The next update on the re-opening of SH59 between Paekākāriki and Pukerua Bay will be provided on Friday 2 September. From Wellington NZTA:
The hillside continues to be assessed daily to ensure safe access to cyclists, vehicles and pedestrians can be restored. Residents can continue to access Pukerua Bay from the south and Paekākāriki resident access is from the north. All other road users to continue using SH1 as an alternate route.
We know these works are inconvenient and thank the community for their patience!
SH59 Paekākāriki to Pukerua Bay remains an active worksite and will continue to remain CLOSED for safety reasons. Our hard working crew continues to work on stabilising the hillside at Pukerua Bay. Next update on the re-opening of SH59 will be provided on Friday 2 September. pic.twitter.com/sqtGxgRfvx
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Wellington (@WakaKotahiWgtn) August 31, 2022
Waka Kotahi has provided an update on the measures being taken to lessen the threat of further slips. This work is going to several weeks. The opening of Transmission Gully provides an opportunity to undertake remedial work that would be a far more difficult undertaking were the route still State Highway 1.
SLIP CONTROL, PUKERUA BAY HILLSIDE SAFETY PROJECT: UPDATE 26 August 2022
A hillside safety project is underway to help prevent further slips on the State Highway 59 coast road leading up to Pukerua Bay. Wellington Transport Alliance crews are removing a large overhang of soil and trees above the slip face to prevent further slips. A deep fracture in the ground behind the overhang at the top of the hill means this area is very unstable and could break away at any time.
Hillside slip control
The road between Fisherman’s Table and the northern end of Pukerua Bay has become a worksite and must remain closed for everyone’s safety, not just because of the risk of a slip but because of the machines operating in the area. The safety project could take some weeks, depending on conditions. The hillside diagram, shown over the page, illustrates the overhang and the fractured ground and highlights the work that is planned to reshape the hill and prevent further slips.
Multiple works, including road and barrier repairs, tree pruning and other maintenance, are taking place to make the most of the closure.
The hillside is being inspected daily to assess when pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles can be allowed back in the area. Meanwhile, pedestrians and cyclists can use the Pukerua Bay off-road beach walking track to bypass the works but must exercise caution for high tides and weather conditions. The soft beach sand and the slope leading up to the layby at the bottom of the hill make for difficult going, particularly for cyclists. A fenced-off path has been created around the layby to keep path users safe from moving machinery. The path beside the seawall north of the layby can be used and we ask people to stay on the path and not to walk or cycle on the road as work trucks and machinery are using the area.
Since the slip on Friday 19 August, the coast road between Fisherman’s Table and Pukerua Bay has been closed for the clean-up and to protect road users if there are further slips. It will be closed for a few more weeks for hillside safety works to reduce the risk further.
The road has become a worksite with barriers to keep people out for their safety.
Please do not enter the slip control works area on the hill.
People using the off-road beach walking track to bypass the works can use the path beside the seawall to head north once they leave the layby at the bottom of the hill.
Please do not walk or cycle on the road north of the layby as work trucks are using the area and road repairs are also being done. Stick to the path.
A path has been created from the beach walking track around the layby at the bottom of the hill with a barrier to keep you safe from moving machinery.
Access via the beach walking track depends on the weather and high tides. Please exercise caution.
We will continually monitor the situation to see when it will safe for pedestrians and road users to return to the road past the slip area.
State Highway 59 between Paekākāriki and Pukerua Bay will remain closed until further notice.
The highway has been closed since Friday, 19 August after multiple slips. Further assessments over the weekend determined the slip site remains unpredictable. Making the site safe is a significant job, and it could take several weeks before it can reopen to traffic.
Now that work has commenced cyclists and pedestrians will not be able to pass through the wider worksite, due to the ongoing risk of material falling from the slip site and heavy vehicles and machinery moving around the wider area.
Additional barriers and fencing will be installed at the northern end of Coast Road, across the road at Fisherman’s Table and the southern end at the Pukerua Bay bottom carpark. We ask all pedestrians and cyclists to avoid the area please.
As work progresses we will review each stage to determine whether it will be safe to pass through, and we will provide updates. This work is likely to take several weeks, which we appreciate is inconvenient for locals, but your safety is our priority.
FYI – State Highway 59 facing longer-term closure because of slip risk
State Highway 59 between Paekākāriki and Pukerua Bay will remain closed until further notice.
The highway has been closed since Friday, 19 August after multiple slips. However, further assessments over the weekend show the slip site remains highly unstable.
Making the site safe will be a significant job, and it could take several weeks before it can reopen to traffic.
A further update on its status will be provided on Friday 26 August. Work is underway to determine the best options for fixing and reopening the highway.
Pukerua Bay residents can access from the south. Paekākāriki resident access is to the north.
All other road users should avoid the area and use State Highway 1, Transmission Gully, as an alternative route.
We want to thank road users and residents for their patience and understanding as your safety is our first priority.
FYI – State Highway 59 remains CLOSED due to slips
State Highway 59 between Paekākāriki and Pukerua Bay remains closed today, with large slips still to be cleared by roading crews.
The highway was closed yesterday and overnight after slips yesterday. This morning, further slips have come down along this section of road.
Contractors are working hard to restore the road. However, continuing rain means the chance of further slips remains.
This section of State Highway 59 will remain closed today, Saturday 20 August, and a further update on its status will be provided tomorrow morning, Sunday 21 August, or as soon as the road opens.
Pukerua Bay residents can access from the south. Paekākāriki resident access is to the north. All other road users should avoid the area and use State Highway 1, Transmission Gully, as an alternative route.
Bad weather continues to affect Wellington, with numerous slips, rockfalls, and fallen trees on roads across the region. Road users should check roads are open before they travel, drive to the conditions, watch their following distances, and be prepared for delays.
State Highway 59 between Paekākāriki and Pukerua Bay will remain closed following a further slip on the route this afternoon.
The highway was closed by a slip this morning. However, a second slip came down this afternoon, further blocking the road.
At this stage, the slope is too unstable for the route to reopen, and it will stay closed overnight. An update on its status will be provided by midday tomorrow, Saturday 20 August.
Road users should avoid the area and use State Highway 1, Transmission Gully, as an alternative route.
Bad weather continues to affect Wellington. Slips, rockfalls, and fallen trees are dangers on roads across the region. Road users should drive to the conditions, watch their following distances, and keep an eye out for road hazards.
State Highway 59 is closed between Pukerua Bay and Paekākāriki due to a slip at Arlie Road. Crews are also on-site dealing with fallen trees at Motuhara Road in Plimmerton and around Grays Road. High tide is at 2pm, and there is more rain forecast, Porirua City Council advises drivers to please take extra care and report any issues via the Antenno app (Android, Apple), or phone 04 237 5089.
Pukerua Bay shared pathway improvements due to start September 2022
PCC has provided the following information:
Work to continue upgrading the shared pathway through Pukerua Bay is due to start next month.
This work is Stage Two of a project that began last year and will include upgrades to the intersections at Pukerua Beach Rd / Haunui Rd / SH59 and Wairaka Rd / SH59 (See layout plans 4, 5, 6).
As budget allows, other improvements proposed will be delivered in the following order:
Haunui Rd zig-zag path realignment (moving bottom of path away from road) – Layout plan 8
Shared path widening (Haunui Rd to Pa Rd) – Layout plan 9
Pedestrian drop ramp on Haunui Rd (to provide a connection to the zig zag path) – Layout plan 7.
The work is due to start by mid-September (the exact start date is still being worked through).
Extensive traffic management will be in place for all works so residents can expect some disruptions for between 8 and 10 weeks while the works are completed.
Pukerua Bay Residents living near the works will be notified via a letter in the coming weeks.
Porirua City Council is managing the project, which is 100 percent funded by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency through its programme of highway cycle improvements.
Stage One of this project was completed in July 2021.
It included the following improvements:
Widening the zig zag pathway between Haunui Road and SH59 to make it easier for cyclists, particularly on the bends. This work included tree removal, re-asphalting the pathway and introducing holdrail in places
Improved pathway directional signage from the lookout at the northern end of Pukerua Bay to Porirua Railway Station
Pedestrian improvements through the northern lookout site.
*NB: In response to resident’s requests, extensive conversations were had with Waka Kotahi about installing a barrier or similar at the bottom of the zig-zag path to stop an errant rider from landing on SH59, however the barrier needed to be able to be compliant for vehicle drivers and not just provide protection for cyclists which meant that what was suitable for protecting cyclists was not safe or acceptable for the road environment and passing traffic. We have therefore opted to remove a couple of trees at the bottom of the zig-zag and widen the path to improve sightlines between path users at this pinch point.
Wairaka Rd and SH59Pukerua Beach Rd and SH59Pukerua Beach Rd and SH59Haunui Rd Entrance to PathwayHaunui Rd to SH59 PathwayFrom Haunui pathway to Pa Road
Waka Kotahi has advised there will be work tonight to repair the crash barrier at the corner of State Highway 59 and Pukerua Beach Road (map). The work is being done at night when there are fewer vehicles so it can complete the job quickly, efficiently and safely without causing major traffic delays.
Work area, corner State Highway 59 and Pukerua Beach Road (map)
