Opotiki District Council

ODC Contract 288: Waiotahe Bluffs Detour Improvements Localised Widening Works 2026

Waiotahe Valley Back Road, Verrall Road and Paerata Ridge Road together form the detour route used
when the Waiotahe Bluffs section of State Highway 2 is unavailable. When the detour is in operation the
route carries diverted state highway traffic, including heavy freight, on a rural road network formed for
local access. Verrall Road normally carries approximately 80 vehicles per day and Waiotahe Valley Back
Road approximately 93.
WSP’s Waiotahe Bluffs Detour Improvement Scope (WSP ref 2-34005.C2) identified substandard
carriageway width through curves and constrained sections of the route. The objective of this contract
is to widen those sections to a carriageway width that safely accommodates diverted state highway
traffic, including two heavy vehicles passing, and to improve sightlines through the curves and at the
Verrall Road / Paerata Ridge Road intersection.
The Ōpōtiki District Council has a quality driven approach to its construction projects. In keeping with
this philosophy, Contractors are expected to achieve the highest standard of performance on all aspects
of this project. In particular, the Contractor shall pay attention to actively managing Temporary Traffic
Management on a route that may become a live state highway detour at short notice, and to notifying
the public and keeping residents and landowners informed of intended works.