SH1 Loop Road Project Update 27 August

Asphalting of new roundabout delayed by travel restrictions

COVID-19 travel restrictions has impacted the programme for completing the new roundabout tie-in with SH1, due to travel restrictions for asphalt crews.

From Tuesday, asphalting will resume on Loop Rd north/SH15, on the new section of road that connects with the roundabout.

Night works are pencilled in for Thursday 3 September to create the temporary intersection at Loop Road which we discussed in our last update. The ‘T’ intersection will move eastwards and Loop Road/SH15 vehicles will be shifted across onto the new section of Loop Road.

This intersection layout will remain in place for approximately two weeks until the SH1 tie-in work is complete and all traffic will move onto the new roundabout.

Thursday night’s works are weather dependent, and confirmation will be provided on Monday once the forecast for next week is known.

Sunday night repairs to the temporary section of SH1

The temporary road alignment between Loop Road and Oaks Road continues to suffer damage from consistent wet weather. This has also reduced the visibility of line marking on this section of state highway.

The road was resurfaced with fresh asphalt and line marked at the end of July, after the significant weather event and flooding.

It is now due for another maintenance run. Road surfacing is programmed for Sunday 30 August.

Road resurfacing will be occurring between 7pm-6am between Loop Road and the Otaika stream bridge on SH1.

During the night works the state highway will be reduced to a single lane with stop/go traffic control and a temporary speed limit of 30km/hr.

We appreciate everyone’s patience while we continue to repair and maintain the temporary road.

Changes to our construction programme and work stoppage due to COVID-19, has resulted in the temporary road carrying traffic for much longer than originally intended.

Traffic will be moving off the temporary road when the roundabout opens.

Portland Road update

Earthworks are continuing at Portland Road, with material being hauled across the road and disposed. The major earthworks will be complete at the end of August. From here we start to get into the details of forming the batter (the slope towards the road).

Additional drainage is required to create the batter as the soil is more saturated than we expected. Additional drainage will include horizontal bore drains to draw down the water in the soil to ensure the batter is stable.

Once the batter is complete, the team will apply top soil and form a swale (drain) at the base of the batter and construct the new edge of widened road.

Bridge widening works immediately south of Portland Road are now complete with wingwalls in place to support the roading material while also providing scour protection from the water running under the bridge when water levels rise.

New lighting on SH15 and SH1

Street light posts and luminaires (lights) are currently being installed on the northern side of SH15, from the roundabout towards Otaika Valley Road, as well as along SH1. The southern side of SH15/Loop Road will have lights installed over the next two weeks, once cabling is completed.

Contact the SH1 Loop Road project team

If you have any concerns or queries about upcoming works, please call Mel Norris from Fulton Hogan on 0800 577 623.

Road users can also contact Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency at any time on 0800 44 44 49.

More information

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/loop-road