Truck drivers and motorists in Northland will not have to face the frustration of road work delays this summer as the $8.4 million State Highway maintenance programme kicks off after the Labour weekend break.
A new timetable for maintenance work on Northland state highways has been devised following a meeting between the freight industry and the New Zealand Transport Agency.
Contractors will now be working overnight and at weekends to minimise delays.
NZTA acknowledges that completing that work in daylight during the working week has been disruptive for Northland’s freight industry.
Northport’s chief executive officer Jon Moore says NZTA has listened to the industry’s concerns about hold-ups and has done something about it.
“Hopefully, delays will now be minimal and that will benefit not only the freight industry, but everyone travelling in Northland this summer,” says Moore.
The maintenance programme starts in spring when the weather is more settled. It includes repairs to potholes and cracked surfaces, and improving slippery surfaces that have reduced skid resistance.
The first tranche of construction projects include the following:-
SH1 Flygers Road north of the SH15A Ruakaka roundabout (28 October to mid-November): road construction for approximately 200m to fix patches and provide a durable and safe surface to drive on. Work is planned for 3 weeks and will involve some night works.
SH1 Turntable Hill north of Moerewa (28 October – mid November):
drainage upgrade and road construction for approximately 260m. This work is planned for 6 weeks, and further works to address the slip is still under investigation.
SH1 Lambergs (10 November – Mid December): drainage upgrade and road construction for approximately 260m. This is planned for 5 weeks.
SH11 Seaview Heights (28 October – end November): drainage upgrades and road construction for approximately 430m. This is planned for 6 weeks.
SH12 Griffin Road (31 October to late December): 6 week-long project to upgrade drainage and construction of the road for 540m.
SH14 Bob Taylor Road (underway to late November): drainage, safety, and kerb upgrades, and road construction for approximately 850m. Work is planned over 6 weeks and will include weekend work.
