Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

Connecting Tairāwhiti

Project update

2 November 2022


 

Tēnā koe,

The Connecting Tairāwhiti programme is making it easier and safer to travel around and between Northern Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is working together with regional and community partners to significantly improve safety and driver experience on our state highways, create employment opportunities, and provide a more resilient roading network for local communities.

You can see more about all the Connecting Tairāwhiti projects on our interactive map here.

To ensure our communities are kept informed on repair works along State Highway 35 following the weather events this year, we will be issuing frequent updates, including traffic bulletins, using this email address.

If you would like a translated Te Reo version of this e-newsletter, please email connectingtairawhiti@nzta.govt.nz

 

 

Image: Locals at the Tokomaru Bay drop-in session

SH35 communities turn out for more information on the summer construction season

SH35 locals took the opportunity to have a cuppa and a chat with Waka Kotahi in Ruatoria and Tokomaru Bay last week. The Tairāwhiti Waka Kotahi team sat down with attendees to outline the works planned for the state highway over the 2022-2023 summer period.

There was particular interest in the emergency works as well as timeframes around repairs and key projects located on SH35. If you weren’t able to make it to a drop-in session but would like to know more about what’s coming up, you can find the information posters here.

 


 

Largest-ever road renewal for Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay

State highways will be buzzing with activity this spring and summer, with Waka Kotahi gearing up for the country’s largest-ever road renewal season.

Between early October 2022 and April 2023, approximately 100 lane kilometres of state highway will be resealed or rebuilt across Tairāwhiti – more than 15% of the region’s state highway network. In Hawke’s Bay, it’s more than 134 lane kilometres or more than 13% of the region’s network. 

Waka Kotahi is working with councils and community groups to minimise the impact on drivers where possible, but some level of disruption is to be expected. We recommend that you check the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner before starting your journey.

 

 

Ruatoria to Potaka resealing

Crews have almost completed the resealing of 20 sites along SH35 between Ruatoria and Potaka, with the last of the sites expected to be finished this week if we see good weather.

The work required a number of road closures and we thank drivers for their patience and understanding. The final works will be completed under stop/go traffic management.

 

 

SH35 Uawa Bridge closure, roadworks ahead

Significant work to rebuild a section of SH35 at Tolaga Bay will get underway from early November.

As part of this work, the Uawa bridge will be closed on Sunday 6 November from 8.00am to 4.00pm for bridge abutment repairs.

During the closure, there will be a detour available via Tauwhareparae Road and Paroa Road. Pedestrian and cycle access over the bridge will be permitted, and those who walk or cycle are asked to follow the direction of traffic management staff on site.

Following repairs to the bridge, contractors will be undertaking roadworks between the bridge and Hinekura Road. The road will be down to one lane with a temporary speed limit of 30km/hour between 6.00am and 6.00pm, from Tuesday 8 November to Thursday 17 November. There will be a detour in place for heavy vehicles only on 8 November, via Tauwhareparae Road and Paroa Road.

In the case of poor weather or other unforeseen circumstances, the bridge abutment work will be postponed until Tuesday 8 November. Visit the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website for up-to-date information on the works.

 

 

Image: Subsidence on SH2, north of Raupunga

SH2 affected by subsidence at Raupunga

Heavy rainfall has caused some serious subsidence on SH2 near Raupunga, reducing the road to one lane. Early assessments of the site, which is 5.5km north of the Raupunga settlement, indicate that the fault is deep-seated. Further investigation will be required before we can find a fix that is effective and resilient. In the interim, the road will remain down to one lane at the site, with traffic management in place.

 

 

Image: The Esk River Bridge on SH2, north of Napier

Repairs on the horizon for Esk River Bridge

There’s good news for motorists crossing the Esk River Bridge – the results of monitoring have been stable, with no further deterioration in strength. The bridge on SH2, north of Napier, has been a 30km/h zone after a detailed inspection in February 2022 that identified strength issues needing repair.

Waka Kotahi has prioritised repairs to the bridge with procurement underway and contractors to be selected in mid-November. Repairs are estimated to begin in January 2023. In the meantime, we thank drivers for continuing to observe the temporary 30km/h speed limit.

 

 

Left: SH35 Kopuaroa Hill progress; right: H Blackbee Contractors at the successfully repaired Mangahauini Bridge following the March 2022 rain event

SH35 Kopuaroa: local people, local progress

Good progress is being made on improvements at Kopuaroa Hill, where contractors are working to realign State Highway 35 and stabilise the road as part of the SH35 and connecting routes: resilience project. Works are underway cutting into the uphill embankment to shift the highway onto more stable ground.

The work is being undertaken by Ruatoria-based contractor H Blackbee Contractors Ltd. This is a significant milestone for the Blackbee team, as it’s their first time working directly with Waka Kotahi as lead contractor.

Managing Director Boss Blackbee says, “We’re proud to have this opportunity to grow our people and our business and take them to the next level. We’re all local and are doing our best to deliver better roads for our people. We are hiring and bringing up local people to develop them into this industry and looking after our whanau.”

They are also supported by another local Ruatoria-based contractor, Tairāwhiti Contractors Ltd, who are providing the traffic management. Both firms are Māori-owned and based less than 17km from the project site, while Tairāwhiti Contractors is also one of the few female-owned contractors in the country. The crews worked together on the successful repair of the Mangahauini No.1 bridge abutment after it washed out in March 2022.

 

 

SH2 Waikoau Hill slow vehicle bay delayed by weather

Poor weather has seen delays in the extension of a slow vehicle bay on SH2 at Waikoau Hill. With earthworks complete, crews are now laying pavement when the weather permits and hope to progress to sealing in the next fortnight. The project is now likely to be finished in November, following line marking and the installation of guard rails and signage. Before it can be opened to motorists, crews need to repair a drop-out further down Waikoau Hill. Repairs will start in early November and are expected to be completed before Christmas.

 

 

Image: CHB Earthmovers and Fulton Hogan on the job constructing a new slow vehicle bay on SH2

Strong progress on SH2 passing opportunities

Contractors Fulton Hogan and CHB Earthmovers are putting in the hard yards as part of our work to provide more passing opportunities between Napier and Wairoa. A new slow vehicle bay on the southbound lane of SH2 near the Mohaka Viaduct is progressing well. Earthworks are nearing the halfway point, and drainage works are expected to start in November if the weather is favourable. This project is funded by Kānoa - Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit and is expected to open in March 2023.

 

 

Upcoming work this summer

  • Turihaua Point and Pouawa rock protection
  • Busby’s Hill Improvements
  • SH35 Puketiti Hill SVB extension
  • SH2 Otoko Hill southbound seal widening
 


 

Watch: Flooding creates major damage in Wairoa district

Wairoa District Council emergency works funding approved

Work on Wairoa’s weather damaged roading network can now move up a notch following confirmation of around $26 million in emergency works funding.

The funding represents 95% of the expected cost of restoring the district’s roading network, and Wairoa Mayor Craig Little says they are very happy with the way the process has run so far.

“We have had a great working relationship with Waka Kotahi over the application for this emergency works funding and the fact their staff have been on the ground visiting our district and seen first-hand the extensive damage that has occurred has been really helpful."

Waka Kotahi Regional Manager Maintenance and Operations Jaclyn Hankin says Waka Kotahi is pleased to be able to give the Wairoa District the funding security to rebuild their network.

“Waka Kotahi is acutely aware of the significant impact the damage has had, and is continuing to have, on communities in the Wairoa District. We recognise how much the people and businesses that call Wairoa home rely on these local road connections and we look forward to continuing to work with Wairoa District Council to support its repair and recovery programme.”

Key sites across Wairoa’s roading network have already been prioritised and designs are being progressed to ensure contractors can hit the ground running to repair the district’s roads as soon as the summer construction period begins. The repair work is estimated to take place over the next three years and includes the repair to the Te Reinga Bridge, along with hundreds of slips and nearly 100 dropouts.

 

 

About Connecting Tairāwhiti

The Connecting Tairāwhiti programme is focused on working together with regional and community partners to significantly improve safety and driver experience on our state highways, create employment opportunities, and provide a more resilient roading network for local communities.

Connecting Tairāwhiti projects are part of the Tairāwhiti Roading Package, funded by Kānoa - Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit. You can see more about all the Connecting Tairāwhiti projects on our interactive map here.

Here are some of the great companies we are working with:

 

 

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More information

 
 

For more information or to give feedback, email ConnectingTairawhiti@nzta.govt.nz