New right turn bay planned State Highway 1 Koromiko

Accessing the Koromiko caravan park near Picton is about to get easier and safer.

NZTA/Waka Kotahi will be building a new right turn bay at the Freeths Road/State Highway 1 intersection at the end of this month.

Road crews will be on-site for around eight weeks with work to begin on 27 January and to continue until 28 March – weather permitting.

The turning bay is required as part of consent conditions for a new campground NZ Motor Caravan Association is establishing on Freeths Road. NZTA/Waka Kotahi has been working with the NZMCA on the project.

The construction of the right turn bay will see the southbound lane of State Highway 1 widened between Picton Golf Course and 100 metres south of Freeths Road. A flush median will extend from the right turn bay to Picton Golf Club.

The work will predominantly be completed at night from Sunday to Thursday between 7 pm and 6 am under stop/go traffic management.

Drivers can expect delays of approximately five-minutes when driving through Koromiko while this project is completed. Road users, especially those with ferry connections in Picton, should allow extra time for their journeys.

Residents close to the work site may experience some noise, lights, and vibration while the work is being undertaken. Our contractors will do their best to minimise disruption where possible.

With State Highway 1 Picton to Tuamarina carrying over 6,000 vehicles daily, the new turning bay will make it safer for turning traffic to enter Freeths Road.

Road users are also reminded of other maintenance work that will be carried out around the same time on other sections of State Highway 1, including SH1 Grove Road and SH6 Nelson Street roundabout; State Highway 1 and Main Street roundabout, and SH1 Weld Pass.

Road users are urged to check NZTA journey planner for road work information and allow extra time for travelling between Picton and Kaikoura.

Works schedule and Location:

Construction of the turning bay will be in three stages:

• Stage 1:
  • This focuses on the section North of Freeths Road planned from Monday 27 January to late February.
• Stage 2 and 3:
  • This will be on the South of Freeths Road and Freeths Road itself and is planned from late February to late March. During stage three work will be undertaken during the day with two lanes open (contraflow) with traffic only stopped when vehicles need to exit from Freeths Road. Day work will be from Monday to Friday between 6am to 7pm.
• A 30 km/h temporary speed limit will be in place on this section of SH1 during these works. During stage three, the temporary traffic management to allow vehicles to exit Freeths Road will remain in place outside of work hours including weekends.