NZTA Coast Rd work focusing on priority sites
NZTA Coast Rd work focusing on priority sites
NZ Transport Agency says repairs to the
Thames Coast Road (State Highway 25) are in full swing, with
the focus on prioritising sites and minimising inconvenience
to motorists and residents.
"Repair work is progressing well," says the Transport Agency.
"The sites along SH25 have been prioritised with safety and risk of further damage the key criteria," says the latest update from NZTA.
"Anyone driving this road should expect delays with stop/go control and speed restrictions at various sites," NZTA says.
About 1,700 tonnes of rock a day are being brought in by heavy vehicles to protect the road from further erosion. "This is necessary to rebuild the road surface and provide protection with another king tide due at the start of February," the NZTA update says.
NZTA's
contractor is laying dust suppression seals on areas with a
temporary metal surface until the sea protection walls are
complete. Once this is done, permanent seal will be put
down.
Vehicles of more than five tonnes are not permitted
on SH25 between Te Puru and Manaia, to avoid further damage
to vulnerable sections of the road. These vehicles can take
the alternative route via SH25A from Kopu and SH25 on the
eastern side of the Coromandel, as shown in the map
below.
Stay up to date on the Thames Coast
Rd
• A new webpage has been set up to
provide travel information for the journey from Thames to
Manaia www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/sh25
• The
key traffic and travel source which provides up-to-date
information on weather and road conditions nationwide is
www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• Important
information is also shared via the Transport Agency’s
official Twitter and Facebook accounts listed here
www.nzta.govt.nz/contact-us/connect-with-us/
• You
can also call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49) to speak to
NZTA's call centre team who can provide you with traffic and
travel information either before you're travelling or when
you're on the road.
•
Recovery
ongoing
We're continuing to clean up after the 5
January storm tide.
Today is the last day to put out
flood-damaged items on the kerbside for free
collection.
Until Wednesday, flood-damaged items can be
left at the Thames Refuse Transfer Station at 102 Burke Street without
charge. Check www.tcdc.govt.nz/rts for
hours.
Was your grass damaged by salt water
inundation?
The advice from David Ormsby, turf
specialist, is to water frequently, but this is best done
straight away.
By now any damage will be done, but it's
still worth doing to dilute residual salt and aid recovery.
A few days of rain (forecast for later in the week) will
also do the job.
We are still watering the Rhodes Park
rugby no. 1 field to aid regrowth.
If disaster strikes, are you ready?
Our Civil Defence
Controller Garry Towler reminds people this is probably the
first of a number of storms possible during the period until
about March or April.
"Individuals and families need to
be prepared for emergencies - prepared to look after
themselves for 3-5 days," says Mr Towler.
NZ Civil
Defence has prepared the Get Ready, Get Thru website
with lots of information about planning for emergencies. If
you get ready, then you can get through.
Another king
tide similar to that of 4/5 January is forecast for early
February. We're keeping an eye on MetService forecasts to see
what weather conditions will accompany it.
It's also
important to stay informed before, during and after
emergencies. The more avenues of communication available to
you, the better.
Here are some we
recommend:
• MetService - for weather forecasts
www.metservice.com
• Red Cross Hazards App - alerts
about hazards. Download from the App Store or Google Play
• Local radio - Check stations and frequencies
here
• Our Council's
website - www.tcdc.govt.nz
• Our
Council's email newsletters - www.tcdc.govt.nz/subscribe to
sign up
• Our Council's Facebook
page
• Waikato Civil Defence Facebook
page
• Know your neighbours - phone each
other, especially vulnerable people, to check if they're
OK
• Emergency Mobile Alert - these can be sent to your
mobile phone, without needing to download an app or sign up.
Check if your phone is capable of receiving them, here
For more on these
channels, and other information about staying informed in
emergencies, go to the Civil Defence "Never Happens"
website