Northland Roading Improvements To Ramp Up

Northland’s three District Council roading teams are
gearing up for a major resurfacing and road repair programme
in the hope wet weather is set to ease.

Spring and
summer are traditionally the seasons roadcrews can ramp up
activity around roading improvements and road renewal
programmes.

Roading crews hampered by ongoing wet
weather have focussed on temporary repairs in recent months
to get Northland motorists through winter, while plans were
finalised to launch into a full resurfacing programme from
now. Those more permanent repairs will continue throughout
spring, summer and autumn.

While the extremely wet
summer of 2022/2023 only allowed crews five clear weeks of
road construction, NTA General Manager Calvin Thomas is
hoping for an ongoing break in the weather, particularly
from September onwards, to allow crews to undertake an
uninterrupted stretch of critical work across Northland’s
Council roading networks.

“Because it was such a wet
season last summer, we could not do anywhere the amount of
resurfacing or unsealed network improvement works that we
had planned, which was very frustrating and we were also
contending with emergency event repairs from all of the
storm events over the past year or two,” says Mr
Thomas.

“Northland’s three District Councils are
planning for delivery of a combined $200M of investment in
repairs, maintenance and improvements to our local roading
and transport networks over the next 12 months. So, from
September and throughout summer, it will be a very busy time
on our roads as we play catch up.”

Mr Thomas says
following Cyclone Gabrielle, crews have completed
approximately $25 million of emergency repair works out of
the estimated $89 million across the Far North, Whangārei
and Kaipara District Council networks. These initial repairs
are focussed on the less complex sites, with planning
underway to begin the programme of initiating repairs on
larger sites.

As work continues on these slip repairs,
with over 100 significant slip sites remaining across the
region, some of the repairs are expected to take several
years to fully complete.

Summer is also time to
properly fix areas under stress, usually indicated by
potholes because it can effectively be done when the ground
is dry, he says.

“On average, we are identifying and
attending to more than 8500 potholes per month, but again we
ask ratepayers to phone their local council and report any
urgent potholes or roading damage.”

His sentiments
are reiterated by WDC Chief Executive Simon Weston who,
speaking on behalf of all three Councils, says Northlanders
can look forward to more roading progress in months to
come.

“Northland’s elected members, staff and
contractors are all aware that the current state of
Northland’s local road network is significantly below
where it needs to be,” says Mr Weston.

“The
significant amount of work planned over the next six months
will result in improvements, however, on top of this we are
also undertaking a full review of our roading activities to
ensure our communities are receiving quality and value
outcomes.”

Key roading projects to get underway in
Kaipara, Whangārei and Far North Districts in the coming
weeks and months are as
follows:

Kaipara

Unsealed road rehabilitation
(pavement rebuild) treatments are planned for approximately
20 roads across the Kaipara District, including Awakino
Point North Road, Gorge Road, Lawrence Road and Oruawharo
Road.

Sealed road rehabilitation works are also
planned on sections of roads across the Kaipara District,
including Baylys Coast Road, Baldrock Road and Moir
Road

Phase three of the Mangawhai shared path will
begin late 2023, filling in the remaining sections to
provide a continuous link between Mangawhai village and the
heads.

Dargaville shared path will commence (pending
final Council approval) creating a number of off-road cycle
routes throughout the town connecting key locations to
provide safe walking and cycling access between schools,
shopping areas and residential
areas.

Whangārei

Unsealed road rehabilitation
(pavement rebuild) treatments are planned for numerous roads
across the Whangārei District, including Millbrook Road,
Helmsdale Road, Otuhi Road, McBreen Road and Lowe
Road.

Sealed road rehabilitation works are also
planned on sections of roads across the Whangārei District,
including Springfield Road, Waiotira Road and Pipiwai Road,
while Port Road/Kiorerora Road intersection upgrade works
will continue with an expected completion in early
2024.

Te Kamo share path stage 5 works will begin,
providing a shared path from the end of the existing path at
Fisher Terrace through to Te Kamo township – including
several slow streets – to provide safe access to the new
off-road path.

Far North

Unsealed road
rehabilitation (pavement rebuild) treatments are planned for
approximately 16 roads across the Far North District,
including Diggers Valley Road, Gumfields Road, Tokawhero
Road, Remuera Settlement Road, Orira Road, and Ngawhitu
Road.

Sealed road rehabilitation works are also
planned on sections of roads across the Far North District,
including Cumber Road, Gill Road, Kaitaia-Awaroa Road,
Ngapipito Road and Pipiwai Road.

Bridging renewal
works will see significant improvements undertaken on
several bridge including Churtons Road Bridge, Quarry Road
Bridge, Wekweka Road Culvert, Hihi Road Bridge and Matai
Road bridge.

Meanwhile, the seal extension programme
will see sections of Ruaroa Road and Hautapu Road
sealed.

The new footpath programme will see new
footpaths constructed on several roads, including Cable Bay
Block Road, Haruru Fall Road and Parnell
Road.

Ratepayers can keep up to date with resurfacing
and road repair programmes at:

https://www.kaipara.govt.nz/road-repairs

https://www.fndc.govt.nz/Our-services/Transport/Roads/Road-maintenance/Long-term-road-repairs-severe-weather-damage

https://www.wdc.govt.nz/Services/Roads-and-Transportation/Roads/Roadworks-and-Closures/Long-term-repairs

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