3.

Raleigh Street will be one way only between SH3 and Tate Road. This will ensure that people entering Raleigh Street use the roundabout, which is the safest entry point. To keep the roundabout safe, traffic leaving Raleigh Street will only be able to turn left onto SH3, there will be no access to Raleigh Street from SH3.

The layout of the intersection of Tate Road and Raleigh Street will also be changed from a four-way intersection to a T-intersection.

The Waitara Road roundabout is the second of four roundabouts being built as part of Te Ara Tūtohu.

Construction of the Waitara Road roundabout will be completed in stages:

Stage 1 (May – late 2024)
During Stage 1 workers will complete the following:

• Stormwater work (this includes the installation of new drainage pipes, stormwater swales along Raleigh Street and SH3, and a stormwater outfall).
• The relocation of underground services (such as power and internet) along SH3 and Tate Road.
• Pavement work on Tate Road between the intersection with Raleigh Street through to SH3 following the relocation of underground services and stormwater works.
• The installation of temporary pavement adjacent to the northbound lane of SH3 (this will be needed during Stage 3 to allow traffic to flow in both directions).

Stage 2 (Late 2024 – early 2025)
During Stage 2 a temporary roundabout will be installed at the intersection of Tate Road and SH3. This will allow traffic to travel safely through the intersection during Stages 3 and 4. Workers will also relocate underground services and complete pavement and stormwater work on Raleigh Street (between SH3 and Tate Road).

Stage 3 (Early 2025 – Mid 2025)
During Stage 3, the section of the roundabout on the southbound lane will be constructed. Temporary pavement will also be installed down Waitara Road to keep the road open to two-lanes of traffic during works.

Stage 4 (Mid 2025 – Late 2025)
During Stage 4, the roundabout on the northbound lane will be constructed.

Stage 5 (Late 2025)
During Stage 5, pavement rehabilitation work will be completed on a section of SH3 north of the roundabout that needs strengthening.

Traffic management

We are working with Fulton Hogan to ensure construction of the roundabout causes as little disruption as possible.

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. We will provide updates prior to any significant changes taking place.

Construction on the Waitara Road roundabout is expected to be complete by late 2025.

Last stages of work on the Princess Street roundabout and pedestrian underpass

Since starting on Stage 4 of the Princess Street roundabout works in February, workers on site have been busy completing work on Princess Street west. Over the last couple of months, they have completed stormwater work, excavated and rebuilt the road, completed the retaining wall on the pedestrian underpass, built the pump station that will pump water out of the underpass, and installed streetlights, footpaths, and traffic islands.

They are now completing the final pieces of work for the roundabout and pedestrian underpass. This includes completing the roundabout itself, installing streetlights on SH3, and laying down asphalt.

To allow this work to take place, the temporary roundabout at the SH3/Princess Street intersection has been removed and the road reduced to one lane from the evening until mid-June 2024.

Stop/go traffic management is controlling the flow of traffic through the intersection. With the temporary 30km/h speed limit still in place.

Princess Street between Armstrong Avenue and SH3 remains closed to traffic. Residents in the closure area continue to have access to their property, and pedestrian access across the Princess Street intersection remains open.

People travelling to or from Waitara from Princess Street can use Nelson Street or Bayly Street. Those wanting to access Princess Street west from Princess Street east (Tikorangi side) can use Bayly Street.

We are monitoring traffic and will make changes where required. Safety of the public and crews working on the road is our priority. We appreciate your understanding and patience while we complete this work.

We anticipate that all work on the roundabout and pedestrian underpass will be complete by mid-June 2024.

Geotechnical investigations between Mamaku and Waitara Roads

From 6-10 May, we will also complete geotechnical investigations on State Highway 3 (SH3) between Mamaku and Waitara roads.

The purpose of these investigations is to learn about the condition of the ground underneath the road. This information 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.

To allow workers to safely complete these investigations 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 be less than 5 minutes.

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

As previously announced,  flexible median barrier will be installed between Waitara Road and Nelson Street once the Waitara Road roundabout is complete. We are still working through plans for the stretch of road between Nelson Street and Mamaku Road.

Confirmed location for median barrier between Waitara Road and Nelson Street

See all the work achieved during the SH3 closure

Here’s a great overview showing the work achieved by workers during the summer closure of SH3 between Nelson and Bayly streets.

From 11 December until 2 February, workers tackled multiple sites across both lanes of the state highway. To make the most of the closure, complex stormwater systems were upgraded, sections of the road widened, and the foundations and precast concrete structure of the underpass were laid. A watermain was installed for the New Plymouth District Council, and life-saving flexible safety barrier was placed along key sections of the state highway.

A big thank you to the Waitara community for your patience while the detour was in place.

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