A new truck testing centre under construction in Napier - that will be operated by police to carry out compliance checks - could open by the end of this year.
Construction is well underway on the new facility near the Hawke’s Bay Expressway and Prebensen Drive roundabout.
It will be officially known as a commercial vehicle safety centre (CVSC).
New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) Waka Kotahi is delivering the project and working with contractor Fulton Hogan.
However, the centre will be operated by police.
Police can issue fines to non-compliant trucks at the centre.
Construction began on site in November and, all going well, the project is planned to be completed by the end of 2026.
An NZTA spokesman said the project was “making good progress”.
“There’s plenty of exciting activity to be seen on site with the earthworks currently underway getting the site ready for the transportation of the new building to site in a few months’ time," he said.
“The project is on track for earthworks to be completed in May with construction activities to begin soon after."
Five CVSCs have been completed across the country, and another eight are in the pipeline or under construction, such as in Napier.
“CVSCs are operated by NZ Police and they play a pivotal role in promoting road safety and ensuring regulatory compliance across the transport network,” an NZTA statement read, about the project.
Sets of in-road scales and automatic number plate recognition cameras will be installed at four locations on the approach to the centre.
That includes on the expressway at Westshore and Greenmeadows, SH50 on the Ahuriri truck bypass, and SH51 Georges Drive at Marewa.
If a heavy vehicle is “flagged”, digital signage will instruct the driver to pull into the centre by showing the vehicle’s licence plate number.
Not doing so can incur a $1000 fine.
Once at the CVSC, the heavy vehicle will drive over a weigh bridge and undergo compliance checks, such as checking road user charges or logbooks, weight limits, or completing a vehicle safety inspection.
Light vehicles (like cars) will not be directed into a CVSC.
“The expressway is a high-volume freight route, carrying trucks and other heavy vehicles between Napier and Hastings,” an NZTA statement about the project read.
Data from the centre will also be used by NZTA.