The project is being completed in stages, with Section 1A(Wainui Road to Waiotahe Valley Back Road) complete, and construction underway on Section 1B (Waiotahe Valley Back Road to Appleton Road) and Section 1C (Appleton Road to Woodlands Road).

State Highway 2 Wainui Road to Ōpōtiki Update

It’s been a busy start to the year, with maintenance reseal work being coordinated alongside recently completed sections of side barrier works.

Work is recovering well from the impact of the severe weather over the summer period, and we’re getting our schedule back on track. Last year, we completed works between the SH2/Wainui Road intersection, Matekerepu, and Ōhiwa Beach Road, at Lysaghts bridge. 

Check out the below pictures to see the impressive work that went into this completion.

This year our focus moves to the next sections. Geotechnical investigations to help inform the detailed design process have been carried out in the areas around Waiotahe Valley Back Road and Ōhiwa Beach Road intersection, and the SH2/Wainui Road intersection– sections 2 and 3 on our map. We are also having discussions with affected landowners as part of this process.

Local iwi representatives from Ūpokorehe and members of the project team preparing for the site blessing and drive-through.

Next stage of work underway

We’ve awarded the contract for the next two sections of SH2, between Waiotahe Valley Back Road and Woodlands Road to a local contractor, Crossroads Construction Limited, who are based out of Edgecumbe.

It is great to have them onboard and work is now underway. 

A site blessing and drive-through was held with local iwi representatives from Ūpokorehe earlier this year.

Construction is expected to take six months, weather depending. The work in these areas will be similar to what’s already been completed, and will include shoulder widening and roadside barriers installed at high-risk locations, including through the Pōhutukawa tunnels.

During this time, road users can expect to see shoulder closures and/or Stop/Go operations in place as required. Our teams will usually work between 7am and 5pm weekdays. Please allow extra time for your journey as delays up to 10 minutes may be experienced.

Barriers working to design

Roadside safety barriers are already doing their job on the completed section of SH2 north of Wainui Road. These barriers are designed to ‘catch’ vehicles that leave the road, grabbing you before you hit something harder, like a pole, tree or ditch.

Project team member Grant Kendal says the barrier worked according to design.

“This was a direct strike to the terminal end, and you can see that the barrier did what it should. The way that the barrier crumpled shows how it has absorbed the energy of the crash.”

Stay safe on the road

This project is being delivered as part of Road to Zero, which sets a target of reducing the amount of people killed or seriously injured on New Zealand’s roads by 40 per cent by 2030.

Thanks for your patience as we continue making the journey on SH2 Wainui Road to Ōpōtiki safer for everyone who uses it.

More information

For more information on the SH2 Wainui Road to Ōpōtiki project, visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/sh2-wainui-road-to-opotiki

If you have any questions, contact us at bopprojects@nzta.govt.nz