Piling work for the new Tutaekuri River Bridge will now begin this week.

The work, as part of the State Highway 2 Hawke’s Bay Expressway Roads of National Significance programme, had been scheduled to begin earlier this month but a delay to the delivery of the pile casings pushed the start date later.

Work is now expected to begin tomorrow (Wednesday) and work will progress as previously outlined.

Crews will be working Monday to Friday in the off-peak times, between 10am and 2pm only. Occasionally crews may work the same hours on a Saturday.

During those hours, large steel casings need to be lifted into place to allow for cement to be poured into them.

There may be up to 4 lifts every day during the off-peak work period. On each occasion, traffic will be stopped in both directions. Delays of between 10 and 20 minutes are to be expected, while the lift happens and the traffic queues are subsequently cleared. This temporary traffic management will apply 80 metres each side of the bridge.

Please plan your journey accordingly and expect to be stopped on this stretch of road if you’re travelling between 10am and 2pm.

During the work, a large crane will be lifting long steel piles (up to 36 metres) into position. To keep everyone safe, traffic must be stopped until the pile is secure.

This work is expected to be completed by July. However other bridge work will continue to the west of the existing bridge.

Other work on the expressway:

Motorists can expect to see more activity as the project ramps up to create a safer, more efficient expressway.

SH2 Tutaekuri River Bridge

• An overnight stop/go will be in operation Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 January, 8pm to 5am each night for flexible median barrier removal and road resurfacing.
• This was previously scheduled for last week but delayed due to the weather.
• During the day, both lanes will be open under a 70km/h temporary speed limit.

SH2 Taradale Road roundabout to Meeanee Road

• Overnight closures starting Tuesday 3 February, 8pm til 5am each night. No work on Fridays and Saturdays.  
• Work includes flexible median barrier removal, temporary paving, line marking and the installation of temporary safety barrier.
• Detour suitable for all vehicles including HPMV via Meeanee Road, Lee Road, Gloucester Street and Taradale Road (the reverse will apply). Over-dimensional vehicles and emergency services will be escorted through the site. 

Take extra care when driving on the Expressway

Work sites are active near the Taradale Road roundabout and Tutaekuri River Bridge, with another planned at Meeanee Road to start early next year.

Please take extra care when driving through the expressway. Your patience helps keep everyone safe - thank you.

SH2 Hawke’s Bay Expressway (Road of National Significance project)(external link)