Work is beginning to repair and restore three sections of cyclone-damaged State Highway 2 between Wairoa and Napier. These sections will be back to two lanes before Christmas.
Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) contractors will be working on sections of road at White Pine Bush, Mautaua, north of Kotemaori and Sandy Creek, near Putorino. All three sites are currently down to one lane and are in need of rebuilding where they’ve slipped away.
Rebuilding these sections of the road will involve installing new drainage and replacing the damaged road surface.
Where and when you’ll see crews:
As work progresses at these sites, there will be temporary traffic management in place and a temporary lower speed.
The work to these sections of road will see crucial new drainage installed, and aggregate used to build back the roads, before being sealed.
It’s important this work is done in the warmer months, to allow the resealing to cure as quickly as possible.
This stretch of SH2 has been a hive of activity for many months and we understand that these works will cause more delay, however ultimately we’re confident the work will make people’s journeys more efficient, as two lanes of traffic are restored to all three sites.
Thank you to everyone who uses this stretch of road and to the communities living along it – we really value your support during this busy time.
While you’re passing through sites, give roadworkers a friendly wave – please respect the crews out there and drive carefully when passing through sites.
Looking out for roadworkers video (on Facebook)(external link)
The last thing we want for them is to cop abuse, or be injured or worse, while they're doing their work to repair the road and to keep you safe.
The TREC alliance is a partnership between NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, KiwiRail, Downer, Fulton Hogan, and Higgins. It’s focussed on summer maintenance and renewal work, in addition to recovery work, such as the rebuild of these three sites, to improve people’s journeys, make them safer and more efficient, while permanent solutions are designed for some sites.
The slow vehicle bay is part of NZ Transport Agency’s Connecting Tairawhiti, which includes a programme to improve passing opportunities, build retaining walls and bring added resilience to parts of SH2 and SH35 around the region.
