Bottom of Site 13 now reached.

Kia ora

In this month's update we're pleased to advise that the Takaka Hill crew are making good progress, and are now able to work simultaneously across all five sites. A key project milestone!

With all five retaining walls now either under construction or nearing completion to road level, night closures will be necessary to undertake essential drainage and pavement works across the live road. For safety reasons, and least disruption to traffic, this work must be done at night.

The first night closure is scheduled for Monday 3 to Monday 10 May.

A full project update and night closure details are provided below.

Site 9 – Retaining wall completed to road level (front view).

A key project milestone reached

As our crew reach the bottom of the last excavation site (Site 6), all five sites are now able to be regularly worked on simultaneously. 

Construction of the retaining walls on four of the five sites has now either started, is well progressed or complete. Wall construction on the fith site is expected to start mid April. This is a major project milestone that will help construction progress as we head into the winter months. 

The coming months will require several nightly road closures to complete culvert extensions across State Highway 60. More about that further on.

The team continues to work hard, with the chief focus on having two lanes open by the end of this year.

Below is an update of each of the five sites:

Site 6: The design bottom of this site was reached in March. However, the material at this foundation did not pass the strict geologists scrutineering. Further excavation was required to reach a firm enough platform before construction could start on building the retaining wall back up to road height.

Site 7: The retaining wall is complete and precast panels are being cast off-site in preparation for placement in front of the wall. Most of the rip-rap (large boulders which manage the water runoff) is complete. Following installation of the culvert, pavement works will start and placement of precast panels will be undertaken. The first night closure to undertake the culvert installation is scheduled for 3–10 May.

Site 9: The retaining wall is close to completion, following which the team will move onto pavement construction.

Site 11: The retaining wall construction is well underway (50% complete), with 12 rock baskets completed currently.

Site 13: The team have finally reached the bottom of this, the most challenging site, and the first layer of baskets have been installed.

SH60 Takaka Hill project update – February 2021

Watch the latest project update

See the latest site images

7-night closure, 3–10 May, 9pm–5am each night

State Highway 60 Tākaka Hill road will be closed for seven consecutive nights, from 9pm Monday 3 May to 5am Monday 10 May. This work is weather dependant.

Closing the road at night will allow our road crew to install a large new culvert (pipe) – to replace the original steel culvert – from Site 7 through the current single traffic lane.

This work is essential to ensuring the safe and efficient movement of water through the sites, and will help minimise future delays and damage to the sites during large rainfall.

For safety reasons, and least disruption to traffic, this work must be done at night.

This is the first of a number of night closures that will need to happen over the coming months. We will let you know well in advance the dates for future night closures so you can plan ahead.

If you need access over the hill for night work or essential commitments, please email takakahill@nzta.govt.nz or call Kane Reihana on 027 886 4508. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Access is always available for emergency services throughout the closure.

Image below: Site 7.

Find out more

Email us at takakahill@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website nzta.govt.nz/takaka-hill