Foxton/Levin highway improvements to start
Contractors will begin the next stage of safety improvements between Levin and Foxton by preparing to install a flexible median barrier.
New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has announced the next instalment of safety improvements, to be completed in stages, will begin this Sunday.
Contractors will be drilling holes in the centre line in preparation for the barrier posts to be installed between Foxton and Manawatū River Bridge.
These works would be completed at night between the hours of 7pm and 7am to minimise disruption to traffic.
While the work was being completed, both lanes of State Highway 1 would remain open but both directions would be “shifted closer to the centre line” with a lower speed in place.
It was part of a project that includes constructing a new roundabout at the intersection of SH1 and Waitārere Beach Rd, stretches of painted and wide centreline, roadside and median barriers, and new turnaround facilities.
NZTA asked that motorists adhere to the temporary speed limits to keep both road users and contractors safer on site.
The work was expected to be completed by May 16, after which, contractors will return on May 19 to begin installing the barrier posts and wire rope for the median barrier.
Further works are planned for May 13-19, to install traffic islands at the intersection of SH1 and Newth Rd, also in preparation for the flexible median barrier to be installed.
That work will be done during the day between 7am and 5pm with a temporary speed limit of 50km/h.
There would be no access to Newth Rd while this work was done and road users needing to access the road were advised to detour via Ridge Rd and Purcell St.
This detour was expected to add an extra 10 minutes onto motorists’ journeys.
Once the traffic islands were installed, access to and from Newth Rd using SH1 would be via the southbound lane while contractors prepared to install the median barrier.
People travelling north on SH1 would be able to access Newth Rd at the new turnaround at the southern entrance to Foxton, opening on Friday, and those travelling north from Newth Rd on SH1 could use the existing turnaround underneath the Manawatū River Bridge.
The SH1 safety improvements were due to finish by mid-2027.