Upcoming roadworks on SH1 near Halletts Bay, between Taupō and Tūrangi, will mean that road users need to plan ahead to ensure they avoid road closure periods.

Cara Lauder, system manager at Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency, said because the worksite is located at a narrow section of road, there is not room for both machinery and cars side by side.

“The only option is to close the road for periods of time to complete the work,” she said.

“The 330m section of road needs to be reconstructed, as the underlying layers of the road have reached the end of their useful life. Unfortunately, a closure of the road is the only safe way to complete this”.

Starting Tuesday 14 February, the road will be closed between 9:00am and 2:30pm and will operate under stop/go traffic management between 7:00am and 9:00am, and again from 2:30pm until 7:00pm.

Outside these hours the road will be open to traffic travelling in both directions, with a temporary speed limit in place. This sequence will be in place each weekday for approximately two weeks.

Foam Bitumen Stabilisation, an innovative construction method which recycles existing material from the road and mixes it with bitumen, is being used to minimise the time spent fixing the road surface.

“We appreciate that this work is disruptive to both local residents and business owners, as well as those taking longer journeys,” said Lauder. “We’ve chosen an option that reduces disruption as much as possible, while providing a great outcome for road users moving forward.”

Waka Kotahi will also be taking the opportunity to complete other maintenance and renewals activities at the same time. This includes 1.3 lane kilometres of road through Waitahanui (from Awhi Road to south of Wairau Avenue), which will be resurfaced with asphalt.

This resurfacing will take place under stop/go traffic management between 7:00am and 7:00pm each day. Other works will be completed using appropriate traffic management, and temporary speed limits will be in place as required.

“Road users intending to travel during the closure period will need to plan ahead to ensure they reach their destination on time,” said Lauder.

“There will be closure points at the SH1/Lake Terrace/Anzac Memorial Drive roundabout at the northern end, and at the SH1/Pihanga roundabout at the southern end. Residents and those travelling to or from properties within the closure will be able to get through as required. Other road users will need to use State Highway 32 to travel around the lake.”