Work on the Whakatū Arterial Link is now 95 per cent complete, with traffic due to be redirected onto the new Pākōwhai roundabout to access Whakatū Rd as of Monday, November 19.

Access to and from Ruahāpia Rd from Pākōwhai Rd will permanently cease on this date as traffic heading to and from SH2 is transitioned onto the first half of the new Whakatū Arterial Link.

A second phase will take place during December, at a date yet to be confirmed, and will see the Ruahāpia railway crossing permanently closed to traffic – although still open to cyclists and pedestrians.

At that point all traffic exiting and accessing SH2 will use the entire new Whakatū Arterial Link road.

Work on the 3.5 kilometre route, linking State Highway 2 at Mangateretere with Pākōwhai Rd via the Whakatū industrial area, started in January 2017.

Comprising three large roundabouts and a 45m long bridge over the Karamu Stream, it is designed to enable produce to be efficiently moved from the growing areas to processing facilities and onto routes to main export links.

It will also remove heavy traffic from residential roads in Whakatū, making it safer for families, and resolve congestion issues on Ruahāpia Rd.

Hastings District Council works and services committee chairman Kevin Watkins said it was exciting to have reached the last stages of such a significant roading project for the region.

“This is the largest road-building project in Hawke’s Bay since the construction of the Napier-Hastings expressway in 2001, and will make a huge difference to travel safety and efficiency for the region.”

The Hastings District Council thanks motorists for their patience throughout the construction period.

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