Frustration after work delayed

• Published date: 24 June 2022
• Author: Imran Ali
• Publication title: Northern Advocate, The (Whangarei, New Zealand)

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has apologised to road users as the safety improvement project, which holds the title of Whangārei’s largest road construction project, hits yet another speed bump

But the apology was little consolation for daily commuters who pass through the roadworks to and from the city.

Stage one was pencilled in for completion in the first half of this year after the State Highway 1 Loop Rd project was resurfaced and a traffic island installed at the northern end of the site.

However, last year NZTA discovered an issue with the newly laid road surface between Lookout Hill and the Loop Rd intersection.

A section of the new road surface had failed to meet the required quality standards, meaning it needs to be resurfaced during the construction season starting in spring.

The roading contractor will bear the cost of resurfacing. NZTA wouldn’t specify the cost.

“The issue was discovered when carrying out quality assurance tests after the base course layer was constructed,” an NZTA spokeswoman said.“Test results indicated the material was not up to standard and would likely lead to premature failure.

“Waka Kotahi does not anticipate the remedial work will have a significant impact on the overall project timeline, which is currently being finalised and will be shared once complete.”

The NZTA apology is no consolation for daily commuters who pass through the roadworks, to and from the city.

Portland resident Ricki Shelford said the entire roadworks were dragging on for too long.

“I’ve lived here since the early 90s, and although we’ve always had congestion with odd road works there’s never been such a long delay in a roading project.”

Shelford said constant traffic hold-ups were a nightmare and just getting on to SH1 from Portland Rd at the best of times was a challenge.

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