When SH29 is open for only alternating one-way flows, there will be two three-and-a-half-hour windows to allow traffic to pass through in one direction only. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times
When SH29 is open for only alternating one-way flows, there will be two three-and-a-half-hour windows to allow traffic to pass through in one direction only. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times
State Highway 29 over the Kaimai Range is scheduled for up to three weeks of crucial maintenance work starting on January 10, during which time there will be several stages of work and associated traffic management requirements.
The first stage of work sees the installation of new roadside drainage onthe westbound (Waikato-bound) side of the road, and will have one lane operating in each direction between 8pm and 5am, Monday, January 10, to Thursday, January 13.
The second stage sees a section of the westbound lane rebuilt and resurfaced. Due to the narrow, windy nature of this section of road, contractors will close the road between 8pm and 5am for two successive nights on two consecutive weekends (Sunday/Monday, January 16-17, and Sunday/Monday, January 23-24) to maximise efficiency within a safe working environment.
In both weeks, there will then be three nights of alternating one-way closures, on Tuesday, January 18, to Thursday, January 20, and Tuesday-Thursday, January 25-27; these closures will also be from 8pm to 5am.
When SH29 is open for only alternating one-way flows, there will be two three-and-a-half- hour windows to allow traffic to pass through in one direction only.
The timetable for the works is:
• 8pm to 9pm - SH29 will be fully closed to all traffic while the site is being set up.
• 9pm to 12.30am - SH29 will be open to traffic travelling from the east (Bay of Plenty) to the west (Waikato).
• 12.30am to 1am - A full road closure will be in place to allow for the change of traffic direction.
• 1am to 4.30am - SH29 will be open to traffic travelling from the west (Waikato) to the east (Bay of Plenty).
• 4.30am to 5:30am - Final closure to allow for the site to be made safe for the resumption of two-way traffic during the day.
Waka Kotahi has opted for one long window for traffic in each direction to avoid lengthy queues of vehicles waiting for their turn to cross the Kaimai Range. Photo / NZME
A full timetable of the works can be viewed on the Waikato roadworks page: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/waikato/roadworks/ During these times vehicles will be held at the intersections with State Highway 24 and State Highway 28 at Te Poi on the Waikato side, through to the intersection of SH29 and Cambridge Rd on the Bay of Plenty side.
Resident access will be maintained at all times during the works; however, residents will need to liaise with the traffic control teams on site.
Waikato system manager Cara Lauder says the full and partial closures allow the vital maintenance work to take place while still allowing traffic, particularly trucks, to plan their journey across the Kaimai Range.
"Completing the road maintenance work safely is our priority. Our contractor has worked extensively with Waka Kotahi, the freight industry and key stakeholders to understand the best time to complete this work, whilst providing certainty for all road users regarding how and when they can travel to and from Tauranga."
Waka Kotahi has opted for one long window for traffic in each direction rather than more frequent but shorter windows to avoid lengthy queues of vehicles waiting for their turn to cross the Kaimai Range. By having a longer window drivers, especially those in trucks, can plan their journey with greater certainty so that when they arrive the road will be open.
During the day the road will reopen to two lanes and there will be reduced speeds through areas that have been recently resealed.
The detours for this closure are significant, and due to other planned maintenance activities in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, there are road closures on potential detour routes during this time, such as those on State Highway 36. Road users are encouraged to visit the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz) for up to date information on all routes to and from Tauranga.
