We are repairing a slip that is affecting the shoulder of Ōropi Road, between the SH29A roundabout and Maleme Street. Delays are expected with traffic management in place – please plan ahead if you travel through this area or along SH29A.
Why are we doing this?
This work is essential to avoid the slip degrading further and severely impacting the road in the future.
What are we doing?
We are building a 60m long, 6m high rock wall, down to the Waiorohi Stream, to secure the bank. We selected this design because it is economical, effective and relatively quick to construct. This design also avoids vibrations which could damage a critical watermain running under Ōropi Road.
When is the work taking place?
Works begin on Monday 6 July and are expected to take until September to complete (8-10 weeks).
We are phasing the works to reduce disruption to the community, with the most disruptive works and traffic management to take place during the school holidays (6-19 July).
For the following phases, our crews will work on the shoulder and at the base of the wall during the day, with nighttime lane closures towards the end of the project to reinstate the road.
Traffic management
Phase 1: 2 weeks (6-19 July): Ōropi Road south-bound lane closed 24/7 between Maleme Street and the SH29A roundabout. Ōropi-bound traffic detoured via Chadwick Road and Cameron Road. 30km/h speed limits in place for city-bound traffic, and temporary traffic lights to manage traffic flow through the work site.
Maleme Street and Ōropi Road north of the closure remain open in both directions.
Please expect delays in the area, and along SH29A from Poike Road to Barkes Corner. Check live traffic maps before travelling and if you can, use another route.
- Travelling from Pāpāmoa? Consider Hewletts Road instead
- Travelling from Welcome Bay or Maungatapu? Consider Turrett Road instead
- Travelling from Pyes Pā or the Waikato? Consider SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road instead, if possible. Toll will apply.
Phase 2: 4-6 weeks (20 July to mid or late August): both lanes reopen, with 30km/h speed limits in place.
Phase 3: 2 weeks (late August/September): Ōropi Road south-bound lane closed at nighttime between Maleme Street and the SH29A roundabout. These closures will be advised via digital signage closer to the date.
Updated information on timing of works and road closures can be found at www.tccroadrepairs.co.nz
Bus routes
South-bound buses on Baybus routes 55 and CT will be rerouted via the detour during the lane closures. Please plan ahead as this will impact travel times.
FAQs
We need to close one lane of traffic for the first two weeks to enable slip debris to be removed and the site to be prepared for the construction of the rock wall.
A 24/7 south-bound lane closure was selected based on information from traffic modelling, showing how cars use this section of road throughout the day.
The option to use a tidal lane closure (one direction in the morning, one direction in the afternoon) was also considered but dismissed as it would create too much confusion for road users, and can be difficult to manage in busy traffic, causing further congestion and delays.
We selected this detour for through-traffic to avoid creating issues at the Maleme Street and Cameron Road intersection, which is very close to the busy Barkes Corner roundabout.
Although Chadwick Road often gets busy and slow, it has the advantage of providing several turning options, and has a roundabout at its intersection with Cameron Road, making it a safer option to detour the traffic.
Maleme Street and Ōropi Road north of the closure remain open in both directions.
When we closed this section of road in both directions for one day during the site investigations, we saw widespread impacts on the network – all the way from Baypark to beyond Tauriko. Traffic between Baypark and Maungatapu was especially impacted.
While we’ll only be closing one lane this time, instead of the whole road, we expect disruption and delays on state highways and local roads.
If people can avoid the area altogether, using alternative routes like Hewletts Road, Turrett Road and SH29 Takitimu Drive toll road instead, this will help reduce congestion on SH29A, and reduce disruption for road users who have no other option.