Christel Yardley/Stuff
Waka Kotahi will begin work on SH3 at Stratford next week as part of its summer maintenance program.
The restoration of a stretch of Taranaki road will begin next week and will be completed in two parts.
Rehabilitation work on State Highway 3, between the intersections with Finnerty Rd and Bird Rd, south of Stratford, is part of Waka Kotahi’s summer maintenance program and will begin next week.
Work between Climie Rd and Bird Rd will begin on Wednesday, March 1 and end on April 1, with the second leg at the SH3 Climie Rd junction commencing on April 3 and running through April 29.
Work on the first phase was initially scheduled to begin on Monday, but Waka Kotahi reported on Friday that the timing had changed due to “changes in resources in response to Cyclone Gabrielle’s recovery.”
During the first leg, northbound traffic will be diverted from SH3 on Climie Rd before returning to SH3 on Ōpunake Rd and Celia St.
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THINGS / Things
The work will be completed in two phases commencing with resealing, resurfacing and rebuilding between Bird Rd and Climie Rd, Stratford.
In a written statement, Waka Kotahi said motorists should expect about 10 to 15 minutes of additional travel time.
The highway will be opened to southbound traffic with stop-and-go traffic management.
The second leg at the Climie Rd intersection remains open to motorists, but there is a stop-and-go traffic regulation.
Waka Kotahi said motorists should expect delays with an additional 10 to 20 minutes travel time during this leg.
THINGS / Things
The second phase consists of work at the Climie Rd intersection. Stop-go traffic management will be implemented once completed.
Crews will be on site between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday, during both phases of the work, although it was weather dependent.
During both phases of the work, emergency services will be able to traverse the sites when necessary.
The summer maintenance program comes after a particularly bad winter in which much of SH3 in Taranaki was riddled with potholes.
2022, the main reason for compensation complaints from Taranaki motorists was potholes.
Stuff
Potholed and Patched: The State of State Highway 3 through Taranaki. (first published July 12, 2021)
More Taranaki drivers filed compensation complaints with Waka Kotahi than drivers from Auckland, Wellington and the entire South Island combined.
This summer’s work was part of the Taranaki roads that Waka Kotahi hoped to repair by the end of the yearincluding Main North Rd, Onaero between Ohanga Rd and Onaero River Rd, South Rd, SH3, Mokoia and Manawapou and Waihi Rd, SH3, Hāwera between Fantham and Hunter Street.
Motorists are urged to check that they are up to date travel information on the Waka Kotahi Trip Planner.