New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) staff advised elected members at yesterday’s (9 June) Council meeting that a new start date has been set for the Pekatahi Bridge upgrade to avoid the peak summer season.
NZTA had previously advised that the project would commence before Christmas, but has now pushed that date out so that works will commence after Waitangi Day, 6 February 2017 and continue for a minimum three-month period. The closure will require all SH2 traffic to be re-routed through Whakatāne’s heavy traffic bypass via the Landing Road Bridge, Hinemoa Street, Arawa Road and Tāneatua Road.
Whakatāne District Mayor Tony Bonne says he is pleased that NZTA has revised their projected schedule for works. “NZTA previously advised us that up to 20,000 vehicles currently cross the Landing Road Bridge each day, and closure of the Pekatahi Bridge will add an additional 2,000 vehicles a day, including approximately 400 heavy vehicles,” Mayor Bonne says. “With congestion at peak commute times already a significant issue at the Landing Road Bridge, I’m glad that NZTA has heard the concerns of staff and elected members and pushed their start date out to February to reduce the potential impact of the project on traffic flows.”
Whakatāne District Council Manager Transportation, Martin Taylor, advised through his report to Council that NZTA will undertake a road condition assessment before and after the bridge closure along the diversion route, and also on Thornton Road, to help assess any accelerated pavement deterioration that may occur to these roads arising from the extra heavy traffic on them.
“NZTA have carried out some initial traffic modelling work to assess the impacts of diverting the State Highway traffic on the Landing Road Bridge following closure of the Pekatahi Bridge, and they have come up with some options to mitigate the effects,” Mr Taylor says. “These options will now be discussed with the affected residents and their feedback will also be considered through these options.
“NZTA has also assessed the morning and afternoon peak traffic issues across the Landing Road Bridge to assist in reducing the current Landing Road bridge congestion, and they propose to install cameras to monitor traffic flows on the roundabout and the Landing Road and SH30 approaches.”
Mr Taylor advised that the real time video images may also be able to be posted on Council’s website for public access. “NZTA will monitor traffic flows throughout the diversion period and will work with Council to address issues as they arise.”
Further to addressing the impacts of the Pekatahi Bridge diversion, NZTA has also committed to working with Whakatāne District Council to develop a Business Case on the future option of a second bridge for the town. “Our recent discussions with NZTA have also highlighted the merits of carrying out a review and update of Council’s Transportation Study and Traffic Model in time for these to inform the next Long Term Plan in 2018,” Mr Taylor concludes.