Two lanes will be built at the Loop Road roundabout on State Highway 1 south of Whangarei sooner than expected.
Expansion of the single-lane roundabout which more than 19,000 vehicles pass through daily, with many logging and freight trucks turning right on to SH1 at Loop Road (SH15) to get to Northport, has been brought forward and will be part of the present construction programme, the NZ Transport Agency says.
“Further assessment of future traffic growth in the region has identified the need to deliver a two-lane roundabout now rather than later,” the NZTA says, adding it will improve the safety and efficiency of the important freight link.
“As part of constructing a two-lane roundabout, a second bridge will be built alongside the existing bridge to accommodate two lanes of southbound traffic,” NZTA senior manager project delivery Andrew Thackwray says.
“State highway traffic will merge back into a single southbound lane before the upgraded Portland Road intersection.”
Construction started in March and was due for completion in December 2020 with 38,000 cubic metres of earth moved, work scheduled to restart on January 6 after the Christmas break.
“Additional earthworks and concrete piles to future proof for a two-lane roundabout were completed earlier this year, but road widening and bridge construction will add time to the current construction programme. We now expect to complete the project in early 2022,” Thackwray says.
More details will be available early next year when design work for the additional widening and the new bridge are likely to start.
Visit www.nzta.govt.nz/loop-road for more information.
