Motorists are reminded to leave extra time when travelling around the Waikato and Bay of Plenty over the coming months as work on major projects and roadworks ramp up.
Transport Agency work crews are out in force at the moment, making the most of the warmer, dryer weather to make highways safer and progress projects such as the Waikato Expressway and Maungatapu Underpass in Tauranga.
Drivers are likely to encounter speed restrictions and other traffic management at roadwork sites which may cause delays and should get in the habit of allowing extra time for their journeys.
People can get information on road works and detours in the region they are in, or travelling to by checking www.nzta.govt.nz/summerjourneys(external link) , by calling 0800 444 449 or following the Transport Agency on Facebook or Twitter.
Bay of Plenty travellers can also go to www.drivelive.nz/tauranga(external link) , a dedicated website that tells drivers what the current travel times are to get to key places.
Roadworks sites which may cause delays are detailed below to help people plan head when travelling:
Bay of Plenty
SH36 Mangorewa Gorge between Rotorua and Tauranga
Motorists travelling between Tauranga and Rotorua on SH36 are advised to expect delays this month as contractors carry out rockfall prevention work in the Mangorewa Gorge.
Speed restrictions and traffic lights will be in place at times from until the end of March.
Please allow an extra 10 minutes for your journey.
SH36 Tautau Bridge (just south of Pyes Pa School)
Speed restrictions will be in place at times from February 26 until April 30 while contractors carry out works on the bridge. Motorists are advised to drive with extra care in the area and expect minor delays.
Rotorua area
Roadworks and reseals will be underway on a number of state highway sites around Rotorua over the next week.
Lane closures and stop/go traffic management will be in place at time and motorists are advised to allow an extra 10 minutes when travelling around the district.
Work sites where delays should be expected include:
SH2 between Tauranga and Waihi
Motorists travelling on SH2 between Tauranga and Waihi are urged to drive with extra care over the next six weeks as work continues on a major safety upgrade.
A section of highway between Wainui South Road and Sargent Drive will be repaired and widened, and a wire rope central median barrier installed to prevent head on crashes.
Work started in January and is expected to wrap up in early May.
People should only expect minor delays but are urged to stay alert behind the wheel as there will be significant changes including lane closures, speed restrictions and occasional stop/go traffic management.
Tauranga Eastern Link
The long-life road marking will be applied on the Tauranga Eastern Link expressway and motorway from February 22.
The works will be carried out at night for six weeks. The reason for the long time period is the paint is slow to apply and takes hours to dry.
A lane closure and 50km/h speed restriction will be in place. Drivers are asked to take care when driving along this route.
Te Puke Highway
Motorists using the Te Puke Highway during March are advised to allow extra time when travelling, with road reconstruction work expected to cause delays.
Works are continuing along sections of the highway, which involve digging up and removing the old road and replacing it with new pavement before sealing and roadmarking.
Waikato
Resealing works
Contractors will be resealing sections of the State Highway 1 (SH1) through the Waikato over the next few months.
Sites currently being worked on over the next week include:
SH31 Otorohanga
Roadworks on SH31 west of the Waipa River bridge and outside the primary school are under way for the next six weeks. Traffic is being managed through the site under stop/go. Expect minor delays.
SH3, Hangatiki
Traffic management, including stop/go, a 50km/h speed restriction and lane closures, are in place for work north and south of the Waitomo turnoff roundabout until 21 March.
SH3, Te Kuiti
Road reconstruction work will start near the Bosco Cafe in Te Kuiti on March 17 (weather dependent).
Motorists can expect some delays until 6 April as stop/go traffic control and temporary speed limits will be in place.
SH1 Hamilton, Cobham Drive Bridge
Works to improve the surface of the bend on the western side of Cobham Bridge in Hamilton will be done overnight on 20 March. Some delays will occur as people pass through the site.
SH5 north of Taupo
Traffic may be disrupted by forestry work alongside SH5 at the Tahorakuri Forest on the Taupo to Rotorua road. Tree felling alongside the highway will see a 50km/h speed restriction in place, and at some times traffic down to a single lane and passing the area under stop-go. The maximum delay is five minutes. The day work is under way there until the end of April.
SH1 Mercer
The south-bound slow lane leading into Mercer will be closed on Sunday 13 March between 10am-6pm to allow for KiwiRail to work on the line adjacent to SH1. Some minor delays may be experienced.
SH1 Waikato Expressway
Ngaruawahia Section
South-bound traffic continues to be detoured while final-seal work is done on part of the Ngaruawahia section of the expressway.
The current detour will be removed by 6am on Thursday, 17 March when south-bound traffic will be back on the expressway but down to single lane at times for another week while contractors carry out line marking and other jobs.
Rangiriri section
The northern entrance to Rangiriri Road, off SH1, is to close for three months from 7am on 14 March. The closure is to allow the contractor to relocate services in the area and to lower the road by 1.25 metres.
The closure will extend from just north of the primary school’s northern boundary northwards to Rangiriri Road’s intersection with SH1.
Access to all affected properties will be via the new cul-de-sac which has been built. Access to Rangiriri will be via the main Rangiriri intersection, outside the Rangiriri Hotel.
SH1 Kahikatea Drive, Hamilton
Travellers on SH1 through Hamilton should be prepared for minor delays as work is under way to install traffic lights at the Kahikatea Drive and Gallagher Drive intersection. There is a speed restriction and traffic management ahead of a mid-year completion. Works are 24-hours and 6 days a week. However night works will not normally take place on Friday or Saturday nights.
SH3 Ohaupo Road, Hamilton
Work is well under way on the shared path for cyclists and pedestrians alongside on SH3 in Hamilton. The $2 million project will see a 3.5km shared path on SH3 Ohaupo Road from Lorne Street to Dixon Road, with an arm up Normandy Avenue to Bader Street.
The Transport Agency apologies for any inconvenience the works may cause and thanks motorists for their patience.
