Construction behind temporary barriers

SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa safety improvements - construction update

Now the country has moved to Alert Level 3 we will be resuming work on site. Keeping everyone safe is our top priority. There are special guidelines and requirements that our contractors will follow – focussing on health and safety that is appropriate for Alert Level 3.

Since our last update (December 2019), and before we stopped work during Alert Level 4, a significant amount of progress had been achieved on the various State Highway 2 (SH2) work sites.

Safety improvements along the first section, between Heath Road and Trig Road near Waihi, were completed in January. We had initially planned to reseal sections before winter, however, due to the shut down this work has been deferred until later in the year.

For the remaining nine sections, we have two main active construction sites underway, one north and one south of Katikati, as well as enabling works in multiple sections. Key achievements and what we’re focussing on now are outlined below.

To understand where the project sites are, take a look at the project map.

Earthworks and pavement construction underway

North of Katikati

Trig Road to Athenree Gorge (Sections 2 and 3)

The two sections, Trig Road to Mathers Road and Mathers Road to Athenree Gorge have been combined. Since our last update the weather has been kind and our contractor HEB Construction has made good progress on the following activities:

• Installing environmental controls to protect waterways.
• Removing trees.
• Relocating services such as fibre.
• Extending drainage channels where the road has been widened.
• Earthworks and road widening from Trig Road to the start of the Athenree Gorge south bound lane.
• Earthworks and road widening from Trig Road to south of Woodlands Road northbound lane.

These activities will continue under Level 3 and will head south to the Athenree Gorge. Followed by final touches such as laying line marking and installing barriers in some sections.

We are still on target for completing these sections by mid-2021.

Athenree Road to Tanners Point Road (Section 4)

Underground services have been located, such as water, electricity and fibre. The team used a radar to pinpoint where they were and then uncovered them by hydrovac, which, as the name suggests, involves high pressure water and suction. This non-digging method reduces the risk of accidentally cutting into a service line during earthworks. Information collected from this work is being used by the design team as they finalise the detailed design for construction.

Trees identified as either in the path of road widening or otherwise potentially hazardous to road users have been removed.

Tanners Point Road to Kauri Point Road (Section 5)

Preliminary work has started, such as identifying where underground services are, using the same process outlined above. Information collected from this work is being used by the design team as they finalise the detailed design for construction.

Kauri Point Road to Lindemann Road (Section 6)

Preliminary investigation work has been completed and designs are being finalised in this section so the main work can start later this year.

Installing new underground service ducts

South of Katikati

Wharawhara Road to Sharp Road (Section 7)

In February a huge milestone was achieved with the completion of the trench and ducting for the underground services. This was a very challenging task for the contractor as there were multiple layers of existing services, and some found were a bit of a surprise. This significant milestone isn’t something you can see, and means work can now start on the following activities:

• Installing environmental controls to protect waterways.
• Extending drains to where the road has been widened.
• Finishing the earthworks and road widening on the north bound lane between Wharawhara Road and Rea Road.
• Starting earthworks and road widening on the south bound lane between Rereatukahia Bridge and Sharp Road.

This work will be followed by the final touches such as line marking and installing barriers in some sections.

We are still on target for completing this section by late-2020.

Sharp Road to Sargent Road (Part of section 8)

Work on the section of road near Forta Leza was carried out as part of the annual maintenance programme and is now complete.

Over the next few months we will start preliminary work on the remaining stages in this section, such as, identifying underground services using the process outlined above. Information collected from this work is being used by the design team as they finalise the detailed design for construction.

Wainui South Road to Esdaile Road (Section 10)

Preliminary investigation work has been completed. Designs are being finalised and the construction of the safety improvements should start later this year.

Thank you to the public and landowners

It’s inevitable that people will be inconvenienced in some way during construction of this project. Our contractor works very hard to keep this to a minimum while maintaining a safe environment for workers, road users and neighbouring landowners.

We appreciate your co-operation and patience, particularly while negotiating the various sites we have traffic management and/or road works. Please continue to allow that little bit of extra time to your trip while we work on these improvements. The end result will be worth it.

Landowners
We have met with many landowners to discuss property access and what’s going to be happening outside their home. During construction, some landowners have experienced more disruption than others. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their time, patience and understanding. If you have any questions about your property, please get in touch with Justin Rae, Community Engagement Manager, on 021 390 732 or email justin.rae@nzta.govt.co.nz

FAQ - flexible safety barriers: side and median

A lot of work, usually over some years, goes in to working out what is the best way to improve safety on a rural state highway. This starts with a detailed analysis of the crashes that have happened on the road, assessing the effectiveness of the safety improvements that can mitigate or prevent the accidents, then ultimately the costs and benefits are weighed up in an extensive business case process.

The Waihī to Ōmokoroa section of SH2 had 10 years of crashes analysed for the business case. The most common type of crash was vehicles running off the road which caused the most deaths and serious injuries.

Flexible road safety barriers catch you before you hit something. The wire cables flex to absorb the impact, slowing down your vehicle and keeping it upright. They take the impact so you and the people with you don’t.

Side barriers catch vehicles that leave the road - before they hit something like a pole, tree or ditch. They are designed so after impact the vehicle should not be deflected into the traffic lane.

Roadside safety barriers are installed in areas where there is a hazard close to the road that can’t be removed, so people are protected from it. Sometimes the hazards are more obvious, such as power poles and trees, but less obvious like ditches, banks and shelterbelts.

Roadside safety barriers on this project aren’t being installed instead of a median barrier. The road is being widened so there is enough room so that flexible median barriers can be installed later, if required.

More information

SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa

For more information on the safety improvements project, you can visit nzta.govt.nz/w2o, read our frequently asked questions or, if you have any questions, please get in touch with Justin Rae, our Communications and Engagement Advisor, on 021 390 732 or email justin.rae@nzta.govt.nz