The long-awaited Ruby Bay Bypass is set to begin later this year. The project involves repositioning the existing section of highway from Trafalgar Road to Dominion Road and building a new highway from Dominion Road to a point west of Tasman village near Harley Road. Most of the new highway will pass through existing or former forestry land, much of which has been zoned for Rural 3 development.
Construction is expected to be straightforward as it is a “greenfields” project with most of the work happening outside the existing state highway road corridor, avoiding conflicts with highway traffic.
Just over 10km in length, the new highway will be two lanes with two passing lane sections in each direction and a design speed of 100km/h. The highway will be designated as a “limited access road” to restrict the future development of private accesses or driveways along the new highway and to improve safety.
The bypass will enhance access between Richmond and Motueka and reduce pressure on the existing coastal route which is experiencing significant rural/residential development.
For more information contact Andrew Adams, Project Manager, Transit New Zealand, Ph 03 577 1850; Email Andrew.adams@transit.govt.nz.
Project information and statistics at a glance
| Bypass Length | 10.6km | | Number of access points removed from the state highway network | 145 | | Number of side road connections on the current SH60 alignment | 23 | | Number of side road connections on new bypass alignment | 11 | | Design speed | 100km/h | | Lane widths | 3.5m | | Shoulder width | 1.5m | | Maximum height above sea level | 115m | | Number of passing lanes | 4 | | Approximate earthwork volume | 900,000m3 | | Estimated construction start | End 2008 | | Estimated construction time | 2 years |
| 
