News & Media Releases
Traffic switches to new lanes at Mercer
22 April 2004
SH1 traffic will be switched onto a new highway embankment at Mercer shortly to allow trucks to use the old highway for hauling earth and rock.
The new embankment through the old Winstone’s sandpit area between Mercer and Meremere will eventually form the two northbound lanes of the Waikato Expressway, but for now it will serve as a two-way traffic diversion.
The diversion is part of Transit New Zealand’s Mercer to Longswamp project to construct 10km of four lane expressway and eliminate the crash blackspot at Meremere.
Project manager Chris Allen urges motorists to stick to the signposted speed limits, and to take special care travelling through the construction site.
“The old highway has lost its shape in many areas due to embankment construction nearby, and that’s why we have a blanket 80km/hr speed restriction in place. Where work is being carried out close to the road, speed restrictions will be lower to protect both motorists and construction staff.
“The highway will remain two lanes right through to completion in 2006. During that time we will divert traffic onto new two-lane sections to allow us to reconstruct the old highway.”
Mr Allen warned motorists to keep their eyes on the road and resist the urge to “rubber-neck” at construction activity.
“When we first started construction, we had a number of minor crashes and near-miss incidents when motorists took their eyes off the road. We don’t want a repeat,” he said.
While the lower speed limits through the construction area have reduced the number of crashes, Mr Allen said there were still too many nose-to-tail crashes caused by drivers failing to watch the road ahead.
“The new diversion through the sandpit area will eliminate the Oram Road crossing and allow trucks to haul earth and rock to many areas without crossing the highway,” he said. The traffic lights at the Springhill Road heavy vehicle crossing will remain for some time.
Mr Allen said the traffic deviation had been originally planned for late January/early February, but had postponed due to continual rain and flooding.
This had curtailed earthworks and road construction for most of February.
NEWS MEDIA:
For further information, contact:
Chris Allen
(07) 957 1610
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