This page contains a news release from the New Zealand Transport Agency containing detailed information aboutroadworks at the intersection of Kamo Road and Western Hills Drive.
Updated:
29/04/2011 12:38 p.m.
NZ Transport Agency – Northland Regional Office
Care needed as next stage of NZTA’s Kamo improvements starts
The NZ Transport Agency says drivers will need to take extra care as work starts next week (2 May) on the next stage of the stage 2 State Highway 1 Kamo Bypass in Whangarei – construction of the bypass intersection with SH1 Western Hills Drive.
Construction of the intersection is expected to take four weeks, and due to the scale of the project it is inevitable that there will be disruption to traffic, says the NZTA’s Northern Corridor Manager, Brett Gliddon.
“We advise people to allow extra time for their journeys because there will be delays, particularly at peak times,” Mr Gliddon says “We also ask drivers to be patience and to take care not only for their own safety, but also for the safety of workers on the construction site.”
Traffic management plans and diversions will be in place to help drivers. Traffic will be diverted on to either Percy Street or Kamo Road depending on the work being undertaken. There will be no roadside parking on Percy Street during May, and temporary traffic signals are being erected on Percy Street to manage the flow of state highway traffic using this route.
“Drivers can help keep traffic flowing by following the marked diversion routes or altering their travel plans to avoid the area during peak times if possible,” Mr Gliddon adds.
Whangarei District Council’s construction of an extension of Spedding Road, which will intersect with the bypass, is nearing completion. This intersection will be controlled by traffic signals.
Mr Gliddon says that construction of the bypass remains ahead of schedule, and is due to be completed at the end of the year.
Stage two of the Kamo Bypass will provide a high quality connection on SH1 between Western Hills Drive and the existing bypass north of Kamo Road. The bypass will provide an alternative to busy Kamo Road, move traffic away from the city centre and provide much better management of traffic in the northern suburbs of Whangarei.
ENDS
Kamo bypass intersection construction
Frequently asked questions
How long will construction take?
Intersection construction is scheduled to commence the first week of May and take up to four weeksto complete.
When will the works be taking place?
Construction will be undertaken Monday to Friday during the day. Evening, over night or weekend construction will only be scheduled if adverse weather delays construction or if significant construction effects such as severe traffic disruption demands the work to be completed during off peak periods.
How will I know what the traffic detours are?
Intersection traffic will be detoured via Percy Street or Kamo Road depending on the work being undertaken. Electronic message boards will direct traffic to the detour routes and temporary traffic signals will be erected on Percy Street to manage traffic flows. Advertising in local newspapers and radio will also advise of the traffic detours.
How will the construction affect me as a motorist?
There will be increased traffic delays and congestion especially during peak times.
Motorists are advised to allow additional journey time and to avoid the area during peak times if possible.
I live on Percy Street- how will this affect me?
Residents on Percy Street will have unimpeded property access but will not be able to park on the roadside. Residents will experience times of increased traffic on Percy Street when the state highway is being diverted and extra vigilance is encouraged for residents with young children due to the increased traffic flows on the street.
Why is there no parking on Percy Street?
There will be no parking on Percy Street during construction to provide additional capacity for state highway traffic using this route. Removing parking allows for additional capacity for larger vehicles to navigate the detour and provides greater safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians using Percy Street.
My children walk to school- what do they need to know about road safety?
There are two schools in the area affected by the diversions and both will have school staff
supervising the pedestrian crossings located near their schools. School children must cross the road at pedestrian crossings or signalised traffic intersections where pedestrian crossing facilities exist. Parents and caregivers may wish to walk the school route with their children initially to familiarise them with any changes to their usual route. School children also need to be aware that there will be increased traffic around the area especially before and after school.
What happens after the intersection is completed?
After the Western Hills Drive and Kamo Bypass intersection is completed, work will shift to the north end ‘tie in’ onto the existing SH1 (adjacent to the golf course). This will also cause disruption to traffic though to a lesser extent.
After both intersections are complete what else is there left to do?
Further work includes installing noise walls, pedestrian facilities, safety barriers and a new railway crossing. A large retaining wall on Jack Street also needs to be completed.
Once traffic is using the new route the existing SH1 rail crossing will be removed along with the associated roundabout. In addition to road construction, 16,000m2 of the project area is being landscaped and planted over the next six months with a variety of native plants.
How long until the Kamo Bypass stage two is completed?
Contractors are ahead of schedule and expect the project to be completed by the end of this year.
Map showing intersection and proposed work [173kb]