Ngapipito Road closure this weekend
**UPDATE – Friday 4 Nov**
This work has now been deferred. Recent rains have raised the level of the stream where the new larger culvert is due to be installed under Ngapipito Road. This will create unacceptably high levels of silt that will likely pollute the downstream environment. Work will be reprogrammed for later this month when water levels subside.
**UPDATE – Friday 4 Nov**
This work has now been deferred. Recent rains have raised the level of the stream where the new, larger culvert is due to be installed under Ngapipito Road. This will create unacceptably high levels of silt that will likely pollute the downstream environment. Work will be reprogrammed for later this month when water levels subside.
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Council contractors will begin work to replace a large culvert on Ngapipito Road, the final step in a project to seal the strategic alternative route between Moerewa and Kaikohe. This work will close the affected section of road this weekend.
The work will replace an existing culvert with a large new diameter concrete culvert. Due to the size of the new stormwater pipe, a trench close to 4.5 metres deep will be excavated. This work can only be completed safely by closing the road to all traffic. The upgrade will be undertaken this weekend with the affected section of Ngapipito Road closed from 5pm Friday 4 November to 6am Monday 7 November.
There will be two detour routes marked for drivers. The first will take drivers along State Highway 12 from Kaikohe to Ōhaewai and continue onto State Highway 1 via Pākaraka and onto Moerewa. A second alternative route from State Highway 15 south of Kaikohe will direct drivers though Punakitere Valley and Matawaia via Orakau Road and onto State Highway 1 at Moerewa.
Electronic sign boards are in place to warn motorists of the upcoming road closure and detour routes will be clearly marked with detour directions in place.
Ngapipito Road is one of three roads in the Far North earmarked for upgrades and sealing to provide communities with more reliable alternative road links. Seal extensions have also been undertaken on Peria Road to improve an alternative link to Kaitāia. Work is continuing upgrades and sealing to Ruapekapeka Road. This will bypass a section of State Highway 1 south of Kawakawa. The projects include seal extensions totalling 16km and were funded through a $20.7 million Provincial Growth Fund grant from the Government.
