50 Victoria Street
Private Bag 6995
Wellington 6141
New Zealand
T 64 4 894 5400
F 64 4 894 6100
www.nzta.govt.nz
1 July 2022
Mike Hunua
[FYI request #19550 email]
REF: OIA-10234
Dear Mike
Request made under the Official Information Act 1982
Thank you for your email
of 01 June 2022 requesting the following information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
Could NZTA provide a date when the Dome valley safety improvements started construction
and the time frame it will be completed now?
Previous media updates have indicated early 2022 but we are now in mid-2022 with no signs
of completion anytime soon.
Is the project over budget?
Has the project been delayed again?
Is NZTA concerned with the time taken for this project to be completed and will the contractors
pay penalties or does NZTA have the provision to add penalties for delays in contractors
completing the project on time in the contract?
The Dome Valley safety improvements project commenced in February 2019. As this project is to
reduce the risk of serious accidents on this stretch of the road, it was decided to stage the project so
that the site work could be commenced as soon as each stage’s detailed design was completed. The
actual (where completed) or forecasted completion dates for each stage are in the table over the page.
Table 1 – Construction Start and Completion Dates for Dome Valley, July 2022
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused delays to the project’s delivery timeframe.
Complicating this further has been the need to accommodate a significant increase in over-dimension
loads (houses) being transported northwards through the construction area. A lot of the project’s work
is scheduled to take place at night to reduce the disruption that daytime lane closures cause, however
this cannot take place when the over-dimensioned loads are proceeding through the site.
Is the project over budget?
The project is funded to completion and so does not run ‘over budget.’ Additional funding has been
required due to COVID-19 related delays. It has also had culvert replacement work and 500m of road
rehabilitation added to its scope. Additional funding has been provided for any new works that are
required as part of the project.
Has the project been delayed again?
As mentioned above, COVID-19 has caused delays to the project’s delivery timeframe through the
lockdowns, supply chain issues and the availability of resources.
Is NZTA concerned with the time taken for this project to be completed and will the
contractor’s pay penalties or does NZTA have the provision to add penalties for delays in
contractors completing the project on time in the contract?
Our predominate concern is that the work can be completed safely for everyone involved, the state
highway remains open, and the safety benefits are achieved. While we would like the project to be
completed in a shorter timeframe, the reality is that Dome Valley is an essential transport corridor
which has required our work crews to work in a physically constrained and high-risk environment.
While the project has taken longer than first anticipated, we are focused on ensuring the work is
completed safely and to a high standard.
If the contractor is at fault for not meeting contract dates, then liquidated damages would be applied.
There is no ability to add penalties (or additional liquidated damages) after the contract is signed.
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If you would like to discuss this reply with Waka Kotahi, please contact our Ministerial Services team
by email to [NZTA request email]
Yours sincerely
Liane Powell
Acting National Manager, Infrastructure and Delivery
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