NZTA refunded by Downer over highway reseal failure

Friday, 28 March 2025

NZTA says Downer Group has given a partial refund for work done on State Highway 1 north of the Rangitata River bridge.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s road maintenance contractor for Mid Canterbury gave a refund after resealing work on State Highway 1 lasted less than a year, and it will not do the repairs.

On Thursday, NZTA’s Canterbury system manager, Mark Pinner, said Downer Group had given a partial refund for work done between Ashburton and Timaru on the country’s main road in May 2024.

This week the agency announced the stretch of road would be repaired again and warned motorists of delays while that was completed. That announcement was made on Wednesday, with work to start on Monday.

In announcing the plans and warning of delays and possible detours, the agency apologised to motorists for the lack of notice.

At the time, NZTA Mid Canterbury maintenance contract manager Chris Chambers explained that was because the contractor had become available at short notice.

“We apologise for the lack of forewarning, but given the availability, we hope to make the most of this late summer sealing opportunity.”

He said the section of SH1 being repaired was part of a larger resealing job done in May last year. “Unfortunately, only some sections of this work provided a lasting seal, hence this rework.”

NZTA asks motorists to consider alternate inland routes or face delays of up to an hour as State Highway 1 roadworks get under way in Ealing.

Downer Group has been approached for comment.

Pinner said the agency had chosen to “increase the design requirements for a stronger pavement and surfacing” this time around, and that was one reason it had gone to the open market to seek tenders.

The work, valued at $616,659, was contracted to Higgins Contractors Ltd on March 21.

The contract was for the construction of pavement rehabilitation on SH1 at the intersection of Ealing and Withells roads, just north of the Rangitata River bridge, including widening of the intersection and northbound passing lane.

Motorists have been warned to expect delays of up to an hour between 7am and 6pm, with work hours likely to be extended overnight for final sealing work.

Traffic control may be used to avoid delays for motorists trying to use the Upper Orari Bridge, on State Highway 79, near Geraldine.

An alternative route for light vehicles travelling north was available by turning left onto State Highway 79 at Rangitata, and for those travelling south by turning off at Hinds Arundel Rd at Hinds. This would add about 25 minutes to the journey.

“SH79 has been resealed in recent weeks so will be suitable for all traffic by March 31,” Chambers said.

Traffic control could be used at the single-lane Upper Orari bridge to ensure people were not unduly delayed on the alternative route, he said.

He said northbound drivers of light vehicles could also take a detour before Rangitata by taking Scenic Route 72 (Geraldine-Arundel Rd) from Winchester into Geraldine and then rejoining SH1 at Hinds or further north.

Drivers of heavy vehicles were asked to remain on SH1 given the fragile state of Scenic Route 72, a result of flood damage.

The repair work is expected to run throughout April and has been scheduled to coincide with the school holiday period of April 11 to 28. This includes Easter and Anzac Day, but Chambers said work would not be done on public holidays.