$259 million is forecast to be invested in Tairāwhiti – Gisborne’s land transport system during the 2021–24 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) period. This will help Gisborne’s economy to grow and people to access essential health, education and employment opportunities. Improved access and resilience of the road network will also be supported.
Tairāwhiti – Gisborne NLTP 2022 update
Waka Kotahi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two of Tairāwhiti’s community providers to trial the initiative.
The MoU is between Waka Kotahi, Tairāwhiti Rural Education Activities Programme (REAP) and McInnes Driver Training Limited (J & S D McInnes Ltd).
The trial aims to increase driver testing services to help reduce the demand for practical tests and long wait times currently being experienced in the region.
Three sign up to trial for driver licence test(external link)
The damage to State Highway 35 following the March and April weather events is extensive and the long-term recovery plan is currently being worked through. The priority is to maintain access to communities living along the route, recognising that all who work and live on the coast rely on this roading connection as an important lifeline. A long-term construction plan to address the repair work necessary along SH35 is currently being worked through.
$32.5m in Provincial Growth Fund (PGF)/National Land Transport Programme is being spent on passing opportunities on SH2 and SH35 in Gisborne and Northern Hawkes Bay regions. We are on track to deliver 21 sites, a mix of new slow vehicle bays, extensions to existing slow vehicle bays and mobile phone laybys. This project is being delivered through the Taiāwhiti Roading Package (TRP).
SH2/SH35 passing opportunities
$13.5m of PGF funding is being spent on addressing the highest risk resilience sites on the Gisborne side of SH35.
The preferred solutions to improve safety and resilience through Waioeka Gorge will be recommended in a single stage business case in mid-late 2022.
SH2 Waioeka Gorge – resilience and safety
In partnership with the Gisborne District Council, an extensive programme of asphalt replacement was undertaken in Gisborne. The work was at multiple sites overnight in the city and on SH35. A major component of this work is the resurfacing and replacing of deck joints on the Gladstone Road Bridge.
A key bridge strengthening project on State Highway 2 through the Waioeka Gorge has been completed months ahead of schedule and under budget. This work was part of a wider programme designed to enable more efficient freight movements, increasing the load bearing capacity of six bridges between Gisborne and Ōpōtiki to bring them up to High Productivity Motor Vehicle (HPMV) standard.
Maintenance activity undertaken during 2021/22:
Maintenance infographic for 2021/22 [JPG, 1.1 MB]
Planned maintenance for 2022/23:
Maintenance infographic for 2022/23 [PNG, 145 KB]
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency sought feedback on its speed management plan for state highways. Submissions closed on 12 December 2022. A decision report will be available mid-2023.
![Maintenance infographic for 2021/22 [JPG, 1.1 MB]](/assets/About-us/img/regional-updates/maintenance-graphics/maintenance-infographic-gisborne-2021-22.jpg){kind=link}
![Maintenance infographic for 2022/23 [PNG, 145 KB]](/assets/About-us/img/regional-updates/maintenance-graphics/maintenance-infographic-gisborne-2022-23.png){kind=link}