Night works planned to complete job

TURNING THE CORNER: Progress is being made at the major intersection of Kensington Ave and SH1 with paving and sealing due to begin this weekend. PHOTO/ MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM

Paving and sealing of a new major roundabout on State Highway 1 through Whangarei is about to begin.

Night works are planned for the roundabout at the intersection of Kensington Ave and SH1 from tomorrow for five nights, but that will depend on the weather.

Spokeswoman for NZ Transport Agency, Sarah Azam, said while the works were being carried out traffic would be reduced to a single lane between Kensington Ave and Manse St, between 6pm and 7am.

During night works the intersection of SH1 and Kensington Ave would be closed including the stadium entrance on Kensington Ave. Motorists were encouraged to plan their evening journeys and allow for additional travel time.

As work progresses, the temporary traffic signals at Manse St, which were installed to help traffic move through the construction area, would be removed.

Ms Azam said the roundabout was due to open in September, but that depended on good weather to allow construction to continue uninterrupted.

She warned there would be no right turns at the intersection of Kensington Ave and SH1 until the new roundabout was operating.

Later stages of the project will involve construction of a raised median barrier on SH1 from Manse St to Kensington Ave.