Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway works for December 2023

1 December 2023 1:26 pm | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

It's official, summer has started! The change of season and the build up to Christmas means the road renewals season is almost at the halfway point, with great progress being made across the regions.

Contractors are out in force, which means there are more roadworkers out there keeping everyone safe near work sites. While most drivers are getting it right through worksites, it’s disappointing to see some people speeding and putting others at risk, says Roger Brady, acting Regional Manager, Maintenance and Operations, Waikato/Bay of Plenty for Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

“Speeding vehicles can flick up loose metal and other objects, which can be dangerous to our road workers and other road users.

“Motorists also have less control at higher speeds. They may clip road cones and send them flying at our road workers or oncoming traffic - or lose control completely.

“Even when there is no one working on site, we may leave speed limits in place to protect road users.

Drivers should consider reduced visibility and the effects of temporary surfaces at night and in bad weather, as well as the safety of motorcyclists and cyclists,” says Mr Brady.

Road users are recommended to use the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner, which provides real-time updates of network conditions, including traffic delays.

Journey Planner(external link)

Bay of Plenty

Tauranga

Takitimu North Link Stage One: Earthworks are underway across a number of sites. On Wairoa Road, stop/go traffic management will be in place while trucks are crossing Wairoa Road, and 30km/h speed limits will be in place at all times within the construction area. Work in this area will become more evident as we work towards completing the Wairoa Road bridge in preparation of its opening. Minden Road has a 30km/h speed limit throughout the construction zone. A temporary haul road into the Te Mete Valley is operational to support the summer earthworks season. The single-lane haul road is separated from SH2. Road users should be aware of the new road layout and temporary speed limit of 60km/h on SH2 alongside the haul road. More information(external link).
Cambridge Road: Construction work to complete the new Cambridge Road overbridge, between Bethlehem and Tauriko continues. Work to connect the bridge with Cambridge and Moffat roads and utility services will be completed in 3 phases. Phase 1 involves building a diversion road allowing traffic to flow during these works. While these works take place there will be slower speed limits in place on Cambridge Road, shoulder closures and when necessary, stop/go traffic management. Traffic has diverted onto the temporary diversion road from this week. A 3-month closure of a section of Moffat Road near Tauranga Adventist School starts in January 2024. More information(external link).
Cambridge Road (East): Tauranga City Council continues slip repair work at Cambridge Road East near the St Andrews Drive roundabout. Cambridge Road is now one-lane only while the work is underway, drivers heading into the city detour via St Andrews Drive, Castlewold Drive and Wakefield Drive. Drivers coming from the city are to use Cambridge Road as usual. There is a 30km/h speed restriction past the work site. The repair is expected to be completed in mid-December, weather dependent.
SH2 Wairoa Cycleway: The Tauranga City Council cycleway construction continues with the finalising of traffic lights and line marking. The cycleway is due to be completed in early December 2023.
SH2/Cameron Road: Work on the Tauranga City Council led Cameron Road upgrade continues, with multiple work sites along the corridor. Upcoming works include the resurfacing of the Eleventh Avenue intersection at nights from 6pm Sunday 3 December to 6am Friday 8 December 2023. More information(external link)
Hewletts Road /Maunganui Road: Construction continues on two pedestrian maze crossings at the railway crossing. Work is expected to be complete in December 2023 During construction there will be lane closures for periods of time.
SH2 Bay Link: People travelling between Baypark and Bayfair will continue to see several road and lane closures. Closures will vary night to night, depending on site requirements and progress, and people are asked to allow extra time, follow signposted detours and drive with caution through the project site. To minimise impact, works are undertaken at night where possible with the aim to minimise disruption to people travelling through the area. More information(external link).
SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road (TDTR): A reduced speed limit of 80km/h is in place while Takitimu North Link crews are working behind the barriers.
SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): Traffic management for the Tauranga City Council led Pāpāmoa East Interchange construction project has been removed until construction of the interchange itself starts in early 2024. More detail will be shared closer to the time. More information(external link).
The Quayside Properties Ltd led Rangiuru Business Park Interchange project continues. Temporary barriers have been installed on both sides of the TELTR, and these will be in place until approximately June 2024, with one lane available in either direction. A temporary speed limit of 70km/h applies through the site. More information(external link).

Western Bay of Plenty

SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Work continues at the Rea/Tetley and Lockington/Matahui roundabouts, there will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause delays. Watch for road layout changes as work progresses through the construction stages. Roundabout construction is underway at the Sharp Road intersection with significant activities on the northbound lanes with intermittent stop/go in place. Near SH2 South Athenree Road the shoulder will be closed for off road works, motorists should watch for trucks crossing. This work is weather dependent so may be postponed at short notice. More information(external link).
Western tie-in (near Loop Road): Construction continues at the western tie-in of the Takitimu North Link project where utilities need to be moved. SH2 will be reduced to 50km/h in the area during this work, and the passing lane heading west will be removed to allow the crews to work on the side of the road.
SH33 Paengaroa: Road rebuilding is ongoing on a northbound uphill slow lane south of Paengaroa. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place until late December, with work taking place between 6am and 6pm. Delays are expected.

Rotorua

SH30A Amohau Street: Road resurfacing takes place between Ranolf Street and Fenton Street from Sunday 26 November. Work will take place between 8pm and 5am each night, for approximately one week. During work hours the road will be closed, HPMV are required to detour via SH5 and SH30, light vehicles can use Ranolf Street, Malfroy Road and Fenton Street.
SH5 Ngongotahā: Chipsealing will start between Western Road and the Ngongotahā roundabout on Tuesday 12 December and take 4 days to complete. Crews will be operating between 9am and 4pm daily. A southbound road closure will be in place on SH5 between Western Road and Ngongotahā roundabout during each workday. Temporary traffic management and a reduced speed limit will be in place. A detour will be available to southbound traffic on SH5 to Western Road then SH36 and then to the SH5/36 Ngongotahā Roundabout. HPMV Vehicles travelling south should detour through SH1 Tīrau onto SH30 and SH5.
SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: There are multiple active worksites on SH30 / Te Ngae Road between Iles Road and Ōwhata Road. In places there is stop/go, lane shifts and shoulder closures, temporary pedestrian crossings, footpath closures, and/or reduced speed limits. Nighttime road closure will be in place from 8pm Sunday 3 December to 5am Friday 8 December (5 nights) for road resurfacing. Closures will take place between 8pm and 5am each night, during this time through traffic will be diverted via Vaughan Road. Minor traffic delays are expected. Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times. More information(external link).
SH36 Kaharoa: Road rebuilding commences on a 200m section of road between Kaharoa Road and Te Waerenga Road on Tuesday 5 December. Stop/go traffic management will be in place with minor delays expected. Work will cease for the Christmas holidays and continue in the New Year.
SH33 Ōkere Falls: Road rebuilding continues at an 800m section of road north of Ōkere Falls. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place until late December, with work taking place between 6am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Delays are expected.
SH30 Ruato Bay: Sealing is now complete but a temporary speed limit will remain in place until the line marking takes place in the coming week.
SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Work on SH33 safety improvements are underway with contractors working on widening of the road, installing safety barriers and improving drainage. In addition, rehabilitation works are also underway at other sites on this corridor. Temporary traffic management will be in place including stop/go, lane shifts and shoulder closures while these works are underway. Minor traffic delays are expected.
SH5 Waimangu: Work has started to repair a slip south of Tumunui, backfilling and stabilising the bank. Minor delays are expected, work is expected to be complete by mid-December.
SH38 Murupara: Resealing will be taking place between Waimangu and Murupara until Tuesday 5 December with stop/go traffic management is in place. Delays of up to 30 minutes can be expected.

Eastern Bay of Plenty

SH30/SH2 Awakeri: Due to Resurfacing works from Sunday 3 December to Friday 8 December, overnight closures will be in place on SH30 between SH34 and SH2. The road will be closed from 7pm to 5am each night. Stop/go traffic management and speed restrictions will remain in place during the day. Sign-posted detours will be available via local roads, heavy vehicles must use SH34 and SH2.
SH2 Waimana Gorge: Road rebuilding continues. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place during this time. Work will be complete by midday Friday 22 December.
SH2 Wainui to Ōpōtiki: Safety improvements between Parkinsons Road and Woodlands Road near Ōpōtiki continue. This work is expected to be complete in December 2023 (weather dependent). Works consists of shoulder widening and the installation of safety barriers. During this time road users can expect to see shoulder closures and/or stop/go operations in place, as required. Works will take place between 7am and 5pm each weekday. Please allow extra time for your journey as delays up to 10 minutes may be experienced.
SH2 Manganuku Bridge, Waioeka Gorge: A reduced speed limit of 30km/h for heavy vehicles will remain in place until further notice. Heavy vehicles must stick to the speed limit as those travelling at higher speeds will exert greater loads on the structure, which currently poses a significant risk.

Tairāwhiti Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay

SH5 Napier – Taupō: Progress continues at a number of slip sites at the Hawke’s Bay end of SH5. Stop/go traffic management is in place at various sites, along with temporary speed limits. The road is expected to be reinstated to two lanes throughout by Christmas.

Manawatū-Whanganui

SH1 Utiku: A ‘slow slip’ has resulted in cracking between Micklesons Road and Utiku South Road. A 30km/h temporary speed limit is in place through the area, along with a temporary re-alignment and narrowing of traffic lanes.
SH4 Te Oreore slip: Following a slip in 2019, a temporary road is in place at Te Oreore, with a 30km/h temporary speed limit in place. Construction of three new retaining walls north of the main slip area are ongoing.

Waikato

East Waikato

SH2 Mangatawhiri to Mangatarata: Chipsealing at several sites will take place from Sunday 19 to Thursday 30 November, overnight between 9pm and 5am. Temporary speed restrictions will be in place during the day outside of the stop/go traffic management.
SH2 Mangatarata: Road rebuilding began Monday 20 November near Coxhead Road. Stop/go traffic management is in place between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday. Minor delays are expected. Work is expected to be complete by mid-December.
SH25: Recovery works are underway at several sites, with temporary traffic management such as lane closures and stop/go along with reduced speed limits in place where required. This currently includes Wharekaho, Coroglen and Ruamahunga. More information.(external link)
SH25A Kōpū-Hikuai: A section of road near the summit collapsed early this year and is being repaired. Detour via SH26, SH2, SH25 via the Karangahake Gorge, or SH25 via Coromandel Town. Work to construct a bridge over the slip area is underway, and the bridge is expected to open by Wednesday 20 December. Additional works are taking place across SH25A while the road is closed, and some traffic management may stay in place where maintenance activity is ongoing. More information(external link).
SH25 Thames to Coromandel: Due to slip stabilisation work, stop/go traffic management is in place 24 hours per day until 22 December.
SH25 Thames Coast Road, Ruamahunga slip: Work to stabilise the slip face is underway and will continue until approximately Friday 22 December, resuming 8 January. While this work is underway stop/go traffic management will be in place and stop/stop when helicopters are in use.
SH26 Morrinsville: Work to resurface the road between Thames Street and Allen Street intersections will start from 6pm Sunday 3 December until 6am Friday 8 December. The repair work needs a full road closure, day and night, between these times. Detours are available. Access for residents and businesses will be maintained, as will access for emergency services.
SH29 Kaimai Range: Asphalt resurfacing on the western side of SH29 will start on Sunday 10 December, taking 5 days to complete. Work will be undertaken at night using one way closures. Road users will need to take alternative routes if they wish to travel between regions. On the Eastern side of the Kaimai Range, contractors will be chipsealing between McLaren Falls Road and Kaimai School, this will start on Thursday 14 December and take 5 nights to complete.

Central Waikato

SH1 Lichfield: The northbound slow lane near Puriri Road is closed until further notice, while investigations take place into repair options.
SH1 Ātiamuri: Temporary steel barriers have been installed nearby from Ātiamuri village to Ohakuri Road and a temporary speed restriction of 50km/h applies ahead of construction starting on safety barrier installation. More information(external link).
SH1 Maroa Road: Stop/go traffic management is in place along with a temporary speed restriction, while finishing works and final surfacing are completed by Christmas.
SH1 Hātepe: Road rebuilding is underway north of Hātepe. Stop/go traffic management is in place between 6am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Work is expected to be complete by mid-December.
SH41 Tokaanu: Due to a washout, the road is down to one lane under temporary traffic lights, with a 30km/h temporary speed restriction in place.
SH5 Iwitahi (Napier/Taupo Road): Road rehabilitation continues and is expected to be complete by mid-December. Stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place at all active worksites. Delays are to be expected.

West Waikato

SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia section: Safety improvements and remedial works require the closure of a single lane in each direction with a 50km/h temporary speed limit, until completion. Major southbound surfacing works need a block of night closures and detours for approximately 5 weeks. The closures, from Sunday to Thursday each week, run until Thursday 21 December, 7pm to 5am each night. The detour is via SH1B Gordonton Road. Light traffic can turn off at Lake Road to re-join SH1 at the Northern Interchange. Heavy vehicles must use SH1B, including the local road detour at Telephone Road, and connect to SH1 again at Cambridge or via SH26 into Hillcrest. More information(external link).
SH1C Hillcrest: Fence and road surface repairs are required at the intersection of Cambridge Road and Cobham Drive in Hamilton. The southbound left turn lane will be closed Monday 4 December between 9am and 2pm. A detour will be available via Cambridge Road and Wairere Drive.
SH1 Karāpiro (Keeley’s Reserve): The bulk of the work has wrapped up on the turnaround bay at Keeley’s Reserve in Karāpiro. The reserve has reopened to the public and the turnaround bay can be used. Due to a nation-wide shortage, the streetlighting system is yet to be installed and this will be completed just prior to Christmas or in early 2024. More information(external link).
SH3 Ōhaupō: The Waipā District Council led Ōhaupō village pedestrian safety improvements are underway and are expected to take 6 months to complete. During this time lane shifts and stop/go traffic management will be in place, along with temporary speed limits.
SH3 Kihikihi: A right turn bay is being built on SH3 Kihikihi to allow easier access to McAndrew Street. From 7am to 6pm daily there will be no access to McAndrew St from SH3 and Stop/go traffic management may be in place on the state highway. Work will be complete by Thursday 21 December.
SH3 Waitomo: Road rebuilding continues at a site near the Big Apple, north of the SH37 Waitomo Caves roundabout. Stop/go traffic management will be in place between 6am and 8pm, and from Monday 27 November this will switch to 24-hour stop/go for approximately two weeks. A temporary speed limit will be in place, work is expected to be complete by mid-December.
SH31 Kāwhia: Road resealing is taking place, with stop/go traffic management between 6am and 8pm each weekday. This work is weather dependent. Minor delays are expected when sealing is taking place.
SH30 Te Kūiti: Due to a slip, priority give-way is in place near Mangaokewa Road, motorists are advised to proceed with caution.

North Waikato

SH1 Waikato Expressway – Rangiriri section: Remedial works requiring various interchange ramp closures continue into next week. SH1 traffic is being managed through the site with a temporary speed restriction of 50km/h.
SH1 Nikau Road to Bombay Intersection: There will be a full northbound closure for resurfacing on Monday 4 December and Thursday 7 December between 9pm and 5am. Traffic will be able to travel north using one of the southbound lanes.
SH1 Pokeno to Nikau Road: There will be a full northbound closure for resurfacing on Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 December between 9.30pm and 5am. Traffic will still be able to travel north using one of the southbound lanes.
SH2 Maramarua: Chipsealing continues until early December. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place between 9pm and 5am at each worksite. More information(external link).

Taranaki

SH3 Awakino: Final surfacing commences on Monday 20 November. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, with delays of up to 15 minutes expected. Work is expected to be complete by the end of March 2024.
SH3 Mt Messenger: Slip debris removal work takes place between Monday 20 and Wednesday 22 November, between 5pm and 5am each night. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place during this time. Delays of up to 15 minutes are expected.
SH3 Uruti: Rock mesh slip protection work north of Mangamaio Road continues. Stop/go and stop/stop traffic management will be in place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, along with a 30km/h temporary speed restriction until Christmas. Delays of up to 30 minutes are expected.
SH3 Te Ara Tutohu Waitara to Bell Block: Due to ongoing safety improvement work SH3 will be closed between Nelson Street and Bayly Street from 11 December until 2 February 2024. The road will be closed to both lanes of traffic at all times, with a detour in place through Waitara. More Information(external link)

For up to 48 hours following completion of chipseal sites, a 50km/h temporary speed limit will be in place until the road is swept and line marking reinstated.

The above information is accurate at the time of release. Many of the above works are dependent on a number of factors, particularly weather, and may be postponed at short notice. For up-to-date information on road works, traffic, detours and delays, motorists are encouraged to visit the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website.