Te Ara Tūtohu: Waitara to Bell Block

3 August 2023

Kia ora,

From Monday 7 August to Friday 11 August, a 50km/h temporary speed limit will be in place on small sections of State Highway 3 in Waitara, before and after the Princess Street roundabout construction site.

The temporary speed limit will be in place while geotechnical investigations are carried out in the road shoulder. The investigations will involve taking soil samples to assist in plans for widening the road as part of Te Ara Tūtohu: SH3 Waitara to Bell Block safety improvements. 

The 50km/h temporary speed limit will be in place on one side of the construction site and then switch to the other side as the investigations progress.

North of the Princess Street roundabout construction site, the 50km/h temporary speed limit will start approximately 200 metres south of the Bayly Street intersection and stop at the northern end of the construction site (which has a 30km/h speed limit in place).

South of the construction site, the 50km/h temporary speed limit will start from the southern end of the construction site and end approximately 200 metres north of the Waitara River Bridge.

The temporary speed limit will be in place between 9am – 5pm each day. In the event of bad weather, the investigations will be pushed out to the next fine day.

Waka Kotahi thanks communities for their patience while these important investigations are completed.

Great progress being made on Princess Street roundabout and underpass

The team are making great progress on the construction of the roundabout and pedestrian underpass at the intersection of State Highway 3 and Princess Street. The roundabout will make the road safer for everyone.

So far, a massive 1500m³ of earth has been removed to make room for the underpass. Once constructed, the underpass will provide safe access across the highway for the community.

The Manukorihi Park stormwater treatment wetland swale is also now complete. Working with our project partners Manukorihi and Otaraua hapū, approximately 2500 plants have been planted in the swale. Protecting the taiao (environment) is a key focus of the project. The swale will treat stormwater runoff from the roundabout before releasing it into the Waitara Awa.

Construction on the roundabout and pedestrian and cyclist underpass is expected to be completed by mid-2024.

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