Work to realign a section of road at Athenree Gorge along State Highway 2 and the Athenree Road intersection, is expected to be challenging but achievable, says NZ Transport Agency.

The new section of the road is adjacent to the existing highway and the NZTA are realigning a set of tight bends known as the Arden Cottage curves to improve driver safety at this location.

The Arden Cottage Curves in the Athenree Gorge.

Highways manager Brett Gliddon says these set of bends have a poor crash history with a lot of the crashes caused as a result of drivers losing control around the bends and coming off the road.

'The project has been constructed in two stages, the first stage was undertaken off the state highway focusing on moving existing drainage and 8000 cubic metres of material to make way for the new road.

'This next stage has more challenges as we attempt to tie in approximately 1km of realigned road to the existing highway and lower the Athenree Road Intersection by three metres.”

Brett says the challenge is keeping traffic moving through the construction site where heavy machinery and workers will be operating.

Brett is confident that with a well-planned programme and a good contractor on board this can be done with minor impact to traffic flow.

The project is part of the NZTA's commitment to creating a safer transport system through safer roads and roadsides, safer road use, safer vehicles and safer speeds.

The cost of the project is approximately $5.1million with this project being undertaken by Downer NZ Limited, Mr Gliddon says the project is expected to be completed by May next year.