- Work completed on the Karamea Highway at sites RP 7.25, 7.32, 7.597, 9.865, 11.317 and 19.517.
Roadmap to recovery for Buller’s roads
Kia ora koutou - welcome to the project page about the reinstatement of the roads in the Buller District that were damaged in the July 2021 and February 2022 weather events.
Project background
In December 2022, Council received a $13.2M funding approval from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency for the reinstatement of the roads in the Buller District that were damaged by the two significant rain events. An initial $1.5M of this funding was received after the February event to carry out emergency repairs.
These two storm events were significant, and in total approximately 150 damaged sites were recorded through Buller’s local road network. Of these, 68 damaged sites involved minor clearance of debris and trees which were addressed immediately.
The remaining sites require much more comprehensive repairs, ranging from minor road repair and reconstructions through to more significant stabilisation and remedial work. These sites have been grouped into 12 Bundles. These Bundles consider the location of the damaged sites and scope of work required in order to maximise efficiency.
It is expected that the majority of the site works will be undertaken between July 2023 and March 2024, with some rock protection and road repairs continuing through to late 2024 on the Karamea/Bluff Highway.
Karamea Highway progress
Work on the Karamea Highway is covered within Bundles 3, 4, 8, 10 and 11. Works on the highway commenced in August 2023, and some sites have already been completed.
Projects completed so far in 2024 include Roading Return to Service (flood recovery) Bundles 3, 4, and 11. Bundles 8 and 10 are currently underway.
Other general roading projects that have also been completed are:
1. Corner improvements
2. Pavement rehabilitation
3. Planned maintenance
With work reducing on this road, the variable message board will be removed, however traffic management will be in place, so please be prepared for delays of up to 15 minutes.
Thank you for your patience as we work on improving the journey for all road users.
What is happening in October and November?
- Continue design for Gannons Bridge, Reefton repair.
- Continue works on the Karamea Highway (RP 6.03, 12.955 and 22.601 at the Seven Sisters) with the construction of retaining walls.
- Chip sealing starting at all sites.
What has happened?
Follow the progress of the recovery work month by month and see how we’re keeping on track.
- Work completed on the Karamea Highway at sites RP 3.4, 7.28, 11.37 and 19.52
- Reviewed the scope for Bundle 9 (Six sites around southeast of Westport and around Charleston).
- Commenced works at two sites on the Karamea Highway (RP 7.28 & 19.52)
- Completed all works in Bundle 3 (Seven sites on the Karamea Highway).
- Design for repair of Gannons Bridge, Reefton *commenced
- Awarded contract for Bundle 8 to Westreef (Four sites on the Karamea Highway)
- Commenced works at five sites on the Karamea Highway (RP 2.8, 3.4, 3.8, 4.0 & 11.37)
- Completed works at three sites on the Karamea Highway (RP 2.8, 3.8 & 4.0)
- Completed five significant retaining wall sites on Denniston Road.
- Awarded contract for Bundle 10 to Rosco Contractors (Eight sites on the Karamea Highway)
- Completed all works in Bundle 7 (Seddonville/Mōkihinui)
- Receive and approve detailed design for retaining wall and issue to contractor for pricing (Bundle 9)
- Deploy variable message system (VMS) board for the Karamea Highway
- Commence construction in Bundle 4 (Karamea Highway)
- Complete construction activities in Seddonville area (Bundle 7)
Complete tender evaluation and undertake negotiations with contractors for Bundles 8 and 10.
- Received and approved detailed design for retaining wall and issued to Contractor for pricing (Bundle 4)
- Received pricing, programme and pre-start documentation (Bundle 4)
- Received RFQ (tender) responses for the last two bundles (Bundle 8 & 10)
- Continued construction activities on Denniston Road (Bundle 6) including emergency slip clearance
- Continued construction activities in Seddonville area (Bundle 7)
- Completed construction activities in Mokihinui area (Bundle 7)
- Issued RFQ (tender) for remaining works on the Karamea Highway (Bundles 8 & 10)
- Continued construction activities on Denniston Road (Bundle 6)
- Continued construction activities in Seddonville and Mokihinui areas (Bundle 7)
- Completed construction at Christmas Creek (Bundle 12)
- All sites under construction at 21 December were shut down and made safe for the festive season.
What happened in November?
- Continued with detailed re-designs for retaining walls (Bundle 4 and 9)
- Continued construction on Denniston Road (Bundle 6)
- Continued construction at Christmas Creek (Bundle 12)
- Continued construction on the Karamea Highway (Bundle 3 and 11)
- Completed construction in Lyell, Reefton & Springs Junction areas (Bundle 2)
- Completed construction in Karamea Basin & Little Wanganui (Bundle 5).
What happened in October?
- Continued planning of construction activities (Bundles 4 and 9)
- Continued construction on Denniston Road (Bundle 6)
- Continued construction at Christmas Creek (Bundle 12)
- Continued construction on the Karamea Highway (Bundle 3 and 11)
- Commenced construction in Lyell, Reefton & Springs Junction areas (Bundle 2)
- Commenced construction in the Karamea Basin and Little Wanganui (Bundle 5)
- Commenced construction in Seddonville and Mokihinui areas (Bundle 7).
What happened in September?
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Awarded contracts for Bundles 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 9.
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Continued planning of construction activities (Bundles 2, 4, 5, 7, & 9).
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Commenced construction on Denniston Road (Bundle 6).
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Commenced construction at Christmas Creek (Bundle 12).
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Continued construction activities on the Karamea Highway (Bundle 3 & 11).
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Completed construction activities at Burkes Creek ford (Bundle 12).
- Completed designs for Bundle 10
- Completed tender evaluation and negotiations for Bundles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 9
- Awarded contract for Bundle 3
- Planning of construction activities in Bundles 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, & 9
- Commenced construction on the Karamea Bluff Highway (Bundle 3 & 11).
- Commenced construction at Burkes Creek ford (Bundle 12).
What does each bundle contain?
13 sites in the Inangahua, Reefton and Springs Junction areas, requiring a variety of minor works to bridges, roading, shoulders and removal of slip material.
7 sites in Lyell, Reefton & Springs Junction areas. Works include roading and culvert repairs, and minor rock replacement adjacent to bridge abutments. Programme of works will be agreed with the contractor
8 sites on the Karamea / Bluff Highway. Works comprise mainly of machine works (clearing of vegetation, slip material and overhangs, drainage repairs, fill and repair road shoulders and layby).
5 sites on the Karamea / Bluff Highway. 1 site requiring a designed retaining wall, 4 sites requiring machine works and rock placement for scour protection, 2 sites requiring minor machine works. Programme of works will be agreed with the successful contractor.
9 sites located in the Karamea Basin and Little Wanganui. Works consist of clearing slip debris, placing rock buttressing to support road shoulders, replacing lost river erosion rock and minor retaining walls. Works expected to commence early August.
7 sites on the Denniston Road. 5 sites requiring retaining walls and 2 requiring removal of uphill slip material. Programme of works will be agreed with the successful contractor.
8 sites on local road networks within the Seddonville and Granity areas. Scope consists of road, shoulder, culvert and drainage repairs with 3 sites requiring rock scour protection to be constructed. Programme of works will be agreed with the successful contractor.
4 sites on the Karamea / Bluff highway requiring engineered / designed retaining walls. Programme of works will be agreed with the successful contractor.
BDC and NZTA have agreed to remove the largest worksite (Darkies Terrace, sites requiring rebuild/repair of 60 m of road and shoulder) from this Bundle. The remaining six sites, covering minor works will be reassessed with a contractor to see what the programme of work will now look like.
8 sites on the Karamea / Bluff highway. 4 sites requiring engineered / designed retaining walls and 4 sites requiring culvert repairs / rock placement.
1 underslip site on the Karamea / Bluff Highway requiring a culvert replacement and construction of a retaining wall. Works expected to commence mid-August.
Bridge / ford repairs at Burkes Creek and Christmas Creek.Works expected to commence mid-August – sequence to be confirmed.
Media Releases
Read previous media releases covering the progress of the many projects that we are carrying out through the district.
- 2 December 2022 - Council receives $13.2M funding approval from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency for reinstatement of Buller flood damaged local roads
- 13 September 2023 - Karamea Highway closed next week due to road stabilisation works
- 28 September 2023 - Karamea Highway closed overnight next week due to culvert replacement works
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For any queries regarding this project, please send an email to info@bdc.govt.nz.
