NZTA all set for summer road rebuilding in Mid Canterbury

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is gearing up to complete 10km of reconstruction and 68km of resurfacing of the state highway network in Mid-South Canterbury over summer.

Journey manager Simon Harty says to expect more high-vis road crews and traffic managers repairing and re-sealing highways around Mid Canterbury from now into the new year.

In the South Canterbury and Mid Canterbury area, NZTA has scheduled 10 lane kilometres for full reconstruction (equivalent to 5km of two-lane highway) and 68 lane kilometres for resurfacing.

In Mid Canterbury, the major project will take place in Ashburton in March.

It will involve upgrading the structural asphalt on SH1 between the Ashburton Bridge and Dobson St and resurfacing from Dobson to Moore streets.

Pre-reseal pavement repairs to SH77, the Methven Highway, start this month with chipseal resurfacing of sections to be completed in November.

Then in November, there will be one week of resurfacing on SH77 near Winchmore, between Ashburton and Methven.

Pre-reseal pavement repairs on SH1 in places between Rakaia and Longbeach will start in late October and early November, with chipseal resurfacing to sections of the highway to be completed in January.

Between Ashburton and Timaru there will be ongoing work on the SH1 Rangitata River Bridge, with intermittent night closures in mid-to-late November.

In the new year, NZTA will start its resurfacing programme on sections of SH1 between Rakaia and Timaru.

Asphaltic concrete surfacing is also planned for some Ashburton township areas as well as re-surfacing the Hinds and Rangitata River Bridge decks.

All the work is funded through the State Highway maintenance and pothole prevention activity classes in the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).

Harty said most road maintenance can only happen over the summer months, as the increased daylight hours, warmer temperatures, and dry air are needed for the chip seal surfacing to stick to the pavements below.

”Our crews – contractors and sub-contractors – have a tight schedule, working through extremely variable conditions over summer.”

Heading into the busy road construction period, road users need to consider the extra travel time to reduce stress when the highways are getting busy, he said.

The Ashburton District Council will rehabilitate 8.5km and reseal 60km of local roads for a cost of $5.4m this summer - Separate to the NZTA road programme.

A 500m section of Ashburton Staveley Rd, near Walkhams Rd, and another 760m section of Ashburton Staveley, between Walkhams Rd and Ashburton Forks, have already been rehabilitated.

Another site on Ashburton Staveley Rd is under way, while works have also started on a 1.2km section of Forks Road and 1.3km of Pudding Hill Rd, either side of the intersection with Dip Rd and Longs Ford Rd.

Two sites on Beach Rd East are scheduled to be completed before Christmas, while work on Seafield Rd and Maronan Rd will be completed by April 2025.

NZTA major Mid-South Canterbury roadworks:

Ashburton 2024 and 2025
- Pre-reseal pavement repairs on SH1 between Rakaia and Longbeach start late October and November, with chipseal resurfacing to sections of the highway to be completed in January.
- Pre-reseal pavement repairs to SH77 start this month (October) with chipseal resurfacing to sections of the highway to be completed in November.
- Structural asphalt upgrade of SH1 between the Ashburton Bridge and Dobson St, along with resurfacing from Dobson to Moore streets in March 2025

Ashburton to Methven, SH77
- From November, one week of resurfacing on SH77 starting near Winchmore.

Ashburton to Timaru, SH1
- Ongoing work on the SH1 Rangitata River Bridge with intermittent night closures mid to late November.

Timaru to Glenavy
- From October 16, six weeks of road reconstruction over two sites south of Studholme, SH1, with temporary 30kph speed limitsand traffic signals running 24/7.
- From October 21, a week’s worth of resurfacing in the same area at three places on SH1: near Pareora, the SH82 turnoff (Nosh Roadside Gourmet corner) and through Glenavy township.
- The crew then moves onto SH82, the Waimate highway, for another week around Elephant Hill and Ikawai in November.

Timaru to Fairlie, SH8
- From October 30 through to the end of March, three sites will be reconstructed in succession on SH8 near Winscombe Hill/Coal Stream between Fairlie and Albury under temporary 30kph speed limits and traffic signals running 24/7.

Waimate to Ikawai, SH82
- From November 1, eight weeks of reconstruction through the Waimate Gorge. SH82 will be closed and an alternative route used.