Tapu-coroglen road repair starts
Contractor aims for mid-december reopening
Acompany based in Coromandel township with a track record of local storm recovery work is set to complete the repair of Tapu-coroglen Rd.
Work began on Monday, said Thames Coromandel District Council (TCDC).
In March, Labour leader Chris Hipkins visited Tapu-coroglen Rd, a vital trans-peninsula route, to assess the storm-ravaged region’s infrastructure first-hand, concluding; “We know we have a big job ahead of us.”
Hipkins added that Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s priority for the Coromandel is to “restore transport connectivity” through “local government-led decisions”. He acknowledged the scale of the region’s roading and infrastructure issues.
In a release, TCDC advised that Kelsey Construction was successful in its bid for the project, with director Hamish Kelsey saying his team were acutely aware of how crucial the project was for locals.
“We see how important it is to get this completed,” said Kelsey. “We employ local people and are looking forward to starting work and doing a good job for our community.”
Kelsey said the company currently employs 12 people, which can grow depending on what projects they have coming up.
Earlier this year, Kelsey Construction worked to reopen roads in Colville, Port Jackson and other stormimpacted regions.
The design chosen uses mass block retaining walls to support the underslip, with materials sourced from local suppliers. This method has been chosen to ensure works can be completed quickly while providing a long-term solution.
Works for the three sites on Tapucoroglen Rd have been packaged together to maximise efficiency.
The company plans to have the road reopened in mid-december, weather-dependent.
TCDC advised that the current road closure will remain in place during construction. Access will be prevented to all road users due to ongoing changes in site conditions, reduced road-wide due to earthworks, and the safety of road workers and the public. It is essential road users do not attempt to gain access through the sites during construction, for their own safety.