State highway road works resume next week

Work will restart on state highway projects when New Zealand moves to Covid-19 Alert Level 3 on April 28.

NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) general manager transport services Brett Gliddon says the agency has been working closely with its contractors and with Construction Health and Safety NZ (CHASNZ) to plan a safe return to work.

“The safety of workers and road users is our top priority, and we’re working with contractors on specific COVID-19 plans for each of our work sites,” he says.

“Work at Alert Level 3 will not look like pre-pandemic work. A range of new measures will need to be in place, including restricted access to sites, requirements for workers to maintain physical distancing, and the use of additional protective clothing.”

Gliddon says the transition back to on-site work will be different for each project, and the timing will depend on the nature and complexity of work sites.

He says the NZTA has made advance payments to roading contractors during the lockdown so the industry is ready to get back to work next week.

“Some on-site activity will be able to resume straight away, but it will take time for some sites and projects to be fully operational.”

Gliddon says though the completion dates for many state highway projects may be affected by the shutdown and the Level 3 restrictions, it’s still too early to say what the specific impact may be for individual projects.