Busy summer road fix ahead on West Coast

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

From local democracy reporter Brendon McMahon:

The West Coast can expect a busy State highway maintenance programme this year.

In a presentation last week by the NZ Transport Agency to the West Coast Regional Transport Committee, regional relationships director James Caygill said the summer maintenance programme for the region would be significant.

It followed a question from committee member Peter Haddock about the previously promised State Highway 7 Stoney Creek bridge replacement in the Grey Valley.

Caygill said he could give some progress reports on what was set out in the three year Regional Land Transport Plan for the Coast, including the maintenance programme, but could not give a detailed answer on Stoney Creek.

"I know we've got a large national maintenance programme, I know we have a significant maintenance programme for the West Coast this coming summer," he said.

"We got through quite a lot last year; we've got much more this year, not least of which because we kind of had to de-programme the first year of the three-year (plan) because of the way the funding announcements came through."

The West Coast was in "the same boat" as the rest of the country, with regional roads increasingly displaying potholes and patching, Caygill said,.

"I'll come back on Stoney Creek."

The wooden one-lane bridge accident blackspot is currently subject to a 30kph speed restriction. A replacement was promised by the former National government at the time the new Taramakau Bridge was announced about 2016.

In a follow-up, NZTA said it was progressing the Stoney Creek project but gave no clarity about the timeframe.

"The single stage business case report is now completed so staff are seeking approval for the business case which will be lined up nationally against other projects," staff said.

However, deteriorating road pavement - including in Kumara, Greymouth and at Paroa - are scheduled for resurfacing this summer.

NZTA West Coast maintenance contract manager Moira Whinham said the summer programme would include resurfacing 138km of chip seal over 75 sites across the region at a cost of $3.3 million.

In addition, 17,000 square metres of asphalt renewal was planned over five sites, including the Otira Gorge and High St, Greymouth, at a cost of $2.3m.

"We will also be undertaking significant pavement repair works on State Highway 6 in Paroa and State Highway 73 in Kumara.

"We will have teams undertaking pavement repairs including pre-reseal repairs throughout the network as required on an ongoing basis as the weather improves."

Whinham said road users may have short delays doing the work.

Maintaining a safe following distance and slowing down would minimise the chance of loose stone chip damaging vehicles and windscreens.

"Sticking to speed limits through work sites will help keep our teams safe while they're out there working in pretty hot conditions," she said.

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