With more than 70km of state highways will be reconstructed or resurfaced in Southland over the next six months, drivers are being urged to slow down near roadworks.

"Speeding through work sites continues to be a significant problem in Southland, which is dangerous to everyone," says Justin Reid, Maintenance Contract Manager for Waka Kotahi in Southland.

"Motorists have less control at higher speeds and can lose control completely on uneven roadwork surfaces.

"Even when there appears to be no one on site working, we may leave temporary speed limits in place due to reduced visibility, loose road surfaces or obstructions, bad forecasted weather or to protect more vulnerable road users like motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians. 

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"If speeding at road work sites continues to put our road workers and other road users at risk, traffic management such as road closures could be used, which would be significantly more disruptive to road users and are a last resort."

Waka Kotahi and Highways South's Terrace Creek rehabilitation of SH96, west of Winton, is currently underway.

Some of the other road reconstruction projects coming up include SH1, Waipahi highway at Pukerau; SH1, Edendale-Woodlands highway at Kerr Road; SH6, Lumsden-Dipton highway at Josephville-Glenure Road; SH96, Winton-Wreys Bush highway near Hundred Line Road; and SH96, Winton-Wreys Bush highway near Wairio-Wreys Bush Road.

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

• COVID-19 services update: nzta.govt.nz/COVID19

• Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic

• Facebook: facebook.com/NZTASouthIsland

• Twitter Otago/Southland: twitter.com/WakaKotahiOS

• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz

• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)