SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa

Safety Improvements Project Update

1 June 2023

Progress to date includes the newly completed Morton Road roundabout.

Waihī to Ōmokoroa safety improvements

Over the last few months, our roading contractors have been busy with a range of work including widening the corridor, to accommodate a wide centreline, and constructing roundabouts south of Katikati in preparation for flexible median barrier installation. We have also hosted two public open days.

As we head into the winter months, work will slow down, with fewer opportunties to complete works that require periods of dry weather and dry ground. This may mean some sites have traffic management in place for long periods of time to make the sites safer to travel through while we wait for an opportunity to finish construction.

We ask, if you are travelling in wet and wintery conditions to take extra care, slow down through work sites and remember to allow extra time for your journey.

Open days opportunity for community engagement

In early May, we hosted two public drop in events in Katikati which saw around 100 people come by to learn more about the safety improvements along State Highway 2.

It was an opportunity for our team share the progress on flexible median barrier designs, and highlight some of the achievements we have had along the corridor over the past year, including the restoration of Waiau wetlands near Athenree and the completion of SH2/Rea/Tetley and Morton roads roundabouts.

It was great to see people taking time to come along, meet the team and ask questions.

Over the two sessions, we heard how important the road is to you and the improvements being made are making poeple feel safer when travelling along SH2.

Other comments raised included the need to widen bridges and the flooding of Te Mania bridge, and concerns around noise from truck engine braking entering the roundabouts. Consideration is being given to concerns raised and followed up as required.

These conversations are important so thanks again to everyone who came along.

The barrier saved me that morning

Last year, James was travelling along the Christchurch motorway at a speed of 100km/h. On his journey, he began travelling towards the centreline, where he struck the flexible road safety barrier.

The barrier acted as it should, preventing James from crossing the centreline—avoiding a head-on crash with traffic on the other side of the road, allowing him and the others on the road that day, to get to where they were going safely.

James wrote to Waka Kotahi about his experience, demonstrating the life savers these barriers are.

Here’s how he describes the crash:

‘Hitting the barrier at 100km/h was very different to what I perceived it would be like. The first thing I noticed was that the car did not bounce off the barrier. The car appeared to hug the wire cables and stabilize the movement of the car. The vertical posts broke into small pieces and quickly fell to the road.

While being hugged by the barrier, this gave me enough time to take control of the event and attempt to direct the car to the side of the road once I had washed off enough speed to do so safely.
There appeared to be little to no impact on my body when I collided with the barrier. Had the barrier not been present I would have been involved in a head on collision with a line of cars heading towards the city.

There is no doubt in my mind that the barrier saved me from injury that morning. Had the barrier not been in place, I, and several other people that morning, would have experienced an event that would have changed their lives. I am thankful for the barriers that have been place on the motorways and roads around New Zealand.’

What is all the fuss around Esdaile Road?

Our contractors have been onsite near Esdaile Road since late 2022 and you are probably wondering what they are doing.

There are steep drop-offs on both sides of this stretch of road, making it very difficult for us to widen the section safety. So we are building retaining walls, so we can widen this stretch of road safely.
When driving, these walls are almost impossible to see, but they stand around two metres high and are around 80 metres long.

To excavate and pour concrete for the retaining wall, the soil below needs to be dry, otherwise it is unstable and increases potential safety risks including slips.

Despite the wet summer, and now the colder temperatures which have made it difficult to pour and set the concrete, we are aiming to have the walls completed by early June.

We thank everyone for their patience.

For more information on the SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa safety improvements, contact us at bopprojects@nzta.govt.nz.

You can also visit our website.