As work continues to repair the storm damage to the Thames Coast Road (SH25) and get life back to normal on the Coromandel Peninsula, the NZ Transport Agency has lifted part of the five tonne weight restriction on the section of road between Te Puru and Manaia.

“Our engineers are satisfied that we can allow trucks travelling in a southbound direction to use the road which should allow businesses like the mussel farms and forestry owners to take their products off the peninsula,” says the Transport Agency’s acting Waikato Transport System Manager Rob Campbell.

“At this stage the five tonne weight restriction remains in place for northbound traffic as there are still sections of the road where we’ve not yet provided full strength to the seaward edge of the road,” says Mr Campbell.
“We want to ensure that there is no risk of a truck accidentally toppling over the edge of the road due to the reduced strength of the damaged road. “

Northbound trucks over five tonnes should continue to use the alternative route via SH25A from Kopu and SH25 on the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula.

“We acknowledge this does add considerable time and distance to the journey and we thank drivers for their patience and understanding, says Mr Campbell.

Over the next month the focus will be on repairing and strengthening the approximately 10km of sea protection wall that was damaged during the storm. The full repair programme is scheduled to be completed by the end of March, weather permitting, but the Transport Agency is seeking to remove the weight restriction on northbound vehicles before then.

Drivers should continue to check our website or call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS before they travel and expect lengthy delays with stop/go traffic control and speed restrictions at a number of sites, says Mr Campbell.

How to stay up to date:

· 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/
· Thames Coromandel District Council facebook updates here www.facebook.com/ThamesCoromandelDistrictCouncil/
· Drivers can also call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49) to speak to the call centre team who can provide them with traffic and travel information either before they’re travelling or when they’re on the road.

© Scoop Media