Good things take time

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Readers have been concerned recently regarding the situation of some roads in the area which have been showing signs of deterioration following heavy and sustained rain.

One such section of road is on the Mangawhai-Tomarata Road, prior to Cames Road, where cones and temporary lights have been in place since July.

Following our enquiries we have received the following comment from Kaipara District Council Roading Manager Henri Van Zyl: "The Kaipara District road network suffered significant damage as a consequence of Cyclones Cook and Debbie which resulted in 23 new slips. Three of these slips are along Mangawhai Road, the site with the temporary traffic lights being one of them.

Detailed investigations by geotechnical specialists have been completed and preliminary designs undertaken to develop cost estimates. After a peer review the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), who co-funds 61 percent of the council’s roading programme, has approved the budgets to undertake the remedial works. Detailed designs for the higher priority slip sites on Mangawhai Road are in progress. It is expected that the physical works contract for these three slips will be tendered next week, and the contract awarded in October. The slip site with the temporary traffic lights has been nominated as the priority site and is required to be remediated first".

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