SH4 Update

Road closures are always a possibility in winter - like we saw with Desert Road this week.

Driving safely in winter

Temperatures have well and truly dropped so it’s a good time to start thinking about safe winter driving. Ice, fog, rain and snow can make for treacherous road conditions.

With weather conditions like these, you should also anticipate some road closures – as we saw yesterday with Desert Road. When this happens, expect busier roads and potential delays as people detour via SH4.

Please continue to plan ahead to minimise delays and keep yourself and other road users safe this winter.

Winter driving tips

• Check weather and travel conditions on highways before you start your trip and on breaks throughout your journey - use www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz or call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49). 
• Make sure your car is safe and well equipped: a spare tyre, an up to date WOF, lights, brakes and windscreen-wipers all working, and clean windscreens inside and out. Check your tyre treads to ensure good grip.
• If you’re travelling long distances, share the driving if you can and have regular breaks.
• Wear your seat belt throughout the journey and check your passengers have theirs clicked in too.
• Driving on roads that are exposed to snow and ice can be treacherous, so slow down and drive to the conditions, not the allowable/legal speed limit, and increase your following distances.
• Be prepared when travelling for delays on the road, particularly in alpine conditions. Make sure you have warm clothes/food/water/charged mobile phone. In an emergency, phone 111. Bear in mind some parts of the highway have no cell coverage.
• Learn about winter driving, including how to get your vehicle ready and if you’re driving in an area where chains may be needed, and practise putting them on before you go so you’re not caught out. 

Tackling driver distraction

While it's safest not to use a phone at all while driving, the reality is that phone use by drivers is common in New Zealand and this is a hard behaviour to change. That’s why we’ve launched an initiative, in partnership with 2degrees, Vodafone and Spark, to help tackle the problem of driver distraction.

This study, which starts this month, aims to monitor how people are using their phones while in the car. The research will be opt-in and remain anonymous.

We hope that by enlisting the support and collaboration of our partners, we’ll be able to tap into the mindsets of New Zealanders across the country encouraging people to think twice about using their phones behind the wheel.

SH4 Site Update

1. Te Oreore Underslip

This section continues to operate with a 30km/h speed limit. Instrument monitoring and reporting for the site has continued.

Construction of three of the five dewatering wells has been completed.

2. Raukawa

Over the period of lockdown, the Ruapehu and Whanganui District Councils were unable to accept consent applications. While councils are now back operating, there are delays expected to this process due to a backlog of applications. However, planning, design and property purchase is continuing to progress.

3. Whiskey’s Corner

There was a minor weather-related delay to finishing work inside the barrier at this site, but we’re expecting to be completed this week.

We will finish sealing the road in spring to avoid ‘pavement failures’, which means cracking, or potholes, which would be more likely if we did this work in winter.

4. South Raupiu Retreat

Around 40% of the work on this site has been completed, with most of the remaining work likely to be completed by August. Work on the surfacing will be completed in spring which is a much better time of year to do this than mid-winter.

5. Otoko Pā Overslip

All work on this site has been completed.

6. Hapokopoko Curve Rock

A hui took place for this site last week, to mark that physical work will be starting soon. Please expect delays on this day as traffic will be reduced to one lane.

7. Kukuta Underslip

The site remains under one-way traffic lights.

The project’s design work has nearly been completed and consent is in place.

Temporary traffic light safety

With repair work happening on State Highway 4, you’ll continue to see work crews across the various sites.

Many of these have been reduced to a single lane, with temporary traffic lights controlling the flow of traffic. Roads are reduced to a single lane to help work crews perform repairs  in a safe environment. 

Please continue to stop for red lights at temporary traffic lights for your own safety, as well as that of other road users, and our work crews.

More information

For more information on the State Highway 4 slip repairs project, visit our website