Paul FitzGerald

SH 59 Work on Slipface

/ / Uncategorized

Waka Kotahi has advised that further work is to be undertaken on the slipface just noth of the Northern Lookout.

You will have noticed work restarting on the slip face north of Pukerua Bay.

Phase 2 of the coast road slip control project is about to get underway.

Two stop/goes during the daytime this week on the coast road are a taste of things to come.

The work won’t have much impact on traffic at first – just the shoulder closed with the current 50km/h speed restriction continuing on.

The Phase 2 hillside stabilisation and safety project follows the earlier work to stabilise the hillside where a large slip in late August closed the road for several weeks.

This second phase of  work will strengthen the earlier slip control work and will include drilling drains to improve drainage, installing mesh and soil anchors in some areas, and spraying a concrete surface (shotcrete) over others.

  • December stop/go

From 6 December, stop/go traffic control will be in use fulltime day and night until the Christmas/New Year break, then will resume on Monday 9 January through to Friday 27 January.

Only one lane will be open and traffic lights will control the flow of vehicles.

Road users should expect delays.

However, we will be directing through-traffic to use the alternative route of  SH1 Transmission Gully and leave this area of SH59 to the locals as much as possible.

There will be a break from the works over Christmas and New Year when both lanes will be open.

Pedestrians and cyclists can continue using the path beside the seawall throughout the project, though they should be aware there may be times when our traffic controllers ask them to wait.

While the contractors are busy with this hillside stabilisation work, we will take the opportunity to reseal sections of State Highway 59 between Plimmerton roundabout and Pukerua Bay.

The resealing will take approximately 4 days and is planned for early December.

We will send you more information when the resealing dates are confirmed. Regular updates will be sent on progress with the Phase 2 hillside stabilisation project.

FYI – please see the media release below on the Pukerua Bay slip site for you to share. Please contact us with any queries.

Ngā mihi,

Kerry du-Pont, Anita De Klerk & Lynsey Morgan / Customer Communications and Engagement Team
Wellington Transport Alliance

E anita.deklerk@wta.nzta.govt.nz; / M 027 227 9841 / w nzta.govt.nz

E lynsey.morgan@wta.nzta.govt.nz  / M 027 202 1670 / w nzta.govt.nz

21 November 2022 9:20 am | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

The work site

More work is planned to stabilise a slip face on State Highway 59, Pukerua Bay, on the Kāpiti Coast.

The section of highway was closed for around four weeks in late August and early September for slip clearing and stabilisation work.

Mark Owen, Regional Manager Wellington/Top of the South, says phase two of repair works at the site begins this week.

“It will strengthen the earlier slip control work and includes drilling drains, installing mesh and soil anchors in some areas, and spraying a concrete surface (shotcrete) over others.”

“We know regular users of the road and local residents have noticed the effect the weather has had on the earlier repairs. It was always our intention to do more work at this site. Keeping this vital transport link maintained and resilient is a priority”, Mr Owen says.

Contractors will get the work underway this week from Monday, 21 November. There will be stop/go traffic control in place for two days while concrete barriers are placed on the road shoulder to protect the work site. This should not have a major effect on traffic flows as vehicles will be able to move freely while work is done behind the barriers

The main works will begin on 6 December under fulltime stop/go traffic management. Mark Owen says this will affect road users more.

“Only one lane will be open, and traffic lights will control vehicle access. It means there will be delays on this part of State Highway 59. We recommend drivers detour via State Highway 1, Transmission Gully, while this project is underway.”

Works schedule:

  • 21 November to 6 December
    • Stop/go traffic control for 2 days to install shoulder closure
    • Then 50km/h speed limit with road shoulder closed
    • Slip stabilisation works
  • 6 December – 20 December
    • One laned open and stop/go traffic control will be in use full time, day and night
    • Slip stabilisation works
  • 9 January – 27 January
    • One laned open and stop/go traffic control will be in use full time, day and night
    • Slip stabilisation Works

SH 59 Work on Slipface Read More »

SH59 Pukerua Bay Rail Overbridge Resurfacing

/ / Announcements, Road safety

Waka Kotahi has advised that the railway overbridge will be resurface Thursday 27th between 7:00 pm and 5:30 am (Friday Morning.

Good afternoon,

We would like to advise you of night-time resurfacing on State Highway 59 at the Pukerua Bay railway overbridge programmed for Thursday night, 27 October between 7pm and 5.30am.

Traffic will be managed with stop/go traffic control during the works.

SH59 Pukerua Bay Rail Overbridge Resurfacing Read More »

SH59 Re-opened this morning

/ / Announcements, Road safety, Transport

We are again having direct access to the north, and work is continuing—so keep to the lowered speed limit. The latest from Waka Kotahi follows.

Good morning,

State Highway 59 between Pukerua Bay and Paekākāriki is now OPEN.

There are still active work sites along this corridor, so please take care and keep to the restricted speed limit for the safety of road users and crews.

We thank you for your patience.

Ngā mihi,

Anita De Klerk, Wellington Transport Alliance

SH59 Re-opened this morning Read More »

SH 59 Re-opening update

/ / Announcements, Road safety, Transport
The benchwork

SH 59 will not be re-open on Monday 12 September. There is more work to be undertaken. Waka Kotahi has provided the below up-date

Crews are working 24 hours daily to get State Highway 59 between Pukerua Bay and Paekākāriki reopened next week.

As of this morning, Friday, 9 September, 19,000 cubic metres, approximately 2500 truckloads of earth has been removed from the site as part of slip remediation, and slope benching works. Another 6,000 cubic metres, almost 800 truckloads, is to be removed this weekend.

Weather permitting, earthworks will be completed early next week.

The final part of the operation will be clearing the work site, installing edge barriers and reinstating the road before reopening safely to the public, which will take an additional 2-3 days.

On Monday, 12 September Waka Kotahi will provide an update on the expected timeframe for reopening the road.

Here are the FACEBOOK and TWITTER links for sharing.

We thank you for your patience and understanding.

Ngā mihi, Anita De Klerk (she/her)/ Customer Communications and Engagement Advisor

SH 59 Re-opening update Read More »

Meet the Candidates Wednesday 14 September

/ / Announcements, Event, Meeting

After the success of this event at the last Local Body Elections we are doing it again. Candidates for PCC Mayor, Parirua Maori Ward, Pauatahanui General Ward and GWRC Porirua-Tawa Ward have been invited to introduce themselves to the community then face up to questions (feel free to send a question to secretary@pukeruabay.org.nz but do indicate if it’s aimed at Mayoral, Regional or PCC candidates).

The meeting will be in the School and Community Hall starting at 7 pm and finishing at 9 pm with the opportunity to mingle and talk more to the candidates after the Q & A session.

If you’re inclined bring a plate.

Meet the Candidates Wednesday 14 September Read More »

SH59 Update 3 September

/ / Announcements, Road safety, Transport

Waka Kotahi has provided a further update. It is anticipated State Highway 59 will re-open Monday 12 September if work goes smoothly.

SLIP CONTROL, PUKERUA BAY HILLSIDE SAFETY PROJECT: UPDATE 2 September 2022

Since Friday 26 August,excavators have cleared the unstable overhang above the slip face and relocated the spoil using multiple trucks. Excavators are working at the top and bottom of the hillside to remove vegetation and soil to create a slope that will be stable long-term, rather than do a quick temporary clean-up. Benches (steps) are being formed along the hill to capture debris, like the benches seen on the Ngauranga Gorge hillside. Approximately 15,000 cubic metres will need be removed – that’s over 2300 truckloads of earth – with 7000 cubic metres already having been removed as at Thursday afternoon 1st September.

Multiple crews are working 10 hours a day, seven days a week to complete the safety project in as short a time as possible to minimise the impact on people’s journeys. To minimise customer impact from our maintenance activity for the next year, the closure between Pukerua Bay and Paekākāriki has been used by many crews to undertake scheduled maintenance work, such as road and barrier repairs, high risk tree removal and pruning along with drain clearing.

Work has also started on making the Pukerua Bay lookout at the top of the hill safe, where two slips have undermined footpaths.

When can the road reopen to the public?

It is hoped that the road could reopen on Monday 12 September 2022, if all goes smoothly. The safety project team continue to assess the site daily to seek potential opportunities to allow limited public access past the site. Meanwhile the road remains closed to all users.

Occasional planned and carefully coordinated escorts for any train replacement buses is occurring when needed, to maintain this vital link for people. Limited access has also been maintained between Pukerua Bay and Paekākāriki for cyclists and pedestrians who are able to use Pukerua Beach to access the path at the bottom of the hill. However, they need to exercise caution for the uneven surface and high tides.

Thanks for your patience and understanding while this essential work is carried out.

Please contact: customer@wta.nzta.govt.nz with your queries.

After slip Clearance
Reshaping in progress

SH59 Update 3 September Read More »

SH59 Remediation Update

/ / Announcements, Road safety, Transport

The next update on the re-opening of SH59 between Paekākāriki and Pukerua Bay will be provided on Friday 2 September. From Wellington NZTA:

The hillside continues to be assessed daily to ensure safe access to cyclists, vehicles and pedestrians can be restored. Residents can continue to access Pukerua Bay from the south and Paekākāriki resident access is from the north. All other road users to continue using SH1 as an alternate route.

We know these works are inconvenient and thank the community for their patience!

Follow them on Facebook or on Twitter:

SH59 Remediation Update Read More »

SH59 Pukerua Bay Hillside Stabilisation

/ / Announcements, Road safety, Shared Pathways & Cycleways, Transport

Waka Kotahi has provided an update on the measures being taken to lessen the threat of further slips. This work is going to several weeks. The opening of Transmission Gully provides an opportunity to undertake remedial work that would be a far more difficult undertaking were the route still State Highway 1.

SLIP CONTROL, PUKERUA BAY HILLSIDE SAFETY PROJECT: UPDATE 26 August 2022

A hillside safety project is underway to help prevent further slips on the State Highway 59 coast road leading up to Pukerua Bay. Wellington Transport Alliance crews are removing a large overhang of soil and trees above the slip face to prevent further slips. A deep fracture in the ground behind the overhang at the top of the hill means this area is very unstable and could break away at any time.

Hillside slip control

The road between Fisherman’s Table and the northern end of Pukerua Bay has become a worksite and must remain closed for everyone’s safety, not just because of the risk of a slip but because of the machines operating in the area. The safety project could take some weeks, depending on conditions. The hillside diagram, shown over the page, illustrates the overhang and the fractured ground and highlights the work that is planned to reshape the hill and prevent further slips.

Multiple works, including road and barrier repairs, tree pruning and other maintenance, are taking place to make the most of the closure.

The hillside is being inspected daily to assess when pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles can be allowed back in the area. Meanwhile, pedestrians and cyclists can use the Pukerua Bay off-road beach walking track to bypass the works but must exercise caution for high tides and weather conditions. The soft beach sand and the slope leading up to the layby at the bottom of the hill make for difficult going, particularly for cyclists. A fenced-off path has been created around the layby to keep path users safe from moving machinery. The path beside the seawall north of the layby can be used and we ask people to stay on the path and not to walk or cycle on the road as work trucks and machinery are using the area.

Please contact: customer@wta.nzta.govt.nz with your queries.

SH59 Pukerua Bay Hillside Stabilisation Read More »

SH59 Cyclists and pedestrians access to Paekakariki

/ / Announcements, Road safety, Shared Pathways & Cycleways

Waka Kotahi has advised the following

Since the slip on Friday 19 August, the coast road between Fisherman’s Table and Pukerua Bay has been closed for the clean-up and to protect road users if there are further slips. It will be closed for a few more weeks for hillside safety works to reduce the risk further.

The road has become a worksite with barriers to keep people out for their safety.

  • Please do not enter the slip control works area on the hill.
  • People using the off-road beach walking track to bypass the works can use the path beside the seawall to head north once they leave the layby at the bottom of the hill.
  • Please do not walk or cycle on the road north of the layby as work trucks are using the area and road repairs are also being done. Stick to the path.
  • A path has been created from the beach walking track around the layby at the bottom of the hill with a barrier to keep you safe from moving machinery.
  • Access via the beach walking track depends on the weather and high tides. Please exercise caution.
  • We will continually monitor the situation to see when it will safe for pedestrians and road users to return to the road past the slip area.

Please contact: customer@wta.nzta.govt.nz with your queries.

SH59 Cyclists and pedestrians access to Paekakariki Read More »