Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway works for April 2024

With many motorists expecting to take an extra day and have another long weekend to encompass Anzac Day and the school holidays, Waikato and Bay of Plenty roads are expected to be busier than normal.

Allowing extra time for your journeys and driving to the road and weather conditions will ensure you reach your destination safely says Roger Brady, Waikato and Bay of Plenty Regional Manager, Maintenance and Operations at NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.  

Anzac parades will take place at various times on Thursday 25 April throughout the country. When travelling through smaller townships be aware of advertised road closures and drive to the sign posted speed limits and detours that may be in place,” says Mr Brady.

Motorists are encouraged to check the Waka Kotahi Journey planner prior to leaving for their intended destination.     

Locally in Tauranga this week the first bridge for the Takitimu North Link project opened, between Bethlehem and Tauriko in Tauranga. Take care as you're travelling through this area says Mr Brady —this is still one of the biggest areas of construction for the project. Follow signage you see and any instructions you get from our team. Traffic management will be in place for the next phase of work, to build the new Cambridge Road East intersection, completing the final local road in this area. Keep up to date with the project here:

Takitimu North Link

For up-to-date travel information please check the Journey Planner(external link)

Bay of Plenty

Tauranga

• Takitimu North Link Stage One: Earthworks are underway across a number of sites. A temporary haul road, separated from SH2, into the Te Mete Valley is operational with a temporary speed limit of 60km/h alongside the haul road. On Monday 22 April there will be a lane deviation from Loop Road to the Takitimu North Link site office (635 SH2) on SH2 with a 50km/h temporary speed limit, this is to enable utility works and drilling from 7am to 7pm. More information 
• SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road (TDTR): A reduced speed limit of 80km/h is in place while Takitimu North Link crews are working behind the barriers. 
• SH2 Hewletts Road, Mount Maunganui: From Wednesday 17 April road rebuilding and resurfacing will take place for a month on SH2 Hewletts Road. The work will be carried out at night between 8.30pm and 5.30am from Sunday to Thursday. There will be detours or lane closures in place for different phases of this work. More information
• SH2 Bay Link: On Friday 19 April (from approximately 7pm to 6am the following morning) Maunganui Road will be closed overnight from Bayfair roundabout to opposite Concord Ave. A detour is available via Girven Road, Oceanbeach Road and Golf Road. From Sunday 21 April to Tuesday 23 April, overnight road closures (from approximately 7pm to 6am the following morning) will apply on SH2 in both directions (between Sandhurst interchange and the Bayfair flyover) and Maunganui Road southbound (between Bayfair roundabout and Tauranga Eastern Link). Closures and detours will vary night to night, depending on site requirements and progress. More information
• SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR) Shared Path: The shared path alongside SH2 is diverted until September 2024. An alternative option for path users is available via Kaituna Road and Te Tumu Road. 
• SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): The Quayside Properties Ltd-led Rangiuru Business Park Interchange project continues. Temporary barriers are in place until approximately August 2024, with one lane available in either direction. A temporary speed limit of 70km/h applies through the site. More information(external link)

Western Bay of Plenty

• SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Roundabout construction at Sharp Road is underway with significant activities including nighttime stop/go for asphalt works. There will also be daytime intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays. Please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team. Starting in late April 3.8km of flexible median barrier in the Athenree Gorge (north of Katikati) is being installed, this is due to be complete by the end of May. There will be lane shifts in place with speed restrictions and intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause some delays. Please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes. 
• SH2 Apata Curves: Road widening works are underway. Lane shifts are in place with speed restrictions. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays. Please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes. 
• SH2 Ōmokoroa Road: Shoulder closures and speed reductions are in place near the SH2/Ōmokoroa Road intersection as early works take place ahead of the Ōmokoroa Roundabout project. More information(external link)
• SH29 Kaimai Range: Resurfacing between Ngamuwahine Road and Kaimai School has started and continues through to Wednesday 24 April. The work will be carried out from Sunday to Thursday between 8pm and 5am each night. Lane diversions and stop/go with 30km/h temporary speed limits will be in place during these hours. Expect minor delays during daytime hours, as lane shifts and temporary speed limits remain in place for uneven surfaces. 
• SH29 Tauriko/Redwood Lane: Work is underway on SH29 between Belk Road and north of Redwood Lane as vegetation clearance continues in the area as part of the SH29 Tauriko Enabling Works project. Temporary traffic management including shoulder closures, a temporary 30km/h speed limit and lane diversions will be in place during these works, which will take place during off-peak hours between 9am and 4pm on Tuesday 23 April. Minor traffic delays are expected during these times. If you are travelling while any of this work is underway, please plan ahead, allow extra time and move with caution through the project site More information(external link)

Rotorua

• SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: Multiple active worksites may include stop/go, lane shifts and shoulder closures, temporary pedestrian crossings, footpath closures, and/or reduced speed limits. The bus stop outside 473 SH30 Te Ngae Road is currently closed while construction is underway on new bus stop foundations. The nearest operational bus stop is located 50 metres west on SH30 / Te Ngae Road (towards Basley Road). Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times.  More information  
• SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Pavement construction is underway and minor traffic delays are expected for this work about 6km north of Ōkere Falls. Other work includes widening of the road corridor, installing safety barriers and improving drainage. Temporary traffic management is in place including stop/go, lane shifts, shoulder closures and reduced speed limits. Traffic lights are in operation 24/7, we expect these to be in place until early May. Minor delays are expected. More information 

Eastern Bay of Plenty

• SH2 Waioeka Gorge: Work to repair 2 underslips in the Waioeka Gorge has started and will take 2 months to complete. Crews will be on site between 7am and 6pm each weekday. The worksites are at Oponae and near Goldsmiths Reserve (approximately 4 kms north of Oponae).  
• SH34 Kawerau – Tarawera River bridge walkway: Upgrades to the walkway over the Tarawera River in Kawerau began on Thursday 18 April and will take 10 weeks to complete. The old walkway is being demolished and a new steel walkway will be built. During construction there will be stop/go in place between 6.30am and 5.30pm Monday to Saturday, when there is no work taking place on site traffic signals will be operational. Scaffolding will be in place under the bridge, so the waterway can be protected, and workers can be kept safe during construction. More information
• SH35 Motu Bluff: Work to remove tree debris from the Motu Bluffs along SH35 will begin in the next 2 weeks. This work will be carried out via Helicopter approximately 120mtrs back from the State Highway. While there will be activity is the air, there is no disruption to the State Highway. 

Tairāwhiti Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay

• SH5 Napier to Taupō: Recovery alliance Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) continues to progress safety improvements, as well as repair, recovery and maintenance activities at multiple sites on SH5 between Eskdale and Waipunga. There will be a full closure on SH5 between Taupo and Napier, on 29 April from 8pm - 5am. There is no detour. There will be resident access only from Caroline Drive to Waipunga Bridge, and on the southern side of the closure from Tarawera Cafe to Glengarry Road. The State Highway is closed to all other traffic for asphalting sites in Tarawera from 8pm - 5am.  
  On Tuesday 30 April on SH5, between 8pm - 5am there will be 40 minute stop/stops (where the traffic is held on both sides) at Waione Bridge. There is no detour for either of these sites.  
  Also note there is significant work going on during the day with a combination of maintenance and operation sites, safety improvements sites and recovery sites. Please expect an additional 30 minute of travel time during working hours. More information 

Manawatū-Whanganui

• SH1 Marton: Drainage improvement works are taking place on State Highway 1 from Monday 29 April to Wednesday 8 May. Between 8am – 5pm weekdays (including Saturday if needed), the northbound lane will be closed and traffic detoured via: Wings Line, French Street, Matai Street, Main Street, Nga Tawa Road, Calico Line and back to SH1. The detour is HPMV approved and is expected to add 5 minutes to journey times. Southbound traffic will continue through site. The overall project is expected to be completed by late June, with much of the work occurring off the state highway. Temporary traffic management, including a reduced speed limit through the site will remain in place while the project is underway. More information

Waikato

• A variety of safety improvements across the Waikato have started, these will contribute towards making the roads safer. The programme of works includes a mixture of new and modified signage, new hazard warning signs, roadside safety/barrier guard rail, road widening, improved road lines and improved road markings. It is expected there will be minimal disruption for motorists while this work is completed. The works will take place until June 2024. More information(external link) 

East Waikato

• SH25 Coromandel: Ongoing recovery works to repair damage caused by last summer’s severe weather. The sites include Kereta, Te Kouma, Wharekaho and Pumpkin Hill. Stop/go traffic management will be in place at these locations. Work is also underway between Whangamatā and Waihī to repair and upgrade side drains. More information(external link).  
• SH25A: New signage and hazard warning signs, improved road markings and audio tactile profiles (rumble strips) are being installed along SH25A to make the road safer. This work will be complete in May with stop/go traffic management in place.  
• SH25 Ruamahunga: Slip stabilisation continues. Equipment and supplies are being delivered to the top of the slope by helicopter on a regular basis. These will require a series of short road closures so the helicopter can safely operate over the road. This is usually done mid-week across the middle of the day to minimise impacts on traffic. 
• SH2 Karangahake Gorge: Work to repair an underslip opposite Victoria Battery have been delayed and is expected to start in the next 2 weeks. When work commences delays can be expected, and road users should allow extra time. Work will take between 4 and 6 weeks, depending on the weather. The road will be reduced to a single lane with stop/go traffic management and a speed restriction in place while work is being done. 
• SH2 Waihi: Powerco will be installing underground fibre cables in Waihi on Monday 29 April from 8am to 4pm. SH2 will be closed at the intersection of Rosemont Road and Kenny Street to the intersection of Seddon Street and Kenny Street, with a detour available via Kenny Street. 
• SH27 Kaihere: Motorists are advised to take care while underslip repairs take place. Work is expected to start in the next 2 weeks, taking between 4 and 6 weeks to complete, depending on weather. While this work is underway the road will be reduced to a single lane with stop/go traffic management and a speed restriction in place. 

Central Waikato

• Petrolheads will be converging on Taupō between 19 and 21 April for the New Zealand round of the V8 Supercars Championship. Taking place for the first time at the Taupō International Motorsport Park, crowds of up to 25,000 each day are expected to attend. Traffic is expected to be busier than normal on all roads leading to Taupo Motorsport Park. More information. 
• SH1 Lichfield: Just north of Tokoroa, road rehabilitation has now finished, road marking will be completed from Monday 22 April.  
• SH1 Putāruru: Water cutting will take place at the Putāruru roundabout on Monday 22 April, from 6pm to 6am. SH1 will be closed to through traffic overnight with a detour in place via Marchant and Buckland Streets. 
• SH1 Ātiamuri: Road widening is underway for safety barrier installation, from the Waikato River Bridge south to Thorpe Road. Work is behind temporary safety barriers in some places and there is a 50km/h speed restriction throughout. 
• SH1 Maroa Road: Finishing works are taking place on the 4.8km site where safety barriers were installed last year. Stop/go traffic management will be in place between Monday 22 and Wednesday 24 April for clean-up and excess chip removal. 
• SH1 East Taupō Arterial: Road widening continues ahead of flexible safety barrier installation, between SH5/Napier Road and the airport roundabout. One lane is open in each direction with speed restrictions in place. Completion is expected mid-2024. More information.   
• 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. Works to repair the washout are due to begin late April and will take 3-4 weeks to complete. 
• SH1 Desert Road: Resurfacing will take place for 1 night on Sunday 28 April from 6pm to 6am, the road will be closed between Waiouru and Rangipo. A detour will be in place from SH1 via SH46, SH47, SH4 and SH49. 

West Waikato

• SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia section: Safety improvements and remedial works continue with traffic managed through the site with single lanes and 50km/h speed restriction.  More information
• SH1 Karāpiro (Hickey Road): Construction of the fifth turnaround bay in the SH1 Cambridge to Piarere safety improvements project, just north of Hickey Road, is underway. Along with constructing the turnaround bay, there will be road widening at the weigh station on SH1, between Hickey and Hydro Roads, and installation of median and side safety barriers. Construction hours are 7am – 6pm Monday to Saturday, with no work on Sunday or public holidays, and temporary traffic management in place. The impact on SH1 traffic is expected to be minor, although there are multiple worksites between Cambridge and Piarere, so some delay to journeys is expected. More information 
• SH1 Karāpiro (Tunakawa Road - Keeleys Reserve): The finishing touches are now being applied to a stretch of road improvements between Gorton Road and Fergusson Gully Road. The turnaround bays at Gorton Road and Tunakawa Road are in place and the installation of median barrier through to Fergusson Gully Road is complete. Lighting has been erected at the intersection of SH1 and Fergusson Gully Road and will be operational by the end of April/early May. The Keeley’s Reserve turnaround lighting will also be installed over the coming week, in conjunction with a concrete island installation. With the Gorton Road and Tunakawa Road turnarounds now in place, an island will be installed to restrict traffic turning right out of Keeley's Reserve. Traffic wanting to travel south will make use of the turnaround bay at Tunakawa Road. More information
• SH1 Karāpiro: Work continues on a section of SH1 between Keeley’s Reserve and Moana Roa Road, in preparation for median barrier installation. The main construction work involves 1.5km of shoulder widening, which was sealed this week. Further chip sealing at the intersection of SH1 and Kentucky Road is planned for later this month. Access in and out of Kentucky Road will remain. Other works planned for this month include the removal of temporary steel barriers, which will occur under nighttime stop/go traffic management during the week of 22 April, followed by the removal of existing line marking on the road. The installation of median barrier is expected to get underway in late April/May, with all work in this area to be completed in June. The worksite is under a temporary speed limit of 50km/h with the slow (left-hand) lane of the southbound passing lane between Keeley’s Reserve and Moana Roa Road closed throughout. More information
• SH1/SH29 Piarere intersection: Road workers have made good progress with much of the main foundation work now complete. The focus now shifts to construction on the southern side (Tīrau approach road). To safely accommodate this work, from Monday 15 April, traffic south of the roundabout has been moved onto a newly constructed section of road adjacent to SH1. This is a short bypass road which rejoins SH1 before the intersection, which continues to operate as normal. This arrangement is expected to remain in place until September 2024. Motorists are asked to drive with extra care through the site, while people adjust to the new road layout. A temporary speed limit of 60km/h will be in place around the project site to protect road workers and ensure the safety of everyone travelling through the area. More information
• SH3 Te Kūiti: Drivers on SH3 are advised to expect delays, with work taking place to build a retaining wall and culvert on a stretch of highway between Te Kūiti and the SH3/SH4 junction. Stop/go traffic management will be in place at night, with lane shifts in place during the day. Traffic management will be in place until the end of May 2024. 
• SH2 Otorohanga: A section of SH3 in the Otorohanga township will be closed for the annual ANZAC Parade on Thursday 25 April, from 5.45am to 6.45am and again from 9.30am to 11am. 
• SH30 Bennydale:SH30 will be closed to heavy vehicles north of Maniaiti/Benneydale overnight on Saturday 20 April for rail crossing maintenance work. The highway will be closed to heavy vehicles at the rail crossing by Barker Road, approximately 6km from Benneydale, from 7pm to 7am. A temporary crossing will be put in place to allow light vehicles to use SH30 while the closure is in place. The recommended detour for heavy vehicles travelling between Te Kūiti and Whakamaru during the closure is to use SH4/SH41/SH32 via Taumarunui. 

North Waikato

• SH1 Pioneer Road (North): The Pioneer Road northbound off-ramp remains closed. Motorists should continue on SH1 and exit at Pōkeno northbound off-ramp, turn around at McDonald Road and head south using Pōkeno southbound on-ramp on SH1 to get off at Pioneer Road (South). Slip repairs will be ongoing until 17 May. 
• SH1: Dragway Road to Island Block Road: There will be a full northbound closure on Thursday 25 April between 10pm and 5am to carry out road resurfacing. Traffic will still be able to travel north using one of the southbound lanes. 
• SH2: Mangatawhiri Road: Stop/go traffic management will be in place at Mangatawhiri westbound off-ramp on Sunday 21 April between 9pm and 5am for safety pole maintenance. 
• SH2: Okaeria Road to Steen Road: Stop/go traffic management will be in place on Tuesday 23 April between 9pm and 5am to carry out barrier maintenance.  

Taranaki

• SH3 Awakino Gorge: Multiple maintenance activities will take place from Monday 29 April until Friday 3 May. Road closures will take place between 10am and 2pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with stop/go traffic management in place between 6am and 6pm outside closure hours. Delays of 15-20 minutes are expected during periods where stop/go traffic management is in place. 
• SH3 Te Ara Tutohu Waitara to Bell Block: Until mid-June, Princess Street will be closed between SH3 and Armstrong Avenue to everyone except residents while roadworks continue. Crews are now ready to start on the final pieces of work for the roundabout and pedestrian underpass. This will include completing the roundabout itself, installing streetlights on SH3, and laying down asphalt. To allow this work to take place safely and efficiently, the temporary roundabout at the SH3/Princess Street intersection will be removed and the road reduced to one lane from the evening of Sunday 21 April until mid-June 2024. During this stop/go traffic management, road users are advised to expect delays of up to 5 minutes. Alongside the stop/go traffic management, a temporary 30km/h speed limit will remain in place. The roundabout is expected to be complete by mid-2024. More information
• SH4 Paroparowhero Culvert Replacement: Work to repair damage from heavy rainfall on SH4 north of Taumarunui, between the intersection of SH43 and Okahukura Bridge Road will continue until June 2024. The repair work involves a temporary road to maintain traffic flow under 24/7 e-light stop/go controls, while crews install a 3.5 x 4 metre box culvert. Please drive carefully and follow all temporary speed restrictions in place. Oversize loads are asked to take alternative routes where possible. Road users are asked to plan ahead for delays of up to 15 minutes in this area. 
• SH4 Hakiaha Street: Road resurfacing in Taumarunui continues until early May. During this time crews will work 24/7, with a single lane closure in place between River Road and Turaki Street. Southbound traffic will continue to use SH4, and northbound traffic will be detoured via Turaki Street, Miriama Street and River Road.  

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 NZTA Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)). 

NZTA thanks motorists for their patience while we complete this essential work to keep the state highway network safe, accessible and resilient.