Night work to avoid delays for Northgate repairs

Road works on New Plymouth's key Northgate exit next week will be done at night to avoid the gridlock and delays similar construction caused last year.

For three nights from Sunday workers will toil from 7pm to 4am to surface Northgate from the Plymouth Hotel to Mangorei Rd.

Come daylight hours they will absent themselves but the speed limit will be cut to 30kmh.

In November last year road works on the east side of the Waiwhakaiho bridge caused traffic to bank up far into the city, frustrating drivers and generating more than the usual calls for government funds for a new bridge over the river.

New Zealand Transport Agency spokesman David McGonigal was confident such fuss would be avoided this time as the work was not as extensive and would more than likely be done on time.

"We're actually putting up electronic signs to warn drivers about what is happening and suggesting to them they take an alternative route, especially at night when it will occasionally be down to one lane," he said. New Plymouth District Council road boss Max Aves said the council had worked closely with the NZ Transport Agency to ensure the problems of last year were not repeated.

"Drivers should allow more time for their journeys during the construction period, or perhaps use Devon St East to move between Fitzroy and the central city," he said.

Taranaki District Health Board ambulance manager Ian May said if congestion was too great he would look at the placement of ambulances at strategic spots to respond to the northern area.

- © Fairfax NZ News