After four months of closures and detours, the reopening of State Highway 1 over the Brynderwyn Hills is set to take place ahead of Matariki weekend – much to the relief of freight operators and the Northland community.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says crews are now in the process of finishing the remainder of the closure works, preparing the critical Northland connection to reopen to two-way traffic from 11.59pm on Wednesday, June 26.
Closures have been in place since February as NZTA teams carried out major repairs such as under and over-slips in the area caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.
The SH1 route was due to fully reopen on May 13 but two significant slips on April 26 and April 30 had NZTA and its contractors scrambling to stabilise hillside with further closures.
It had a significant impact on freight and business, with diversion routes adding between 60 to 140 kilometres for road transport with increased costs being passed through to customers.
NZTA project director Mark Ware thanked the Northland community for their support.
“We know that having this road open and more reliable will be a welcome relief to Northland communities and businesses ahead of the busy Matariki weekend.”
Work involved creating a shoulder space on the narrow and windy state highway, stabilising the hillside and moving an initial 180,000 cubic metres of soil, followed by a further 60,000 as a result of the slips in late April.
More than 900 people were involved with the project and NZTA contractors worked day and night, in all conditions to reopen the road as quickly as possible.
“To get this amount of work done speaks to the skill and dedication of the teams involved,” Ware says.
NZTA says the work done to stabilise both the upslopes (above the road) and downslopes (the underside of the road) would not have been possible without a full closure.
“The huge amount of earth that has been cut away, the levels (or benches) that have been made into the hillside, along with piles and retaining walls will all help the road to withstand the next severe weather event.”
“The additional space that has been created next to the existing road means that should there be any future damage, crews can work on repairs without lengthy closures.”
When the Brynderwyn Hills reopen road users can expect to see downslope works including drainage and anchors being installed using the newly created shoulder for a period of two to three months. Planting will also be put in along the corridor.
Crews will also lay a fresh coat of asphalt on the full road width during the next paving season – in drier weather between October and December. This will require temporary traffic management and night works.
Freight industry breathes sigh of relief
National Road Carriers Association commercial transport specialist Paula Rogers says the reopening is welcome news for both the Northland community and the freight industry.
The fact contractors have had to move 240,000 cubic metres of soil to create road shoulder space and stabilise the hillside illustrates the sheer scale of the job.
“It’s been a massive job, and not without its hurdles. NZTA and its 900-odd contractors really do deserve a solid nod for their continued hard work and efforts to get this road open and functional as quickly as possible,” Rogers says.
“Road transport operators have been using diversion routes that added between 60 to 140 kilometres to their journey and increased the general cost of doing business, something which has been particularly tough in the current tight economic environment.
“Being able to return to the more direct route will ease pressure for operators and businesses across the board.
“The timing of the opening for Matariki weekend is especially welcomed by Northland businesses who we know have been feeling the bite.”
