Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway works for April 2023

With the last of the summer resealing coming to an end, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is reminding motorists to follow the relevant temporary speed limits to ensure safety of other road users, road workers and themselves.

While most drivers are getting it right through worksites, it is disappointing to see some people speeding and putting others at risk, says Roger Brady, Bay of Plenty System Manager. 

“Speeding vehicles can flick up loose metal and other objects, which can be dangerous to our road workers and other road users,’ says Mr Brady. 

“Motorists also have less control at higher speeds. They may clip road cones and send them flying at our road workers or oncoming traffic - or lose control completely. 

“Even when there is no one working on site, we may leave speed limits in place to protect road users. Drivers should consider reduced visibility and the effects of temporary surfaces at night and in bad weather, as well as the safety of motorcyclists and cyclists.  

“Safety is always our highest priority and we make no apologies for this.” 

 This is what you can expect to see on your journeys in the upcoming weeks:

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 May 2023 on the last 800m section of the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway, between the Wairoa Bridge and Bethlehem. Work is expected to take about eight weeks to complete, with the majority of works undertaken at night. 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 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. Resurfacing work will be undertaken between 15th Ave and SH29A from Sunday 16 April to Wednesday 19 April, between the hours of 8:00pm to 5:00am each night. Single direction closures will be in place during working hours at various location with is the area. A Detour will be in place via SH29, Cambridge Road, Moffat Road and SH2. Further work will be completed under stop/go or lane shift from Thursday 20 April for approximately one week. 
• 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: Safety improvement works continue at active sites between Tanners Point Road to Kauri Point Road (road widening), and Sargent Drive (slip repairs), intermittent Stop/Go traffic management will be in place at Lockington Road / Matahui Road intersection (roundabout construction) and Apata Station Road to Esdaile Road (road widening) which may cause longer delays. Lane shifts and speed reductions will be in place. More information(external link).
• SH36 Pyes Pa: Resurfacing work will be undertaken between Oropi Gorge Rd and Merrick Rd  Sunday 16 April. Work will be completed between 9am and 4pm with stop/go traffic management 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 to Saturday 15 April. Work will take place between 9am and 4pm. During this time stop/go 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. Moderate traffic delays are expected. 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: Various work activities continue on sections of road between Allport Road and Hamurana Road in the coming week. 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). 
• SH30A Rotorua: Resurfacing works take place on Amohau Street, between Fenton Street and Ranolf Street, from Sunday 16 April to Friday 21 April. There will be a road closure in place, the detour route for light vehicles is via Fenton Street, SH30 and SH5, Heavy vehicles to use SH30 via Sala Street and SH5. Work will take place between the hours of 7pm and 6am each night. 

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 sections of SH2 north of Napier are impassable for the time being. Other routes are experiencing significant delays due to high traffic volumes or detours, 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 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 has commenced.  

• SH25 Kereta Hill: Night time closures will be in place from 26^th April for up to ten days while road repair work is undertaken. There will be a one-hour time slot each night between 11pm and midnight to allow vehicles through. During the day the road will be closed between 11am and midday to undertake chip-sealing and paint marking when the temperatures are higher. 

• 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 Thursday 13 April and run through to Thursday 20 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. Works to repair slips and dropouts are ongoing. Daytime road closures are being planned for road renewals in the coming weeks. More information(external link). 

• SH1 Lichfield: Road repairs take place near Puriri Road from Monday 17 April, and are expected to take 3 days to complete (weather permitting).  

• 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 

West Waikato

• SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia Section: To enable the next stage of pavement repair works to commence, a section of temporary steel barrier needs to be relocated. Temporary surfacing repairs are also being completed. This requires night closures of the southbound lanes and traffic will be detoured for three nights. There will be a southbound closure on Tuesday 25 April (Anzac Day) between 9pm and 5am, and on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 April between 7pm and 5am. Outside these times a single lane in each direction will be available with a 50km/h temporary speed limit, until completion in March 2024. Detours are via Ngāruawāhia with the exception of HPMV (use SH1B) and over-weight vehicles (use SH2/SH27). More information(external link). 
   
• SH1C Frankton: Asphalt resurfacing at the SH1C/SH23/Massey/Hall Overbridge intersection commences Sunday 30 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). 
• SH1C Riverlea : Surface repairs are taking place near the south bound off ramp near the city edge on Tuesday 18 April, these will be night works. 
• SH1N Cambridge Expressway: Road surface repairs are taking place on the Cambridge Expressway in two locations, firstly just south of the Tamahere interchange on Wednesday 19 April, and secondly further south by the Te Ara Noa bridge underpass on Thursday 20 April, these repairs will take place at night.
• SH1 Cambridge to Piarere: Enabling works for8kms of median barrier from Keeley’s Reserve to just past Kentucky Road commences Tuesday 11 April. The southbound - passing lane on SH1 Tirau Road near Keeley’s Reserve will be closed 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday. Delays are expected. Work continues until the end of April, there will be no work or associated traffic management on statutory holidays or during any weekends.
• 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 early-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). 
• 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. Road closures between 8am and 5:30pm are in place each weekday until late-May. The road will open for an hour between 12:30pm and 1:30pm to allow traffic past the site. Outside these times stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit are in place. 

North Waikato

• SH1 Pioneer Road, Pokeno: SH1 northbound fast (right hand) lane will be closed at Pioneer Road intersection on Monday 17 April between 9pm and 5am. During this time, you will not be able to turn right on to Pioneer Road South. Please continue to Pioneer Road North exit and follow traffic management instructions. 
• SH2 Pokeno to Koheroa Road: Due to maintenance activities southbound lane restrictions will be in place on Thursday 20 April between 8pm and 5am. Traffic will still be able to travel in both directions using northbound lanes. 
• SH2 Pokeno to Mangatawhiri Road: Due to maintenance activities an eastbound lane closure including the Mangatawhiri eastbound off-ramp will be in place on Monday 17 April between 10pm and 5am. Stop/Go traffic management will be in place to allow traffic to travel in both directions. 
• SH2 Mangatawhiri Road to Rawiri Road/Gold Course Road: A full closure in both directions will be in place on Tuesday 18 April between 10pm and 5am. Please follow the signposted detour via Mangatawhiri Road and Rawiri Road. 
• SH2 Rawiri Road/Golf Course Road to Kopuku Road: Due to maintenance activities lane restrictions will be in place on Wednesday 19 April between 10pm and 5am. Stop/Go traffic management will be in place to allow traffic to travel in both directions. 

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. Delays of up to 15 minutes at SH3 Mt Messenger will be in place over coming weeks for barrier installation works. Stop/go traffic controls will be in place, excluding weekends, until Tuesday 18 April.  More information(external link). 
• SH3 Uruti: Due to maintenance works, there are temporary traffic lights and a 30km/h 
• SH3 Tongapōrutu: Maintenance will continue north of Hutiwai Road with stop/go in place. 
• SH3 Awakino Gorge: Maintenance will continue south of Awakau Road with stop/go in place. 
• SH3 New Plymouth to Te Kuiti: In the coming weeks state highway maintenance activities such as crack sealing, maintenance patch repairs and drainage repairs will be taking place under stop/go traffic controls.  
• SH3 Te Ara Tutohu Waitara to Bell Block: SH3 will be reduced to one lane at the Princess Street intersection from 17 April for approximately three weeks while stormwater works are completed. Stop/Go traffic management will be in place on SH3 from approximately 140m south of the Princess Street intersection, through to 100m north of the intersection. A 30km/h temporary speed limit will be in place along this section of road. Delays of up to 10 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.

Journey Planner(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.