Ongoing wet weather has resulted in delays to Tairawhiti Road’s sealing programme planned for the district.

A minimum of three-days of fine weather is required along with warm temperatures to allow the chip seal to stick to the road.

“We have 50km of much needed renewals on state highways and local roads to complete this construction season. Unfortunately we have had to stand down contractors on three occasions from our original start date of 19 November due to the weather,” Tairawhiti Roads general manager Dave Hadfield said.

The current programme was scheduled to have 20km of chip seal completed by the 14 December.

Some repairs started on Palmerston and Aberdeen roads last week and some sealing on the State Highway 2 was accomplished during the weekend but the long term weather forecast to Christmas doesn’t look favourable.

Chip sealing is also planned on State Highway 35 near the Tatapouri hill summit, aimed for completion by Christmas.

Roads programmed for this construction season include Back Ormond Road, Balance Street, Barkers Hill Road, Bright Street, Carnarvon, Cobden, Cochrane, Crawford, Endcliffe, Haache, Harper, Hillview, McDonald, Nelson, Parau, Ranfurly, Richardson Avenue, Riverside, Tiniroto, Valley and Waimata Valley Road,

After Christmas, Downers and Tairawhiti Roads will revisit the programme.

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