Waipaoa roundabout delays for asphalting

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

Stop/go traffic management will be in place for one night only tonight at the Waipaoa River roundabout just south of Gisborne on State Highway 2.

The stop/go signs and lower speed limit of 30kmh will be in place between 7pm and 5am on Wednesday while crews finish asphalting the roundabout.

Tonight’s work is the final piece of the wider SH2 asphalting programme, which saw night-time road closures between Gisborne and Waioeka Gorge finish early this month.

The Waipaoa roundabout was set to be completed this week but the main belt of the asphalt machine has ripped and it will be a few days for replacement parts to get it back up and running.

Waka Kotahi journey manager for Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay Andre Taylor said it had been an extensive and “really important” programme of resurfacing.

“It’s meant road users have had to put up with a number of overnight closures on SH2 and we’d like to reiterate our thanks for their support during this time.

“Almost 100,000 square metres of asphalt have been laid during the programme.

“This programme has been important to strengthen the road and improve resilience, as we realise how crucial this stretch of state highway is for the community and for freight from the north.”