The Bay of Plenty will benefit from its share of more than $2 billion in funding for nationwide pothole prevention and maintenance over the next 3 years, with a significant volume of road renewals planned for the region.
This funding boost enables NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) to focus on road rebuilding and improving the overall network condition through more intensive treatments and increasing the road surface quality.
Approximately 110 lane kilometres in the Bay of Plenty will either be rebuilt or resealed over coming summers, with a significant portion of this planned to take place over the next 6 months.
“The Bay of Plenty network is heavily used every day by a variety of road users, including freight operators, commuters, and tourists,” says Sandra King, NZTA’s Bay of Plenty System Manager.
“To complete the volume of road renewals needed, people can expect disruption across the network. Road rebuilding can often involve replacing all or most of the structural road layers, it’s intensive work with some sections under construction for extended periods of time.
“We’re looking at how we can minimise disruption by thinking differently and challenging ourselves and our suppliers to be as efficient and effective as possible. This includes using methods such as road closures to allow suppliers to get in and complete work in a quicker and safer way, and with fewer road cones,” Ms King explains.
While there will be various maintenance worksites across the Bay of Plenty this summer, there is a focus on State Highway 29 (SH29), specifically near Hanga Road, the Kaimai Café and the Kaimai School. To minimise impacts to traffic, this work will be done at night and starts this month.
Some renewal sites have kicked off early, crews are making the most of the weather now with 2 worksites on State Highway 2 (SH2) between Paengaroa and Ōtamarākau already halfway through construction.
As much work as possible will be completed before Christmas, then there will be a short break over the holiday period. Workers will then get back into it until autumn sets in.
“With so much work taking place it is inevitable road users will come across worksites and traffic management. When you see roadworkers out on the road, travel safely through their worksites, follow signage and any instructions you receive, and give them a wave to say thanks for their tremendous work,” says Ms King.
The sites that will be the most disruptive over the summer months are indicated on the maps attached.
This work is funded through the State Highway Maintenance and Pothole Prevention activity classes in the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).
