SH2 repairs to start with Hika straights

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is advising motorists to expect 10-to-15-minute delays on State Highway 2 from the next two months as pavement repairs begin on the Waerenga-a-Hika straights.

Contractors will use a method called “foamed bitumen recycling” to improve the pavement from this Monday to July 1.

This treatment, while yet to have been used in Tairāwhiti, is a commonly used method in other parts of the North Island.

It recycles existing road materials while injecting foamed bitumen into the pavement, which rejuvenates a heavily deteriorated road into one that is more robust and has a longer life than traditional pavement.

“With SH2 still closed between Napier and Wairoa, there’s increased traffic between Gisborne and Ōpōtiki so we’re ensuring the road can withstand that increase,” Waka Kotahi maintenance and operations regional manager Jaclyn Hankin said.

“Heading into winter we also want to improve the resilience of this critical route and repair existing damage,” Ms Hankin said.

“Weather has impacted this route multiple times, causing slips, drop-outs and instability. We know these disruptions are frustrating and have wide-reaching impacts on businesses, health services, events, goods and services, and people’s lives.”

Contractors will begin on Monday on the Waerenga-a-Hika straights, and will move north along SH2 to Matawai.

Ms Hankin said the foamed bitumen technique was less disruptive to the network as it could be driven on almost immediately after completion and had fewer issues caused by wet weather during construction.

“It’s also friendlier to the environment, with carbon emissions being 30 to 50 percent less than the emissions created from traditional road construction techniques.

Stop/go traffic management will be in place with one lane open under a 30kmh speed restriction.