Safety comes first for Brynderwyns

Heavy machinery at work improving safety on the Brynderwyn Hills. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Heavy machinery is cutting banks along the Brynderwyn Hills as work on $16 million of safety improvement cranks into top gear.

Temporary speed signs of 50km/h have been put in place and cones are littered on the northern side of the hill as United Civil start preparatory work which includes road widening and a median wire rope barrier installed to separate north and south-bound traffic.

The south-bound passing lane on the north of the hill is down to one lane to enable the roadworks to be done.

New Zealand Transport Agency began the work in early December and should have the entire project completed by November 2016.

The highway would remain open to two-lane traffic throughout the project and there should be no need for detours as the contractors would be able to use the passing lane to maintain two lanes of traffic while they complete the work.

The work includes widening State Highway 1 (though not extending or putting in new passing lanes); removing tight corners and installing a median wire rope barrier to separate north and south-bound traffic.

It will also provide a place for people to stop and admire the tremendous views from atop the hill, with a new look-out over Bream Bay, Hen and Chicken Islands and the Waipu Plains being constructed.

Agency highway manager Brett Gliddon said the project was a large-scale one and there would be some disruption for drivers as some of the passing lanes would be shortened or closed, and people would need to drive with care and to be patient.

Contractors will work between 7am and 7pm. The work will be done in stages and no night work is planned.