It should be smooth travelling over the holiday season as people will be able to drive on a number of newly sealed roads, with contractors across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty continuing to make great progress as the holiday season approaches.
It should be smooth travelling over the holiday season as people will be able to drive on a number of newly sealed roads, with contractors across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty continuing to make great progress as the holiday season approaches.
While contractors can work up until midday on Friday 22 December, they’ll be making sure new seal has ample time to bed-in before holiday traffic drives over it, ensuring all presents are delivered on time.
Now is also the time to start planning for your trip, says Andrew Oakley, Waikato System Manager at NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.
“We expect traffic to be busy from the weekend before Christmas, right through until early in the New Year. It’s been a long year, and everyone deserves to relax and unwind. Consider planning ahead so you know what to expect when travelling. Key routes will be busier than usual, and ensuring you have everything you need for a longer journey can make things much more enjoyable.
“As well as this, make sure you check over your vehicles in the next couple of weeks, and if you are towing a caravan, boat or trailer make sure it’s attached before you start your journey - the last thing anyone needs is to have their holiday plans disrupted by a breakdown.
“Before and after the break our contractors will be on the network, please remember to respect any temporary traffic management, signage, and directions from our crews. They’re working hard and will minimise any delays as much as possible,” says Mr Oakley.
People are recommended to use the NZTA Journey Planner (journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)), which provides real-time updates of network conditions, including traffic delays.
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 on Monday 8 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 mid-December 2023.
- Hewletts Road /Maunganui Road: Construction continues on two pedestrian maze crossings at the railway crossing. Work is expected to be complete in mid-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. From Sunday 10 to Friday 15 December, between 7pm and 6am, SH2 northbound will be closed from Sandhurst interchange to SH2/SH29A Te Maunga interchange to safely install gantry signage on Tauranga Eastern Link. 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. Prior to Christmas, material is being removed from the northern side of the site. Traffic management will be in place for 2 weeks between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday on the shared path to ensure the safety of path users. 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: Roundabout construction is underway at Sharp Road with significant activity on both lanes. Contraflow is in place on the southbound lanes with speed restrictions. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause delays. At the Ōmokoroa Road intersection vegetation clearing continues, this work is offline however shoulder closures will be in place at times. The Park and Ride on Ōmokoroa Road near SH2 will be closed Saturday 16 December. 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 continues between Ranolf Street and Fenton Street. Work will take place between 8pm and 5am each night, Sunday to Thursday, and is due to be completed mid-December. 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.
- 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. Night time road closures will be in place from 8pm to 5am, Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 December for road resurfacing. 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: Survey work continues on a 200m section of road between Kaharoa Road and Te Waerenga Road. Stop/go traffic management will be in place with minor delays expected. Physical works will start next week, 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.
- SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Work on SH33 safety improvements are underway with contractors working on multiple sites along this section of highway. Work includes widening of the road corridor, installing safety barriers, improving drainage and rehabilitation works. 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. More information(external link).
- 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.
Eastern Bay of Plenty
- SH2 Waimana Gorge: Road rebuilding continues. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place during this time. Work will cease for the Christmas holidays and continue in the New Year.
- 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: Due to high rainfall and increased land movement, there is active site monitoring, and an altered road layout with various traffic management and a 30km/h temporary speed restriction in place.
- 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 Mangatarata: Road rebuilding continues 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, with a reduced speed limits 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 close to completion 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 Chipsealing: Resealing will take place between Waitakaruru and Keretā from Monday 11 December. There will be stop/go traffic management in place with a speed restriction.
- SH26 Paeroa to Kōpū: Sealing works between Kōpū and Hikutaia continue There will be stop/go traffic management in place with a speed restriction.
- 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.
Central Waikato
- SH5 Tirau: As part of the design phase for safety improvements in the area, traffic management will be in place near the SH5 and SH28 Harwoods Road intersection for half a day on Monday 11 December. Short delays are to be expected.
- 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 continue on the 4.8km stretch of highway which has been widened and safety barriers installed. The site will reopen at 100km/h before Christmas with final sealing to be completed later in the summer.
- 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).
- SH3 Melville, Hamilton: A road closure will be in place between Collins Road and Normandy Avenue while road resurfacing is completed. Commencing Monday 11 December, the work is expected to take 3 nights to complete, between 8pm and 6am each night. The work will be undertaken in phases with detours in place via Collins Road, Prisk Street, Mount View Road, Vivian Street and Mahoe Streets during phase one, and via Saxbys Road, Deanwell Avenue, Prisk Street and Mount View Road during phase two.
- 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. 24-hour stop/go and a temporary speed limit are in place, work is expected to be complete by mid-December.
- 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 are nearing completion, and the road will be back to four lanes next week. This section will remain at 70km/h until final sealing later in the summer.
- SH1 Nikau Road to Bombay intersection: There will be a full northbound closure for resurfacing on Tuesday 12 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 on Sunday 10 December between 9.30pm and 5am for resurfacing. Traffic will still be able to travel north using one of the southbound lanes.
- SH2 Kopuku to Coalfields Road: Stop/go traffic management will be in place Sunday 10 December and Wednesday 13 December between 9pm and 5am for resurfacing.
Taranaki
- SH3 Awakino: Final surfacing continues. 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 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 NZTA Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)).
NZTA thanks motorists for their patience while we complete this essential work to keep the state highway network safe, accessible and resilient.
