Saddle Rd upgrades begin

Motorists using the Saddle Rd will have their commute disrupted as essential repair work is undertaken.

The NZ Transport Agency confirmed work will begin on Saturday.

It will last three weeks, from 9am until 3pm daily, only traffic travelling from Ashhurst to Woodville will be able to use the Saddle Rd.

East-bound traffic from Woodville to Ashhurst will be diverted over the Pahiatua Track.

The agency’s highway manager Ross I’anson said this was to make sure the heavy maintenance repairs could be completed as quickly as possible.

The windy hill road is under extra pressure after the closure of State Highway 3 through the Manawatu Gorge, and several sections were in need of critical maintenance.

SH3, between Woodville and Ashhurst, has been closed since April 24, when a large slip came down, covering both lanes.

Last Friday, engineers confirmed a large area of rock face was highly unstable and posed an imminent risk of further significant slips or rockfalls.

They could also not predict when the road might reopen.

To make sure Saddle Rd, which has been undergoing a long-term $8.5 million upgrade due for completion this summer, was able to safely cope with the increase in traffic, I’anson said this maintenance work was essential.

However, the heavy maintenance work required large milling machines on the road and traffic needed to be restricted due to their size.

‘‘This work is dependant on the weather and a decision will be made each day on what works are able to proceed. If the weather is too poor to allow the work to go ahead, Saddle Rd will be open to traffic in both directions.’’

Updates on whether the roadworks were going ahead and restrictions were in place would be displayed on message signs along the routes.

The transport agency has had taken over management and maintenance of the Saddle Rd from the Tararua District Council and has been doing spot repairs on potholes.

It was also monitoring the condition of the Pahiatua Track.