The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) advises that both lanes on State Highway 2 (SH2) between Bruce Road to Domain Road, Papamoa have reopened.
Both lanes will remain open until 7.00pm this evening, prior to the start of overnight repair works and will be reinstated again at 6.00 am tomorrow morning.
During the overnight works, the southbound lane will remain open. Northbound traffic will be detoured from the Domain Road intersection to Papamoa Beach Road, and then to the Girven Road roundabout at Bayfair.
NZTA's Bay of Plenty State Highway Manager, Brett Gliddon, says a 50km/h temporary speed restriction will remain in place until necessary repairs to the road surface are undertaken, which is expected to take until the end of the week.
"The works are required as the result of the surface flooding which occurred over the past 36 hours, as a number of potholes have formed along this section of SH2."
During the day both the northbound and southbound lanes will remain open, however, motorists are reminded to take extreme care when travelling through this area.
The NZTA thanks motorists for their continued patience and assistance while this work is being undertaken.
Keep up-to-date with developments at www.nzta.govt.nz/tel/.
Editor's notes
The four-lane Tauranga Eastern Link will run from Te Maunga (near Baypark Stadium) in Tauranga to the existing junction of State Highways 2 and 33 (the Rotorua and Whakatane highways) near Paengaroa. It will be made up of 17km of new road and an upgrade of six kilometres of existing highway. The new highway is expected to open to traffic in 2016.
The Government has identified seven essential state highway projects linked to New Zealand's economic prosperity. Called the roads of national significance, or RoNS for short, the NZTA is charged with delivering this programme of state highway improvements within the next 10 years. The RoNS programme represents one of New Zealand's biggest ever infrastructure investments and is a key part of the Government's National Infrastructure Plan and Government's Policy Statement for transport.
The seven RoNS projects are based around New Zealand's five largest population centres. The focus is on moving people and freight between and within these centres more safely and efficiently. Other RoNS may be added in future but currently from north to south the seven projects are:
More information is available at www.nzta.govt.nz/rons.
