(NZTA media release)

Motorists on State Highway 2 (SH2) near Taneatua will have a safer road to travel on as soon as July, with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) confirming the new, realigned road will be completed that month.

The realignment project will provide a straighter, wider and safer road by removing the Taneatua Rail Overbridge, upgrading the existing detour around the over bridge (which has been in use since the over bridge closed in 2011) and widening the SH2/Taneatua Road intersection to improve sight distances at the intersection.

NZTA Bay of Plenty State Highway Manager Brett Gliddon, says that good weather will help workers complete the remaining earthworks, seal the new intersection and section of state highway, and finish the work by tying it in with the existing local road.

Mr Gliddon says creating a safer road has been a key focus of the project and progress has been excellent since construction started in November last year.

“The crew working on site are doing a great job and all is running to plan thanks to a great team and good weather. They’ve successfully removed the 85 year old rail over-bridge, installed a 2.4 metre culvert, sealed parts of the new road, and started shaping the new intersection and newly realigned state highway”.

State Highway 2 is an important local connector and regional freight route and this project is vital for maintaining security of this route and for the safety of travellers using it. Safety will be improved on the intersection by removing the curves, adding road width and increasing sight distances.

“We want to thank motorists and the local community for their patience during construction. The finish line is in sight, and all going to plan, the new road will be open in July”.

Drivers can now subscribe to On The Move, which is a free service providing information about road closures, road works and driving conditions on their frequently used routes - to sign up, go to www.onthemove.govt.nz.