Te Ara Tūtohu: Waitara to Bell Block

25 November 2022

Princess Street intersection

Kia ora,

Stormwater works on State Highway 3 will be completed next week, clearing the way for construction of the Princess Street roundabout and pedestrian underpass to begin in early 2023.

There were 17 crashes at this intersection between 2017 and 2021 – more than any of the other intersections along the route. The new roundabout and underpass will make this intersection much safer for the Waitara community and everyone using the road.

With the 950 metre pipe now installed along SH3, work to seal and reinstate the road to two lanes will start on Monday 28 November.

For the first two days of works crews will apply the seal to the road. The northbound lane will remain closed during this time, with the southbound lane operating under traffic lights.

Following this, the northbound lane will open with traffic management in place for two to three days to help further compact the seal. Road users should expect delays of up to 10 minutes on the northbound route during this time.

Once sealing is complete, crews will complete line marking and then remove all traffic management.

Waka Kotahi thanks everyone for their patience while we complete this work.

Construction of stormwater outfall and treatment swale

In mid-2023, a stormwater outfall will be constructed where water is discharged into the Waitara Awa (River).

We are working with our project partners Manukorihi, Ngāti Rāhiri, Otaraua, Pukerangiora, Puketapu Hapū and Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa and New Plymouth District Council on the design and location for the stormwater outfall to ensure stormwater enters the awa slowly to avoid negatively impacting the waterway.

A stormwater treatment swale will be constructed on the eastern border of the soccer fields at a later date. This swale will capture and treat stormwater runoff from the new roundabout before it is safely discharged into the Waitara Awa (River).

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