Rugby Road (Tariki) Underpass 

Work on the Rugby Road Underpass on SH3 between Tariki and Norfolk Road near Stratford is progressing well, NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Whanganui State Highways Manager Errol Christiansen says. The new 3.5 km stretch of new highway is expected to be open in May.

Work on the Rugby Road Underpass on SH3 between Tariki and Norfolk Road near Stratford is progressing well, NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Whanganui State Highways Manager Errol Christiansen says. The new 3.5 km stretch of new highway is expected to be open in May.

The current phase of construction sees traffic using part of the new alignment and a section of temporary road while the new road pavement is built below the new underpass. Temporary speed limits have been in place, with stop/go traffic control also used at various times.

For the next stage to be completed – below the new underpass – the following temporary traffic layouts will be used from Monday 15 March until May.

• South-bound traffic will use the new route (day and night) under the new underpass. A 30 km/h speed restriction will apply on the road base prior to sealing, and then on the new seal.
• North-bound traffic will remain on the existing State Highway 3 through the existing underpass with a 50 km/h speed limit.
• The work may involve temporary shifts of the south and/or north-bound traffic during the new alignment tie-in construction.

Mr Christiansen says some ‘stop/go’ traffic control will be necessary over the next several weeks, particularly during pavement construction operations and construction of tie-ins between new and existing alignments.

The NZTA will be doing all it can to minimise delays, he says.

“NZTA thanks the public for its patience and support during the construction of this new section of highway.”