Road works will be ramping up across Coromandel’s state highway network from mid-February, as Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency continues to repair damage caused by last summer’s extreme weather.
Teams will be working with stop/go traffic management in place at up to six locations around the peninsula, and up to 10 locations from mid-March. Work will also be carried out on SH2 in the Karangahake Gorge and SH27 at Kaihere.
Recovery works also include intermittent road closures at Ruamahunga Bay on the Thames Coast to allow a helicopter to lift equipment and materials to the top of the slope and bring down trees that have been cleared. This work is weather dependent and work is expected to continue until mid-2024.
“These works will mean delays for road users, so plan ahead and allow extra time for your journey,” the agency said.
While SH25A was closed last year, work across the wider Coromandel highway network was carefully managed and sequenced to minimise further disruption to peoples’ journeys around the peninsula, Waikato regional manager of infrastructure delivery Jo Wilton said.
“Coromandel’s highway network remains vulnerable because of the unstable natural environment, and exposed coastal areas. Repairing the remaining damaged sites as quickly as possible is essential for ensuring the resilience of the Coromandel.”
The region was benefiting from these works with local suppliers being used where possible, Waka Kotahi said.
Last summer’s storms resulted in 50 major slip sites as well as surface flooding related damage at multiple locations across the Coromandel highway network, leaving it in a fragile state. During 2023, work was completed at 32 sites along SH25 and SH2. Work was also prioritised on SH25A while it was closed to ensure the entire corridor was safe and more resilient.
Traffic on SH25A quickly returned to usual following the reopening of SH25A. Traffic data from Waka Kotahi shows average daily vehicle numbers during the peak holiday period of around 7300 a day.
