North-bound trucks are scheduled to be back using the SH25-Thames Coast Road between Te Puru and Manaia from the end of this month.

Vehicles weighing more than five tonne have been prohibited from travelling north on this section of SH25 since it was storm-damaged in early January.

Trucks have been able to travel south on the road since late January as this side of SH25 Thames Coast Road suffered less damage than the sea-ward north-bound lane.  

The full repair of the road is still expected to be completed by the end of March.

The first stage of this is repairing and strengthening the approximately 10km of sea protection wall that was damaged during the storm. This will ensure the road is better able to withstand storms in the future.

While this work is ongoing drivers on this section of SH25 should continue to expect lengthy delays with stop/go traffic control and speed restrictions at a number of sites.

Once the sea protection wall is complete in early to mid-March then delays to travel on SH25 should be reduced, as more of the road will be returned to two lanes.

The final stage of work during the remainder of March will involve rebuilding the road pavement and laying the road surface.

While the road is being repaired the Transport Agency is also looking at what work can be done to make it more resilient to future storm events.

While the full repair programme is scheduled to be completed by the end of March , the Transport Agency will seek to remove the last weight restriction before then and will continue to provide updates.

How to stay up to date:
· A 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
·  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.

Work to start on SH25/25A resilience projects

Work will begin this month on $2.8 million of resilience projects to help make SH25 and SH25A better able to withstand slips and rockfalls.   

From now until the end June 2018 work will take place at a number of sites to help make the road more resilient to the effects of storms and heavy rain.

The main projects to be completed around the Coromandel Peninsula are:

• SH25A Kopu-Hikuai retaining wall and rock protection wall 
• Boundary Creek, rock wall to protect against erosion
• Kereta Hill, retaining wall (section 2)
• Whangapoua Hill, retaining walls at two sites
• Kuaotunu Hill, retaining walls at two sites

In addition to the resilience work there are a number of projects to improve safety around the Coromandel that will take place this year.

One of the SH25 sites for rockfall protection work