This page is to keep you up-to-date with the work that's happening on the state highway network in and around the Taranaki region. We've set this up to provide you with a snapshot of the work we're doing to improve the resilience and safety of the network and keep everyone moving.
If there’s too much jargon, please let us know. Our audience is diverse so sometimes we forget that some readers may not know what “Delineation and Audible Tactile Paver installation” means! You can reach us directly with feedback on hno-pn@nzta.govt.nz
On this page you will find maintenance and repair information for:
State Highway 3
Vickers to City
We are really pleased to have the Vickers to City Project officially opened in June. Surfacing work began on that same month and will continue until all surfacing and line markings are completed.
The site will be handed back to our maintenance contractor once this work is completed. Additional work to improve the road pavement will however need to take place on areas at the eastern end of the project, from the Waiwhakaiho River Bridge to Vickers Road, over the summer period. This work is not part of the construction contract.
While we appreciate that the work will cause further disruption to traffic, it is important we complete this work, to provide New Plymouth with a high quality entrance to the city.
Normanby Overbridge
Excavations began near the new rail bridge on 20 May. Work continues at the southern end constructing a temporary road diversion around the existing railway bridge, to allow us to complete the final tie-in work.
Waitara to Bell Block
The Programme Business Case for the transport network between Waitara to Bell Block has now been completed and approved.
The Waitara to Bell Block Programme Business Case supports a wide programme of activities. The programme supports the strategic outcomes of improved freight efficiency, increased safety, and better connectivity for the urban growth areas and the New Plymouth Airport. This work will support multimodal solutions that include cycling and public transport. The programme has a long term horizon, with initial construction targeted within the next five years.
The intention for the section of State Highway 3 between State Highway 3a and Waitara is to implement specific intersection treatments to address the safety risk. We will work closely with local representatives to define the best solutions.
For the section of State Highway 3 between State Highway 3a and Bell Block, we intend to develop a traffic model to test the impact of future growth on the local and State Highway network. Once this work is completed we will continue through the business case to establish its priority for funding.
The NZ Transport Agency will work closely with local representatives to define the best solutions.
Maintenance
A programme of work to reduce the surface roughness has taken place across the network. This initiative improves the customers' driving experience and will continue to be rolled out over the financial year.
Earlier this year we undertook a survey, looking at improving skid resistance across the network. This helps to identify where additional sealing work is required. We have completed the new seals that were identified for this financial year and we are now looking at the latest survey information to address more areas of concern next year.
Awakino Gorge to Mt Messenger
The overall State Highway 3 programme of improvements is made up of three projects. These are:
- safety and resilience improvements across SH3
- Mt Messenger bypass investigation
- Awakino Tunnel bypass investigation.
The three phases of this project are progressing well, and we expect to carry out the first phase of construction in 2017-2019.
We are engaging with local iwi, property owners and interested stakeholders. We will be holding combined workshops as we progress through the programme of works.
A fence has been installed at the Mt Messenger rest area to try and stop illegal dumping ("fly tipping"). We still need to return to the site to paint the fence, so this work isn’t quite completed.
State Highway 4
Taumarunui to Hiwi Delineation and Audible Tactile Paver (rumble strips) installation has been completed.
State Highway 43
There are a number of emergency work sites still in the investigation and design stages. All emergency works repairs are programmed for construction between November 2016 and March 2017.
Pohukura – Makahu Underslip
The Transport Agency has appointed its Taranaki Network Outcomes Contractor, Downer, to develop a low risk robust solution and undertake the repair works. The proposed repairs will consist of strengthening the shoulder foundations and installing a row of mass concrete blocks along the affected edge, prior to repairs to the affected pavement with chipseal.
Based on the required works and subject to suitable weather and ground conditions, this work may take longer than we had hoped.
State Highway 44
We are looking to improve the Moturua pedestrian crossing. We will be working closely with the New Plymouth District Council on this project, including carrying out a public consultation phase.
This will be a two year process with consultation and design in 2016/17, and construction in 2017–18. The first stage will include workshopping the issues with residents and stakeholders.
State Highway 45
Maintenance
A contractor is lined up and work will be completed by the end of February 2017 to minimise the flooding damage in Spotswood.
Some of you will have seen that we have made changes to the Kaupokonui River Bridge, where the bridge has been reduced to single lane. This has unfortunately been necessary as, in order to meet the appropriate safety standards, we have had to replace the wooden sight rails with guardrail. Bear with us while we investigate a solution that will enable us to open this bridge back to two lanes.
Safety focus
Several areas have been, or are currently being addressed, along SH45.
- We widened the shoulders to improve safety in the Manaia area.
- Addressing the "blackspot" in the Tataraimaka area is nearing completion. The work has included the installation of a guardrail and widening the road around one of the curves.
- We are preparing for a review of the Oakura–Corbett Park speed limit.
Introducing our new Highway Manager
Ross I'Anson is our new Highway Manager Palmerston North. His role covers the Manawatu-Whanganui and Taranaki Regions. Many of you will know Ross as he has been the Planning and Investment Manager – Central for the past two years. Ross is keen to understand the issues on the network and we encourage you to contact him on ross.i'anson@nzta.govt.nz.
How members of the public get in touch with us
CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
When a member of the public contacts us to discuss, query, compliment or complain about something to do with the state highway network, we use a system that assigns the interaction a unique number so we can easily track it to completion. The query is then allocated to the appropriate NZ Transport Agency staff. The person enquiring can then follow up with the Transport Agency, quoting the reference number.
Normal response turnaround time is five days.