Overnight detours will be in place around the Norman Smith Street and Wairakei Drive intersection from Monday night as the next phase of traffic improvements to the northern entrance to Taupō gets underway.
The work is to improve the northern entrance into Taupō town centre and began with the first phase of the project at the gateway to town earlier this month.
Work on the Norman Smith Street intersection is the biggest phase of the five phase project. This phase includes the introduction of traffic signals, the introduction of two right-turning lanes on to Wairakei Drive from Norman Smith Street, and improvements to the access to Pois Road which runs down to the Waikato River. While this phase was due to start in mid-June, the work is ahead of schedule. Other phases include minor safety improvements to the intersection of Poihipi Road and Wairakei Drive, the introduction of traffic calming measures and the widening of the shared path on Control Gates Hill.
Project manager Ian Gray said the detours would be in place to enable two sections of road to be closed overnight at different times: one was the section of Wairakei Drive from Norman Smith Street to Poihipi Road and the other was Norman Smith Street.
At this stage, detours would be in operation from 6pm to 6am daily until the work is completed in August, he said.
Detours would run up Norman Smith Street and along Acacia Bay Road or Woodward Street to reconnect with Poihipi Road and Wairakei Drive. For the closure of Norman Smith Street, residents would still be able to gain access, but most traffic will be directed along Wairakei Drive, Acacia Bay Road and Woodward Street to reach their destinations.
“The first part of the work will involve the destruction of traffic islands so will involve heavy machinery, tower lighting and noise which may disturb residents,” Mr Gray said. “We hope to have most of the noisy work completed in the early evening to minimise this overnight, which is why we are starting at 6pm each night.”
Mr Gray encouraged those travelling from the north to and from town to alter their travel times to avoid peak traffic if possible.
“This will help motorists avoid the worst of the congestion while these improvements are underway,” he said.