Managing traffic
The following is a progress report on work to minimise the impact of the Manawatu Gorge closure:
Completed
- Edge lines on Salisbury Street painted.
- Pedestrian crossing on Salisbury Street installed.
- 50km/h speed limit signs installed between River Road and Pohangina River bridge.
- Additional detour signage installed to improve detour route through Ashhurst to Woodville.
Planned
- Speed cushion installation begins Friday 11 August – beginning at Worcester Street.
- Additional Apiti/Colyton detour signage to be installed Friday 11 August.
- Layout changes on the SH3/57 intersection (see photo below).
- Discussions continue for a temporary bypass of Ashhurst.
State Highway 3/57 intersection layout change
Saddle Road upgrade
Last week (4 August) we said there were about four days of intensive maintenance work remaining on Saddle Road and weather permitting it would be carried out over the next two weeks.
Unfortunately the weather has not permitted us to complete this work on time and it is affecting the work we have completed. As a result we have estimated:
- two additional days on the Ashhurst side of Saddle Road
- up to six days on the Woodville side.
We know the rescheduling of work is disruptive to your travel plans. Ordinarily this type of intensive maintenance is carried out over summer. We are doing our best to ensure our updates are clear and we appreciate your feedback when it is not.
As a reminder our channels for communicating scheduled works and changes to the scheduled works are:
- NZTA Central North Island Facebook
- Journey Planner website
- Variable Message Signs around the routes
Manawatu Gorge alternative route
Tenders for the Manawatu Gorge alternative route closed on Friday 4 August 2017. The next step will be an evaluation of the tenders today, Friday 11 August. We are working towards awarding a contract in the week Monday 14 August. We will update you on timeframes for public consultation shortly after.
