Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is continuing with only essential roading projects across the country during the current Covid-19 alert level 4 lockdown.

This includes works on Taranaki, Manawatū – Whanganui, Wellington and Wairarapa, Taranaki, Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay, and Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highways.

For state highway maintenance, the NZTA is only undertaking safety or incident response-related activities, to keep the road network fully operational, especially to ensure that freight, essential workers and others that need to travel can do so safely.

Major project work is not seen as an essential service and has been stood down while New Zealand is at alert level 4, as has non-essential maintenance activities.

“Maintenance activities are allowed only if they address immediate risks to safety, property or the environment and/or for nationally important infrastructure,” said regional manager maintenance and operations, Jaclyn Hankin.

“Services to maintain and protect worksites to ensure they are safe can continue and this includes things like traffic management and environmental controls. We will continue to manage and monitor environmental risks and traffic management plans to protect each worksite and make sure all sites are safe for the travelling public.”

Hankin said the agency will ensure that all temporarily closed worksites on state highways are safe for people on the roads, and that the appropriate traffic-management measures are in place.

Manawatū – Whanganui

In the wider Manawatū – Whanganui region, these temporarily closed sites include the Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway project; SH4 Whanganui to Raetihi repairs; and SH57 Levin safety improvements.

Wellington and Wairarapa

In the Wellington region, closed sites include the SH1 Transmission Gully motorway project; SH1 Peka Peka to Otaki expressway project; SH1 Mackays to Peka Peka revocation; SH2 Petone to Melling walking and cycling path (Te Ara Tupua) project; SH58 safety improvements project – phases 1 and 2a; and the Wellington Network Operational Readiness project, with the exception of urgent work at Churton Park interchange.

Gisborne

Closed sites in Gisborne include SH35 resilience and passing opportunities projects; five native revegetation sites that were underway; SH2 passing opportunities project; Wharerata lookout slow vehicle bay extension; and the Maraenui layby.

Hawke’s Bay

In Hawke’s Bay, closed sites include SH2 College Road to Silverstream realignment; SH2 Waipukurau to Waipawa shared path; SH2 Raupunga Bluffs enhanced resilience; SH2 Tahaenui bridge widening; and SH5 safety improvements.

Waikato

Closed sites in the Waikato include Waikato Expressway, Hamilton section; SH3, Awakino Tunnel Bypass project; SH25 Hikaui Bridge, Coromandel; SH27 Mangawhero Bridge replacement; SH30 Camp Whakamaru resilience works; and SH41 Hohotaka resilience works.

Bay of Plenty

In the Bay of Plenty, closed sites include, SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa safety improvements project; SH2 Wainui Road to Ōpōtiki safety improvements project; SH2/SH29A Baypark to Bayfair Link project; SH5 Tarukenga to Ngongotahā safety and SH5/SH36 roundabout improvements project; and SH30/Te Ngae Road Rotorua Eastern Corridor Stage One project.