Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway works for April and May 2023

As colder nights become the norm, we are preparing to roll out the winter road maintenance programme. Given the weather-related delays we experienced at the start of 2023, some of our summer projects continue, along with final road resurfacing works across the Waikato & Bay of Plenty region.

Of note this week was the opening of the Bayfair Flyover on State Highway 2 in Tauranga. While work continues on this project, the ability to use the flyover is a milestone to be celebrated.  

Recovery work following Cyclone Gabrielle continues to progress, and teams are making head way in Coromandel and West Waikato, says Cara Lauder, Waikato System Manager at Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. 

“We are close to completing the slip repairs on the SH23 road to Raglan, and progress on the SH31 road to Kāwhia site has been good. We’ve also been able to start work on key slip sites around SH25 on the Coromandel, while we await the confirmation of the preferred option for SH25A. 

“Work on the Coromandel will continue over the winter. We understand the impact the SH25A Kopu to Hikuai closure is having on the community, as well as the various other sites we’re working on along SH25. We’re committed to reinstating full access as soon as we possibly can. The key for us is to provide the best solution at each location that allows us to build a long-term solution quickly. 

Road users will also start to see crews proactively monitoring and maintaining roads as the temperatures drop. 

“We continuously track the weather and have plans in place for when the temperatures drop and it looks like it may start to snow, or ice may form,” says Ms Lauder. “Where we know it gets cold we use Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) to prevent ice from forming on the roads, and we have processes for managing the Central Plateau when snow is on the way. 

“Our priority is always the safety of road users and our crews. This may mean that roads are closed, or travel times are slower than usual, however the most important thing is to arrive at your destination safely. 

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. Through the area of the construction zone on Cambridge Road there will be stop/go in place between Monday 1 and Wednesday 3 May between the hours of 9am and 4pm each day, for utility work. More information.(external link) 
• SH2 Wairoa Cycleway: Construction commences Monday 1 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: The new Bayfair flyover is open, taking traffic over the Bayfair roundabout and making it safer for everyone by separating local and state highway traffic. Plan ahead and take extra care while everyone gets used to the new layout. With the Bayfair flyover open and traffic volumes on Maunganui Road reduced, road reconstruction is getting underway on all ground level roads leading into, and away from, the Bayfair roundabout. To enable this work, the following temporary traffic layouts have been implemented and will be in place for approximately four months: 1) A single lane is available on Maunganui Road northbound from opposite Exeter Street, through the Bayfair roundabout to opposite Concord Avenue, 2) A single lane is available on Maunganui Road southbound from Concord Avenue to Bayfair roundabout and 3) A single lane is available around the Bayfair roundabout. Find out more about the new road layout at www.nzta.govt.nz/bayfairflyover(external link).  
  
  At the Bayfair roundabout, partial overnight closures will be in place either between Matapihi Road and Girven Road or between Girven and Matapihi Road. The closure will be in place from Sunday 30 April to Wednesday 3 May 2023 (from approximately 7pm to 6am, nights only) to enable upcoming road reconstruction work to be completed safely near live traffic lanes. During these hours there will be signposted detours in place via the Golf Road roundabout or the SH2/SH29A Te Maunga interchange and SH29A roundabout. 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 (TDTR): A reduced speed limit of 80km/h will be in place while contractor crews are working behind the barriers. Stop/go traffic management will be in place briefly on Sunday 30 April at 9pm while a wick drain crane is crossing the road near Kopurererua Bridge. 
• SH2 Fifteenth Avenue: Work continues on the upgrade of the intersection at SH2/Fifteenth Avenue and Cameron Road. Work is currently focused on the southeast corner of the Fifteenth Avenue intersection. Temporary traffic management is in place with a westbound lane closure on Fifteenth Avenue, with traffic able to turn left onto Cameron Road from the centre lane, and a southbound lane closure on Cameron Road, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth Avenue. Moderate traffic delays are expected 
• 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 with the addition of temporary traffic management speed humps being installed at Lockington Road / Matahui Road intersection (roundabout construction) and Apata Station Road to Esdaile Road (road widening) to assist with safe management of traffic speeds through the worksite. Lane shifts and speed reductions will be in place. 

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. The intersection of Basley Road and SH30/Te Ngae Road is now open to left hand turn in and left hand turn out. Work to complete the final section of new road surface at the intersection of Basley Road and Melrose Avenue is underway, and there will be an intermittent road closure at Melrose Avenue. The upgraded footpath on the lakeside of SH30/Te Ngae Road, between Iles Road and Tennyson Drive is now closed while excavations continue for the removal of the existing berm and kerb and channel in this section. The footpath on the southern side of SH30/Te Ngae Road, between Iles Road and the mid-block opposite Puketāwhero Park is open, and there is a temporary signalised 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. There is a temporary reduced speed limit through site of 50km/per hr. 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, and 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 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). 

Eastern Bay of Plenty

• 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. 
• SH2 Wainui to Ōpōtiki: Geotechnical investigations will take place Thursday 4 May, on SH2 east of the SH2/Wainui Road intersection. While this work is underway stop/go traffic management will be in place and a 30km/h speed limit. 

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). 
• SH2 Esk River Bridge:  Work to strengthen the Esk River Bridge commences Sunday 30 April. The bridge will be closed between 9pm and 5am each night for a period of three weeks.  The bridge will remain open during daytimes hours, though there may be occasional work that will require one lane to be closed. More information(external link). 

Manawatū-Whanganui

• SH4 Upokongaro to Raetihi: As well as existing damaged sites, there are several sites along SH4 that received damage from Cyclone Gabrielle 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: Work continues at the site of an existing underslip near Burrell Road south of Otoko. Crews are constructing a new 18-metre-long anchored retaining wall, and underpinning an existing concrete crib retaining wall. Traffic management will be in place during this time, with work expected to be completed by mid-June. 
• 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. Construction of three new retaining walls north of the main slip area are ongoing. 

Waikato

East Waikato 

• SH25 Opoutere: An underslip has caused significant damage to the road structure. The temporary road is open with stop/go traffic management, however there may be periods of stop/stop traffic management as required. Work to repair the slip has commenced, and is expected to be complete by late-May.  
• SH25 Kūaotunu Hill: Geotechnical investigations commence Monday 8 May. Night-time closures will be required to complete this work. 
• SH25 Kereta Hill: Night-time closures continue from Sunday 30 April 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 on Tuesday 2 and Friday 5 May the road will be closed between 11am and midday to undertake chip-sealing and line marking when the temperatures are higher. Work is expected to be complete by the end of the week. More information(external link). 
• 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) 

Central Waikato

• 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 place. Pavement works and barrier construction will finish in May 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: A single lane in each direction is available with a 50km/h temporary speed limit, until completion in March 2024. More information(external link). 
• SH23 Dinsdale: Full completion of the project is expected by mid-2023. 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. There will be two detours in place: Detour to Hall Street is via SH1C, Norton Road, Jolly Street and Kent Street, detour to Massy Street is via 1C, Rifle Range Road and Massey Street. 
• 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). 
• 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). 
• 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 Kāwhia Road: Current repairs to an underslip require daytime closures between 8am and 5:30pm 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 Mercer: Multiple maintenance activities take place on the northbound lanes between Island Block Road and Mercer on Sunday 30 April, between 9pm and 5am. One southbound lane will be used for each direction of travel during this time.
• SH1 Rangiriri: SH1 will be closed overnight for resurfacing works between the RangIriri Interchange and the Te Kauwhata Interchange on Sunday 30 April (southbound lanes) and Monday 1 May (northbound lanes). The closures will be in place between 8pm and 5am, during this time a detour via Te Wharepu Road will be available.
• SH2 Maramarua: Stop/Go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place between Kopuku Road and Coalfields Road, on Sunday 30 April between 9pm and 5am.
• SH1 Ōhinewai: Interchange improvements take place overnight from Sunday 30 April through to Wednesday 3 May. Ramp closures will be in place between 7:30pm and 6am each night. More information(external link). 

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. Stop/go traffic controls will be in place on Saturday 29 April, from Monday 1 May to Saturday 6 May inclusive, and from Monday 8 May to Friday 12 May inclusive, with delays of up to 15 minutes. More information(external link). 
• SH3 Tongapōrutu: Slip repair work continues south of Hills Road with, stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit in place.
• SH3 Awakino Gorge: Retaining wall construction continues south of Awakau Road with stop/go in place.
• SH3 Te Ara Tutohu Waitara to Bell Block: SH3 will be reduced to one lane at the Princess Street intersection until early-May 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 (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.