Tauranga City Council is preparing to complete the final stage of repairs to the slip below Ōropi Road, with overnight resurfacing works scheduled for Wednesday 19 August, weather permitting.
The resurfacing marks the final step in an eight-week project to stabilise the slip site and strengthen this important transport route for the long term.
To safely carry out the work, the Ōropi-bound (southbound) lane of Ōropi Road between Maleme Street and the SH29A roundabout will be closed from 7pm on Wednesday 19 August until 6am on Thursday 20 August. Northbound traffic will remain open.
Southbound motorists travelling towards Ōropi will be detoured via Chadwick Road or Maleme Street and Cameron Road, the same route used during the first phase of construction.
In the meantime, work continues to complete the road foundations and construct the new kerb and gutter.
Manager: Transport System Operations, Shawn Geard, says the overnight closure will allow crews to complete the final section of resurfacing and line marking, and fully reopen the road.
"We're pleased to be reaching the finish line on this project earlier than originally planned. The final resurfacing works will complete the repair and leave the site in a much stronger position to withstand future weather events."
"We know the traffic management requirements, particularly during the school holidays when the project first got underway, created some disruption for people travelling through the area. We'd like to sincerely thank residents, motorists and businesses for their patience and understanding throughout the works."
Once resurfacing is complete, the road markings have been reinstated, and a new safety guardrail has been installed, the project will be finished. The resurfacing works are weather dependent and will be postponed to the next available night if conditions are unsuitable.
Project delivers long-term protection for Ōropi Road
Since construction began in early July, crews have completed a significant package of work designed to stabilise the slip area and improve the resilience of the road corridor.
The centrepiece of the project is a 60-metre-long, six-metre-high rock wall, constructed using approximately 2500 tonnes of rock, which will help protect the bank and roadway from further erosion and deterioration.
Other works include:
- Drainage improvements including the installation of a new high-back kerb and channel (gutter) to reduce water spilling over the bank during heavy rainfall
- Utility and service installations, and new safety barrier
- Road foundation reconstruction and final resurfacing.
Shawn says strong collaboration between contractor Fulton Hogan, subcontractor James Lux Developments, and council teams helped the project progress efficiently despite several challenges.
"The team delivered well under some complex conditions. The project required crews to build part of the wall below the waterline, work around tidal conditions, protect essential water pipes under the road, and meet stringent safety and environmental requirements, while also adapting to changes in rock supply during construction."
"The favourable weather, combined with the experience and efficiency of the construction crews, helped us complete the work more quickly than anticipated and minimise the impact on the community."
Following the school holidays, the traffic management set-up for the second phase of the project allowed work to continue safely while reducing the need for additional lane closures.
"That approach allowed the crews to work on both the retaining wall and the road shoulder, while keeping traffic moving. It's meant the final resurfacing can now be completed with just one overnight lane closure."
Tauranga City Council thanks everyone who has supported the project and followed traffic management requirements throughout construction.
Find out more: www.tauranga.govt.nz/oropislip