Road closures and restrictions
Corridor Access Request (CAR)
We have a Corridor Access Request (CAR) system, to ensure we know about all road openings on any road reserve in the district. Organisations or private contractors will need to have a CAR to work on, or use, areas within the road reserve (the carriageway, including the verge). This includes all work in, on, along, over, across or under the road.
To apply to have a road opened you need to complete the submission form on www.beforeudig.co.nz. The CAR must include the following:
- Traffic management plan
- Works plan
- Copy of any public notification (if applicable)
- Hazard Management Plan
- Schedule of Special Conditions
We have created a schedule of Special Local Conditions to apply as an amendment to the national code Utilities Access to Road Corridors 2010. The council will enforce the necessity for a corridor access application, as well as compliance with the approved standards via a suitable council resolution.
Temporary road closures
To apply for a temporary road closure, you must apply in writing at least 8 weeks before the proposed start date and time, stating the affected area of proposed closure. Please use the temporary road closures application form. The information will be assessed by the council, NZ Police and Intercity. A Notice of Intention to Consider a Temporary Road Closure will be published in the local papers. If no objections are received and the closure is approved, a Notice of Closure will be published. The applicant will be invoiced for processing and advertising costs. See Fees and Charges.
Section 342 and the Tenth Schedule of the Local Government Act 1974 gives councils the power to temporarily close any road to traffic (including pedestrian traffic). Councils can do this for parades, tree felling, sporting events etc. after consultation with the Police Traffic Safety Branch. The council is required to give public notice of its intention to consider temporarily closing a road, and again once the decision is confirmed to close it.
What if it is a State Highway?
State Highways are not within the scope of Far North District Council's operations. Applicants will need to approach the New Zealand Transport Agency.
Standard conditions for temporary road closures (e.g. for street parades) include:
- The applicant shall provide a traffic management plan for the approval of the Roading Manager, detailing the proposed re-routing of traffic, the effects of such re-routing of traffic flows, and the provision of signage, barriers and marshalls.
- The organisers must provide access to the area at all times for residents and emergency services.
- The organisers must advise all residents and/or business owners that may be affected by the closure.
- The organisers shall be responsible for repairing any damage to the road and clearing up all rubbish after the event.
- In extreme weather conditions, the Roading Manager reserves the right to cancel the event.
- The Payment of the council’s $50 Temporary Road Closure application fee and the payment of advertising costs.
- Special conditions on larger events
- Additional conditions that may apply to Rallies etc.
- The Applicant shall advise all persons on the attached list to be provided.
- The Applicant shall provide a traffic management plan for the approval of the Roading Manager, detailing the proposed re-routing of traffic, the effects of such re-routing of traffic flows, and the provision of signage, barriers and marshalls.
- The Applicant to arrange public liability insurance to the value of $1,000,000 for the event.
- The Applicant to pay the council a road damage bond of $1,000 [one thousand dollars] per road closed.
- The payment of the council’s $100 Temporary Road Closure application fee plus advertising costs, and an additional fee of $50 per Ward if the event crosses Ward boundaries.
Additional conditions that may apply to tree felling:
- The Applicant shall provide a traffic management plan for the approval of the Roading Manager, detailing the proposed re-routing of traffic, the effects of such re-routing of traffic flows, and the provision of signage, barriers and marshalls, and the use of machine assistance to keep trees within forest boundaries at all times.
- The Applicant shall ensure clearance of all branches and vegetation are cleared from the road, verges and water tables after the work.
When the work is approved the council will issue a WAP which will include conditions. A council-nominated engineer will inspect the site to ensure safety standards and reinstatement standards comply with the relevant codes for working on the road (SNZ HB 2002:2003 and the council’s Schedule of Special Conditions). At the end of the warranty period we will either sign off the warranty or request further works.
Find road closures, incidents, roadworks and traffic cameras across New Zealand with NZTA's traffic map, click here to view their road closure map.
Bridge weight limits
The council owns and maintains 732 bridges on the local road network. Timber bridges and bridges with weight and/or speed restrictions are inspected annually. All other bridges are inspected on a three-yearly cycle. These inspections identify where maintenance is required, and which bridges need to be replaced. Where necessary, we do structural analysis and weight and/or speed restrictions are posted on the structure to ensure safe use of the bridge.
Weight and/or speed restrictions
Numerous bridges within the Far North District have weight and/or speed restrictions for heavy vehicles due to their structural condition. All other bridges are able to convey the loads that are legally allowed on roads as described in the Vehicle Dimensions and Mass (VDAM) Rules published by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), with the possible exclusion of 50 MAX heavy vehicles.
View the weight and/or speed limits on bridges (PDF | 0.13 MB)
View the removed weight and/or speed limits on bridges
(PDF | 0.11 MB)
NZTA administers use of the Far North's network by 50 MAX vehicles. You can view NZTA’s 50 MAX information online, including a map showing bridges that 50 MAX vehicles are not permitted to cross.
Vehicles exceeding the weight limits in the VDAM Rules are not allowed to cross any Far North bridges unless an Overweight Permit is obtained in advance. To request an Overweight Permit, contact Council's Bridge Engineer, via Opus International Consultants on 09 430 1700. There is a fee for the situation to be evaluated.
If an operator damages a bridge while crossing or considers that a bridge is unsafe to use, please report this by phoning 0800 920 029 (24 hours). Ensure the Customer Services Officer knows that this is emergency works so they can contact the contractor and ensure an immediate response.
Far North bridges are part of a continual improvement programme under our Bridge Improvement Strategy. There is a cost involved in assessing all our bridges. Until they have been assessed it is our responsibility to err on the side of caution and allocate weight limits. If a bridge that has not been assessed is critical to an operator’s activity, we are willing to work with operators on a case-by-case basis.