SH1 Brynderwyn Hills recovery and enabling works

4 March 2024

First week of the closure

Now that the full closure is in place we are working across multiple sites day and night, to take full advantage of the extra working space without public vehicles on the road. 

As you can see from the picture above, the long reach excavator we introduced you to in the last newsletter is making fast work of cutting into the bank on the north side of the hill.

At this point in the programme our northern and southern teams are focused on:

• Tree and vegetation clearing to allow for earthworks
• Transporting machinery and equipment to the various ‘cut faces’ (earthworks sites)
• Undertaking earthworks at five different sites
• Beginning permanent piling work on two retaining walls.

In the next newsletter we are going to share more about the nightworks that are happening on the project.

More progress last week

Images taken from another site within the closure on 26 February and 4 March 2024

Safety comes first

A project of this scale needs to use large machinery and equipment to manage the amount of earthworks and construction required. This comes with several safety measures to keep everyone on site safe. 

One of these measures includes the new steel barriers to protect the fully laden Moxy dump trucks as the existing barriers are not suitable for the 55-tonne weight. 

We have also implemented a 20km/h speed limit for all our work vehicles and some sites are following ‘American rules’, driving on the right-hand side of the road. We are applying this rule in both directions on these sites during the closure to keep heavy vehicles away from areas that have been compromised by past weather events.

Meet the team- Peter Lee-Cooper!

In light of the safety measures mentioned above, it seems appropriate that this week we introduce you to Peter Lee-Cooper.

What is your role?

I’m the Fulton Hogan Health & Safety Manager for the Brynderwyn Hills project.

What is your connection to the area?

I moved to Northland a few years ago and was fortunate enough to build a new home for my family in the township of Waipu, despite my lack of Scottish heritage!

I’m well connected to the local area and over recent years have travelled a lot for work with this stretch of highway being a key route for me, so personally experienced the impacts of the weather events last year.

Why will this project enable?

State Highway 1 through the Brynderwyn Hills is the life blood of Northland and needs to be a safe and reliable piece of infrastructure that can better handle what mother nature throws at us.

Our works will help to reduce the impact and disruption of future weather events. This will improve connectivity and safety for all those who rely on this section of highway for both business and pleasure.

What is your favourite place in Northland?

Obviously Waipu and the local beaches, Langs, the Cove and Uretiti with a special mention for Matapouri and Karikari Beach a bit further north…just amazing!

Tell us something about yourself

I enjoy making and repairing wooden things as I used to be 'on the tools' back when I was living in the UK. My wife refers to the garage (what I call the workshop) as my happy place.

The sea has a strong draw for me also, and a bit of time on the water is good for the soul whether it be fishing or windsurfing (well the latter was a few years back now if I’m honest)!

The beaches mentioned are favourites for long walks with my wife whenever we can make the time, it’s great for clearing the head space from all that clutter that builds up…Nice!

Mooven variable message signs (VMS)

An important aspect of journey planning is knowing how long it will take to reach your destination. 

To assist motorists with selecting an appropriate detour route, we have installed variable message signs (VMS) displaying estimated journey times for both Paparoa Oakleigh and Cove Road detours. These are located at key points on SH1 at Mangapai and Kaiwaka.

These signs work by pulling real-time data from a special system called Mooven. The real time information is then transmitted to and displayed on the VMS.  

Not only do the signs help motorists with travel times they also enable us to identify potential congestion spots on the detour routes.

SH1 Brynderwyn Hills key information at a glance

Closed 26 February (12:01 am) - 27 March (11:59pm)

Open 28 March (12.01 am) - 2 April (11:59pm) for Easter travel 

Closed 3 April (12:01 am)- 12 May (11:59 pm)

Access Northland through three scenic detours 

Cove Road route- suggested route for light vehicles, turn off at Kaiwaka Mangawhai Road when heading north. Trucks with trailers not permitted on Cove Road between Mangawhai and Waipu.

Paparoa Oakleigh Road route- can be used by trucks and trucks with trailers up to 50 tonnes.

SH12/SH14 route- high productivity motor vehicles (HPMV) must use this route.

Local road detours (Cove Road and Paparoa Oakleigh Road): 

Whangārei District Council: 0800 932 463 / online 

Kaipara District Council: 0800 727 059 / online

State highway detour (SH12/SH14):

NZTA Phone: 0800 444 449 / online

More information

For more information on the SH1 Brynderwyn Hills project, contact us at northlandproject@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/brynderwyn-hills

To plan your journey visit http://journeys.nzta.govt.nz