Update on current and upcoming South Waikato roadworks

Works and a full block closure will start at 5am Monday, 7 October 2024 and will take six weeks to complete (weather permitting). SH1 will be closed from the SH1/SH32 Tokoroa intersection to the SH1/SH30 intersection north of Ātiamuri.

Full block closures and detours are needed to carry out road rebuilding work. This involves milling out the existing road surface and replacing it with new material and foam stabilised bitumen. Additional works including shoulder widening, drainage improvement, sign repairs, resealing and line marking will take place during the closure. Additional maintenance activities, where required, will be undertaken.

All north and south bound vehicles will be detoured 24/7. SH1 traffic heading to Taupō and further south will be detoured via SH32 and SH30 and vice versa. It is estimated that the detour will add around 34 minutes, and 47.4km to the journey.

NZTA Waka Kotahi will soon be in contact with residents, businesses, clubs and schools in the area to discuss how the closure will work for them and how they can safely navigate the closure and work.

Alternative routes to SH1

For those travelling further distances, such as from south of Waiouru all the way up to a destination north of Tīrau (or vice versa), there is an alternative route.

Not only is it a very scenic route, it will also take a very similar journey time, and may even be quicker while the various detours are in place at the moment.

From Hamilton, take SH3 to Te Kūiti, and then SH4 to Taumarunui and National Park, then SH49 to Ohakune and on to Waiouru (same route if you are heading north reversed).

Information for freight

A special page has been set up on the NZTA Waka Kotahi website for freight, and the most up to date information will be there, which is relevant to all those in the freight industry. Currently there are some links to an HPMV map and HPMV information.

NZTA Waka Kotahi have been holding regular meetings with many of the freight industry leaders, and these have been very useful to us as we develop the plans for this project.

One point to reiterate is that everyone (trucks and cars) must stick to the confirmed and official detours. There are good reasons for not using shortcuts (also known as "rat runs" in transport talk). For instance, in a forthcoming night closure from Piarere to Tīrau, we will be closing Totman Road to through-traffic during the works. There is a structure on this route that is not suitable for HPMV, and an unprotected rail crossing, both of which mean this route is not a safe option, especially during night closures.

SH1 from the roundabout just south of Tīrau (SH1/SH5) through to the intersection of SH1/28 just north of Putāruru is into its second week of closure and the site is all action.

The detours remain in place (see map below) and only add a few minutes to your journey. Please drive carefully on the detours, they will be busier than normal due to the diversion while this work is going on.

The weather wasn't conducive to much work on Saturday and again this week when the temperatures really dropped. Temperature is one of the factors that must be right for some of the significant work to take place, otherwise we won’t get the right result.

The foam bitumen work will start next week, as long as the temperatures are right. It needs to be at least 13°C for the foam bitumen work to be successful as part of a road rebuild. Any lower and the aggregate (metal) will be too cold and the foaming won’t work as well. You can read more about the foam bitumen in an earlier newsletter.

While it has been wet and cold, plenty of work has been done. Vegetation clearance has been undertaken, and shoulder clearing has progressed well. The kerb and channel areas are ready for concrete pouring.

NZTA Waka Kotahi are also planning to do road surface maintenance repairs in areas within the closure.

A large number of trucks are bringing in the aggregate needed for the work, so the cones are needed for traffic control within the site, ensuring the pathways are clear for truck drivers and road crew to follow, without causing any issues for the other workers on the site.