Gisborne & Hawkes Bay Road Report
Delays expected on SH35 for routine bridge inspections
Two routine bridge inspections on State Highway 35 are scheduled for later this month.
On Tuesday 14 July, crews will be at two bridges – the Mangaomeko Stream Bridge between Pōtaka and Wharekahika/Hicks Bay and further south at the Hikuwai Bailey bridge.
Work on the Mangaomeko Stream Bridge will take place between 9am and 3pm and will be under stop/stop traffic management. Motorists should expect delays of up to 30 minutes at a time.
Crews will be carrying out routine testing of the bridge deck.
At the Hikuwai Bailey bridge, crews will be carrying out a routine walk of the bridge and making repairs if needed.
That inspection will take place from 9am and take approximately four hours. Motorists should expect delays of up to 15 minutes.
Overnight closures; new road layout ahead for SH2 HB Expressway
A stretch of State Highway 2 Hawke’s Bay Expressway will be closed overnight later this month ahead of a new road layout for motorists.
The expressway, between Kennedy and Taradale Roads, will be closed for two nights on Sunday 19 July and Monday 20 July, between 7pm and 6am both nights.
A signposted detour will be in place for all road users.
Light vehicles will be detoured onto Meeanee Road, Lee Road, Gloucester Street, Kennedy Road and onto Taradale Road before rejoining the expressway. The reverse will apply for southbound vehicles.
Heavy vehicles will be detoured right at Meeanee Road, onto Awatoto Road and onto State Highway 51.
The work will be complete by 6am Tuesday 21 July.
During these overnight closures, crews will be moving barriers and updating line markings across the full width of the road. This allows northbound traffic to be shifted onto a newly constructed section of pavement.
A full closure is required so crews can safely access all areas of the highway in one go. This approach allows the work to be completed more quickly and avoids ongoing disruption from extended lane closures or stop/go traffic management.
New road layout on SH2
Once the works are complete, a new road layout will be in place between Taradale Road and Kennedy Road. Northbound traffic will be shifted west onto the new pavement, while the southbound lane will remain unchanged.
A temporary speed limit will remain in place through the work site. Road users are asked to take care and drive to the conditions.
Planned bridge works
In addition, overnight works are being planned during the week of 20 July in support of ongoing bridge construction activities at the Tutaekuri River Bridge. These works may require stop/go traffic management and short delays for road users. Further details will be communicated once timing and traffic management requirements are confirmed.
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Overnight closures ahead for SH2 during essential bridge strengthening work
Essential strengthening work is now underway on State Highway 2 at the Wairakaia Rail Bridge, between Wairoa and Gisborne.
As part of the strengthening work, SH2 between Nicks Head Station Road and Coop Road will be closed in both directions for 3 nights next month (in August) so crews can carry out dowel installation on the rail bridge.
Dowel installation is the use of steel bars to link sections of concrete in a bridge, helping them share weight while still allowing small movements. The road needs to be fully closed while this work takes place for the safety of all road users and crews. The closure will also give the epoxy used on the bridge deck time to set.
The road will be closed in both directions at night on:
- Sunday 9 August
- Monday 10 August
- Tuesday 11 August
Closures will be in place from 8pm to 4am each night, with the road reopening at 4am on Wednesday 12 August.
There are no viable detours during these overnight closures. However, emergency vehicles will be assisted through the closure if required.
To minimise impacts as much as possible, the main strengthening work has been scheduled overnight when traffic volumes are lowest and to reopen at 4am.
Dayworks are underway at the bridge from 8am to 6pm each day, Monday to Friday. Some temporary traffic management may occasionally be in place leading up to the closures, with minor delays expected.
The work is weather dependent. Contingency dates are Sunday 16, Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 August, 8pm to 4am each night.
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