SH1 closure causes rethink
After road closures and extreme delays were announced for a main state highway concerns were raised, but also heard.
Bulli Point, halfway between Taupo¯ and Tu¯ rangi on SH1, is scheduled for upgrades later on this month.
But the planned road closures and long delays expected made frequent motorists of the road concerned it would affect their day-to-day too much.
Originally, the New Zealand Transport Agency said road closures would be in effect every other night from 6pm-6am and traffic would be detoured via SH32 and SH30 on the western side of Lake Taupo¯ .
But after hearing concerns, NZTA have revised their traffic management plan to better accommodate road user requirements.
‘‘Full road closures, which had been planned for between 6pm and 6am, will now take place between 7pm and 5am to allow more time for people commuting between Tu¯ rangi and Taupo¯ ,’’ acting Waikato systems manager Rob Campbell, said.
‘‘Outside these hours the road will be down to one lane, with Stop/Go traffic management in place.
‘‘All works will stop from 5pm every Friday afternoon through to Sunday evening.’’
Work is expected to start February 16 and finish in early April.
Campbell says the project team is meeting with emergency services in the area to confirm details of the traffic management plan and to ascertain their requirements including emergency vehicle access, height/weight restrictions and priority access for staff/volunteers.
‘‘It is standard practice to allow emergency services through a work site once the site has been made safe to do so. Our contractors are fully aware of the contingency plans in place should this be required and will manage emergency services through the site safely.
The first big piece of work will be the construction of retaining walls on both sides of Bulli Point, to protect against subsidence.