With the first long weekend since February, Waka Kotahi is expecting higher than usual traffic volumes over Easter weekend, as many holiday makers make the most of an extended break and take the chance to travel.
The weather for Easter is looking a bit gloomy with mixed forecasts for the majority of the North Island so motorists are encouraged to drive to weather conditions as well as visiting the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website ( journeys.nzta.govt.nz/journey-planner(external link)) to plan ahead and avoid delays.
“In the Bay of Plenty, motorists should be prepared for heavy traffic on SH2, between Paeroa and Waihi, Tauranga and Katikati and on SH29 over the Kaimai range,” says Roger Brady, Bay of Plenty System Manager at Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency.
“In the Waikato, delays are predicted on SH1 between Tirau and Karāpiro, SH2 from Pokeno to Maramarua, and around Tairua on SH25.”
Mr Brady explains, “worksites across the region will shut down from midday today (Thursday), however there are a number of sites with restrictions that will still apply over the long weekend. Examples include the slip site at SH31 towards Kawhia and the slip site near Opoutere on SH25. These sites remain under stop/go at all times, so it’s important to be prepared that your journey may take longer.”
April continues with the last of the resealing taking place at a reduced volume, as temperatures continue to cool down.
“We’re continuing to complete what work we can,” says Mr Brady, “everything we do now will help us keep the network safe and accessible over winter.”
Bay of Plenty
Tauranga
- Takitimu North Link Stage One: A range of construction activities will continue between Te Puna, Bethlehem and Tauriko including Cambridge Road, Harrison Road, Wairoa Road, Minden Road, Loop Road and State Highway 2, there are a number of shoulder closures and reduced speed limits. The new Harrison Road alignment will open with new seal and line marking scheduled in the coming weeks, when there is consistent fine weather. People may notice an increase in truck movements along Moffat Road in the Tauriko/Bethlehem area. More information(external link)
- SH2 Wairoa Cycleway: Construction commences in the near future on the last 800m section of the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway, between the Wairoa Bridge and Bethlehem. While most of the works will be undertaken at night, there will be traffic management in place for on-road works. Work is expected to take about eight weeks to complete. This project is a partnership between Tauranga City Council and Waka Kotahi. More information(external link)
- SH2 Bay Link: A single lane overnight closure on SH2/Maunganui Road northbound from opposite Exeter Street to opposite Concord Avenue, and on Matapihi Road approaching the Bayfair roundabout will be in place from Tuesday 11 April to Friday 14 April and again from Sunday 16 April to Thursday 20 April 2023. The lanes will be closed from approximately 7pm to 6am each night and allow crews to construct permanent concrete barriers at the Bayfair underpass. In the event of bad weather or unforeseen circumstances, the closures may be moved to the next suitable night/s. More information(external link)
- SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road: A reduced speed limit of 80km/h will be in place while contractor crews are working behind the barriers. Road resurfacing commences Tuesday 11 April, with work taking place between 7pm and 5am, Sunday to Thursday nights. Stop/go or lane shifts will be in place most nights, lane closures will be utilised between 16 and 18 April. More information(external link)
- SH2 Fifteenth Avenue: Work continues on the upgrade of the intersection at SH2/Fifteenth Avenue and Cameron Road. Traffic management will be in place at the intersection, and there will be a reduced number of lanes on Cameron Road. Minor delays are expected. Cameron Road, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth Avenue, has a southbound lane closure through to mid-2023.
- SH2 Hewletts Road: Work continues to upgrade the existing footpath on the northern side of SH2 Hewletts Road to a shared use path. Work is taking place in four consecutive stages to minimise disruption. Works in the last stage, between Maru St and Aerodrome Rd, are now underway. The northbound bus lane will be closed Monday to Friday between 5am and 3pm each day. A detour for people walking and cycling will be in place. Regular traffic lanes will operate as per normal. More information(external link)
- SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): For the Tauranga City Council led Pāpāmoa East Interchange construction project, a section of the TELTR, just north of the Kaituna River Bridge, is reduced to three lanes. Whilst earthworks continue on the south side of the road, both eastbound lanes are open and normal speed applies. The inner westbound lane is open whilst work continues along the outside lane - the speed limit past the work site is 70km/h. This layout will remain in place until May 2023 with reinstatement work planned for June 2023. 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 October 2023, with one lane available in either direction. A temporary speed limit of 70km/h will apply through the site. More information(external link)
Western Bay of Plenty
- SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: The site will shut down over the Easter Period from Good Friday 7 April to early Tuesday. We remind all those who are travelling through the site over the long weekend to follow the signs and be patient as there is likely going to be more traffic over this time. Tanners Point Road to Kauri Point Road - Road widening works continue throughout the week. Expect speed reductions and minor delays of one to two minutes. Tanners Point Road to Kauri Point Road - Road widening works continue throughout the week. Expect speed reductions and minor delays of one to two minutes. Lockington Rd / Matahui Rd Intersection - Roundabout construction underway. Lane shifts and speed reductions in place. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays, but typically expect minor delays of one to two minutes. Please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team. Morton Rd Intersection - Roundabout construction underway. Lane shifts and speed reductions in place. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays, but typically expect minor delays of one to two minutes. Please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team. Apata Station Rd to Esdaile Road – Lane shifts and speed restrictions for Road widening works. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays, but typically expect minor delays of one to two minutes. More information(external link)
- SH36 Pyes Pa: Chipsealing will take place on Thursday 13 April between Joyce Road and Oropi Gorge Road. Work will take place between 9am and 4pm. During this time stop/go and/or lane shift traffic management will be in place, along with temporary speed limits. Minor delays are expected.
- SH33 Paengaroa/Okere Falls: Resealing between Maniatutu Road and Allport Road on SH33 will take place on the Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 April. Work will take place between 9am and 4pm. During this time stop/go and/or lane shift traffic management will be in place, along with temporary speed limits. Minor delays are expected.
Rotorua
- SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: Multiple worksites are active on SH30/Te Ngae Road between Iles Road and Ōwhata Road. Temporary traffic management will be in place, including a shoulder closure on the westbound lane between Basley Road and 411 Te Ngae Road, a full closure at the Basley Road and SH30/Te Ngae Road intersection – detours are in place. There is a temporary reduced speed limit through site of 50km/per hr. The upgraded footpath on the lakeside of SH30/Te Ngae Road, between Iles Road and Tennyson Drive is now open. The footpath on the southern side of SH30/Te Ngae Road, between Basley Road and 411 Te Ngae Road is closed with a temporary signalised pedestrian crossing at the city end of Puketāwhero park to cross SH30/Te Ngae Road. Work is underway on the new retaining wall and shared service trench opposite Brent Road on SH30/Te Ngae Road, temporary traffic management will be in place including a contraflow lane shift, shoulder closure on the eastbound lane of SH30/ Te Ngae Road between Puketāwhero Park and Brent Road, the footpath through this section remains closed. Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times. More information(external link)
- SH30/SH33 Te Ngae Junction: Construction of safety improvements continue on the western side of the intersection, with a shoulder closure in place. Earthworks continue on the southeast corner of the SH30/SH33 junction, temporary traffic management will be in place including a reduced speed limit through site and a 3-way stop/go during work hours. Moderate traffic delays are expected. More information(external link)
- SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Maintenance teams will be carrying out chipsealing and remedial work on sections of road between Allport Road and Hamurana Road (Okere) in the coming week. Temporary traffic management will be in place including Stop/Go, lane shift and shoulder closures while these works are underway. Minor traffic delays are expected. More information(external link)
Eastern Bay of Plenty
- SH30 Te Ruato Bay: Road rehabilitation continues just west of Lake Okataina Road. This work is expected to be complete by late-April, during this time stop/go or stop/stop traffic management will be in place as required. Work will take place between 6am and 6pm each weekday.
- SH2 Waioeka Gorge: An underslip at the road edge sees a section of road under priority give-way. Care is required when driving through this area.
- SH2 Manganuku Bridge, Waioeka Gorge: After planned testing on the Manganuku Bridge, further investigations are required. The reduced speed limit of 30km/h for heavy vehicles will remain in place until results are determined. Heavy vehicles must adhere 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
- All State Highways: All state highways within the Tairāwhiti Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay regions have sustained damage during Cyclone Gabrielle, and some routes are impassable for the time being. Other routes are experiencing significant delays due to high traffic volumes, please check the Journey Planner for the most up to date information, and only travel if it is essential. More information(external link)
Manawatū-Whanganui
- SH4 Upokongaro to Raetihi: Following Cyclone Gabrielle, crews have been busy clearing slips and debris, removing trees, fixing damaged assets and putting up additional warning signs to ensure the safety of SH4 road users. As well as existing damaged sites, there are several sites along SH4 that received damage from the cyclone and have traffic management in place, including a number that require further investigation and designs completed prior to remedial action taking place.
- SH4 Burrell Road underslip: Following a blessing, work has now begun at the site of an existing underslip near Burrell Road south of Otoko. Crews will construct a new 18-metre-long anchored retaining wall, and underpin an existing concrete crib retaining wall. This work is estimated to take 12 weeks, traffic management will be in place during this time.
- SH4 Auraki Stream Road Retreat: Work to retreat the road away from a slip adjacent to the Mangawhero River is currently underway and is expected to be complete by mid-2023. For the duration of the works the road is reduced to one lane with traffic control operating under traffic signals. Works are generally undertaken away from the road, however there are occasions where traffic signals are used to keep drivers safe from hazards, with delays of up to 10 minutes. More information(external link)
- 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. A package of work to ensure the ongoing safety and resilience of this site is scheduled to begin on Monday 13 March. The work will begin with access track installation and construction of two new dewatering wells. Traffic management will include shoulder closures and stop/go, which will tie in with the existing temporary speed limit through the slip site. Construction of three new retaining walls north of the main slip area is scheduled to begin by early April.
Waikato
East Waikato
- SH25 Tairua: Traffic management will be in place at the Pepe Bridge in Tairua. Significant delays are expected for this section of the state highway network.
- SH25 Opoutere: An underslip has caused significant damage to the road structure. Work is ongoing to retreat the road to allow vehicles past. The temporary road is open with stop/go traffic management, however there may be periods of stop/stop traffic management as required. Geotechnical investigations are ongoing, work to repair the slip will commence after Easter. Over the Easter break, please allow for delays similar to Pepe bridge in Tairua.
- SH25A Kopu-Hikuai: A section of road near the summit has collapsed, and the road is impassable. Geotechnical investigations are ongoing. Detour via SH26, SH2, SH25 via the Karangahake Gorge, or SH25 via Coromandel Town. More information(external link)
- SH24 Matamata: Re surfacing will commence on Tuesday 11 April and run through to Thursday20 April at the Burwood Road Roundabout, there will be a full road closure in place from 8pm to 5am each night. Temporary speed limits will be in place during non-work hours. The detour will be via SH27 and SH29. No works will take place on Friday or Saturday nights.
Central Waikato
- SH5 Napier – Taupō: SH5 towards Napier is now open to all traffic 24 hours a day. There are 32 damaged sites along the route, travel will take longer than it used to. Daytime road closures are being planned for road renewals in the coming weeks. More information(external link)
- SH1 Lichfield: Road rebuilding continues at a site near Puriri Road. This work is expected to be complete mid-April. Between the hours of 7am – 7pm, Monday to Friday all northbound light vehicles will detour via Rollett Road, Paraonui Road and Wiltsdown Road. Northbound heavy vehicles and residents living within the worksite will be stacked at the site and let through at set intervals.
- SH1 Ātiamuri: Traffic continues to be managed through the 4.5km site where side and median barriers are being installed south of Ātiamuri. Both north and south-bound lanes are restricted to 50km/h with stop/go traffic management in over the entire Easter weekend. Pavement works and barrier construction will finish in April 2023. More information(external link)
- 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
- SH1 Tūrangi: Chipsealing at a site south of Tūrangi being completed on Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 April. Stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place.
West Waikato
- SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia Section: Safety and remedial works have restarted with temporary safety barriers reinstalled over recent weeks. Traffic will be managed through the work sites which are single lane and 50km/h until completion in March 2024. More information(external link)
- SH1C Frankton: Asphalt resurfacing at the SH1C/SH23/Massey/Hall Overbridge intersection commences Sunday 16 April. Work will take place overnight, Sunday to Thursday nights, for approximately three weeks.
- SH1C Hillcrest: Work at the SH1C/Cambridge Road roundabout continues with one lane available in each direction. A temporary speed limit of 30km/h is in place at all times. Cambridge Road and Johnsview Terrace are operating as left in/left out only. Additionally, from 5 April until late May, there will be no left turn from SH1C Cobham Drive into local Cambridge Road. Please use the Wairere Drive-Cobham Drive interchange to access local Cambridge Road and the Hillcrest shops. This work sees the intersection changed to traffic light controls, and is expected to be completed by late August 2023. More information(external link)
- SH1B Puketaha: Road surfacing is taking place near Holland Road on Tuesday 11 April, stop/go traffic management will be in place between 7pm and 6am.
- SH1 Cambridge to Piarere: Enabling works for8kms of median barrier from Keeley’s Reserve to just past Kentucky Road commence Tuesday 11 April. The southbound slow (left-hand) lane on SH1 Tirau Road near Keeley’s Reserve will be closed 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday. Delays are expected. There will be no work or associated traffic management on statutory holidays or during any weekends.
- SH23 Dinsdale: Due to the Dinsdale Water Supply Upgrade project, traffic management will be in place around the Dinsdale Roundabout, Rifle Range Road, and the Rifle Range Road and Massey Street intersection until mid-February, dependent on weather and project progress. Full completion of the project is expected by late-April. The northbound lane of Rifle Range Road is closed to traffic. More information(external link)
- SH23 Raglan Deviation: An under-slip has occurred at a section of road approximately 1.6km west of Glentui Lane. A temporary two-lane road has been constructed to allow vehicles to pass the affected area, and this is now open to all traffic with a speed restriction of 60km/h. Work to repair the underslip is ongoing and will be completed by May. More information(external link)
- SH3 Glenview: Work is progressing well to create a Bus Hub outside the Glenview Shopping Centre. The project should be complete by early April. More information
(external link)Road resurfacing takes place near Garden Heights Avenue to Resthill Crescent on Thursday 13th April, between the hours of 7pm and 6am. During this time access the intersection where Garden Heights Avenue meets SH3 will be closed to through traffic between Glenview Terrace and SH3 Oahupo Road. Traffic will be detoured via Dixon Road and Pelorus Road or Tomin Road and Glenview Terrace. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place on SH3.
- SH3 Kihikihi: Chip sealing will take place near Allen Road on Tuesday 11th April during the day, stop/go traffic management will be in place.
- SH21 Tamahere: Asphalt resurfacing takes place at the intersection with Wiremu Tamihana Drive on Wednesday 12 April. Stop/go traffic management will be in place between 7pm and 6am.
- SH30 Kōpaki: Due to safety concerns Kopaki Bridge is only open to local light traffic until the new bridge is open to traffic in May. The detour for all other vehicles is via Kopaki Road and SH4. More information(external link)
- SH31 Kawhia Road: An underslip has appeared at a location on the Kawhia side of the lookout. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit are in place, daytime road closures between 8am and 5:30pm each weekday commence Tuesday 11 April, the road will open for an hour between 12:30pm and 1:30pm to allow traffic past the site.
North Waikato
- SH2 Pioneer Road to Pokeno: Full northbound closure on Tuesday 11 April between 10pm and 5am. Traffic will still be able to travel north using one of the southbound lanes. Please slow down and follow traffic management instructions. The Pokeno northbound off-ramp will be closed, the recommended detour is via the Nikau interchange to turn around and travel southbound on SH1 to the Pokeno southbound off-ramp.
- SH2 Maramarua: Stop/go traffic management will be in place from Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 April between 9pm and 5am.
Taranaki
- SH43 Aukopae: Due to a wash out, there is 30km/h speed restriction in place.
- SH3 Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass: A 50km/h speed limit is in place across a 5km section of SH3 at Mt Messenger. Temporary traffic management measures will still be in place occasionally as required. More information(external link)
- SH3 Uruti: Due to maintenance works, there are temporary traffic lights and a 30km/h
- SH3 Te Ara Tutohu Waitara to Bell Block: Work to construct the Princess Street Roundabout and underpass has commenced. The intersection of Princess Street and SH3 will be controlled by four sets of traffic lights until Monday 10 April, so crews can undertake tree clearing works. Delays of up to 15 minutes are expected.
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 (journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)).
Waka Kotahi thanks motorists for their patience while we complete this essential work to keep the state highway network safe, accessible and resilient.
