Media Release



Transit New Zealand 

Hamilton Regional Office

Media Release

28 March 2008

Road works on State Highway 2

The passing lane outside the Maramarua Golf Course will be closed from Monday as work begins on temporary diversions at the eastern end of Transit New Zealand’s SH2 Mangatawhiri Deviation project.

Transit regional manager Kaye Clark said that traffic will be moved onto the golf course side of the road to enable works to widen the exisiting road and build a temporary diversion.  Traffic will then be moved onto the new piece of road and construction of the eastern end of the Mangatwhiri Deviation can begin.

While a 70km/h speed restriction will be in place, the contractor will ensure disruption is kept to a minimum,  and that two lanes remain open during the works, although at times, stop/go traffic control may have to utilised. Motorists should expect some delays, and use alternative routes where possible.

Sergeant Harry Watt, Police Highway Patrol Group Supervisor, Pokeno, urges motorists to stick to the signposted speed limits, and to take special care when traveling through the construction site.

“Watch out for new directions and remember that in coming months there will be changes made to the traffic flow and motorists should not expect to necessarily travel on the same piece of road that they may have done so the previous week.   Unfortunately we will have to take extra enforcement action as there will always be some drivers who will fail to comply with the temporary speed signs and the last thing that we need right now is to have someone either killed or seriously injured in this area,” he said.

Mrs. Clark thanked everyone for their patience and said motorists faced just a few more months of inconvenience, with an expected completion in late 2008. The $46 million project will provide a two-lane undivided highway bypassing several crash black spots and the Mangatawhiri village.


For further information please contact:

Kaye Clark
Regional manager
Ph 027 279 5751

Or

Janette Wise
Communications advisor
027 440 1226