Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway works for December 2022 

Santa’s sleigh will be able to touch down on a number of newly sealed roads, as contractors across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region continue to make the most of any dry weather in the lead-up to the holiday season.

While contractors can work up until midday on Thursday 22 December, they will be ensuring that any new seal has ample time bed in before increased traffic drives over it, to ensure all presents are delivered on time. 

Now is also the time to start your planning for your trip, says Cara Lauder, Waikato System Manager at Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. 

“We expect traffic to be busy from the weekend before Christmas, right through until early in the New Year. It’s been a long year, and everyone deserves to relax and unwind. To ease the process, plan ahead so you know what to expect when travelling. Key routes will be busier than usual, and ensuring you have everything you need for a longer journey can make things much more enjoyable. 

“As well as this, make sure you check your vehicle over the next couple of weeks - the last thing anyone needs is to have their holiday plans disrupted by a breakdown. 

“Before the break crews will still be on the network, please remember to respect any temporary traffic management signage, and any directions from our crews. They are working hard and will minimise any delays as much as possible”, says Ms Lauder. 

Road users are recommended to use the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner (www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)), which provides real-time updates of network conditions, including traffic delays. 

Bay of Plenty 

Tauranga 

• Takitimu North Link Stage One: A range of construction activities are taking place between Te Puna, Bethlehem and Tauriko including Cambridge Road, Harrison Road, Wairoa Road and Minden Road, there are a number of shoulder closures and reduced speed limits. The new Harrison Road alignment will open mid-December with new seal and line marking scheduled in coming weeks. More information. 
• SH2 15th Ave: Asphalt resurfacing will take place on the 15th Avenue on-ramp on Sunday 11 December, between 7pm and 6am. A lane closure will be in place, minor delays are expected. 
• SH2 Hewletts Road: As part of the Tauranga City Council Totara Street cycleway project, work at the intersection of SH2 Hewletts Road and Totara Street is underway and will be completed mid-December. Construction work includes signalising the existing slip lane into Totara Street and upgrading the island to provide a fully signalised crossing for shared path users. These works will take place between Tasman Quay and Totara Street from Sunday to Thursday night between 8pm and 6am. Eastbound traffic along Hewletts Road will be maintained on both lanes but will be reduced to one lane intermittently during this time. Minimal delays are expected. More information. Asphalt resurfacing will take place on one westbound lane just west of Tasman Quay on Wednesday 14 December from 7pm to 6am. A lane closure will be in place, minor delays are expected. 
• SH2 Bay Link: Overnight on Tuesday 13 December (between 7pm to 6am), SH2 north will be closed between Sandhurst interchange and the Te Maunga interchange onramp for asphalt repairs. Road users travelling from Pāpāmoa/Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR) towards Bayfair roundabout will need to follow a signposted detour via Sandhurst interchange, Mangatawa Link Road, Truman Lane, the SH29A roundabout and Te Maunga interchange.  From Wednesday 14 December, access to Truman Lane will be via SH2 Sandhurst interchange only. A short part of Truman Lane will be one direction westbound only, enabling the next stage of road reconstruction. Access to Truman Lane from SH29A roundabout will be closed. Follow detours and allow extra time. More information. 
• SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road: A reduced speed limit of 80km/h will be in place while contractor crews are working behind the barriers. More information.  
• SH29 Gargan Road: Asphalt resurfacing will take place west of the Gargan Road intersection from Sunday 18 December, taking three nights to complete. Work will take place between the hours of 7pm and 6am, during this time stop/go traffic management will be in place, along with a temporary speed limit. Minor delays are expected. 
• SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): For the Tauranga City Council led Pāpāmoa East Interchange project, traffic on the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road just north of the Kaituna River Bridge is back to three lanes. Whilst earthworks continue on the south side of the road, both eastbound lanes are open and normal speed applies. One westbound lane is open whilst work continues in the outer westbound lane, speed past the worksite is set at 70km/h. This layout will remain in place until April 2023, including over the holiday period, due to the time and cost involved in removing and then reinstating the concrete barriers. More information. The Quayside Properties Ltd led Rangiuru Business Park Interchange Project has commenced, with investigation work taking place alongside the TELTR. On weekdays, the left-hand eastbound lane will be closed until late-afternoon Friday 16 December. A shoulder closure will be in place on the westbound side. More information(external link). 

Western Bay of Plenty 

• SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Safety improvement works continue at five active sites: between Tanners Point Road to Kauri Point Road, Rea Road / Tetley Road intersection, Lockington Road / Matahui Road intersection, Morton Road intersection and Apata Station Road to Esdaile Road. Completion of the Rea / Tetley roundabout will take place as soon as there is consistent weather. Minor delays are expected. More information.  
• Te Puke Highway - resealing work along Te Puke Highway, between Bell Road and Welcome Bay Road has been completed. While lane closures have been lifted, speed restrictions remain in place until line marking has been completed.  

Rotorua  

• SH5 Tarukenga: Chipsealing will take place throughout the week west of Rotorua. Crews will be on site between 7am and 6pm, during this time there will be stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit. 
• SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: Multiple worksites are active between Iles Road and Puketāwhero Park to excavate the shared service trench for the relocation of underground services and installation of the new watermain. Temporary traffic management will be in place with no left turn lane out of Basley Road to SH30/Te Ngae Road, and no left turn from the SH30/Te Ngae Road westbound lane into Tennyson Drive; minor delays are expected. The upgraded footpath on the lakeside between Iles Road to Tennyson Drive, heading east on SH30/Te Ngae Road, is closed while final sections are completed. Minor delays are expected. People walking and cycling are asked to take extra care and follow the marked detours, using the temporary signalised pedestrian crossing and at the western end of Puketāwhero Park to cross SH30/ Te Ngae Road safely. More information. 
• SH30/SH33 Te Ngae Junction: Construction of a retaining wall is ongoing. This work is not impacting road users. More information. 
• SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Safety improvement upgrade work continues near Pareteiro - Sun Valley Curves passing lane. Temporary traffic management is in place with a contra flow or stop/go and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h during work hours. When the site is unattended, the worksite will have a shoulder closure and a temporary speed limit of 50km/h. There are also ongoing shared path works between Mourea Bridge and Ōkere Falls. Temporary traffic management sees a combination of shoulder closures and stop/go as required. This may cause minor traffic delays. More information. 

Eastern Bay of Plenty 

• SH30 Awakeri to Whakatāne: Pavement and utility site investigation work along SH30 between the SH2/SH30 and Shaw Road/SH30 intersections continues. Works will be undertaken across a number of sites, at night or during the day (depending on the specific task), under stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit. 
• SH2 Pekatahi Bridge: This bridge currently has a maximum weight limit of 6 tonnes, all vehicles unable to travel over the bridge must detour via State Highway 30, Hinemoa Street, Arawa Road, Valley Road and Taneatua Road. This detour will add an extra 20 minutes to travel time. Bridge closures will commence Monday 12 December, with the bridge closed from 7am to 6pm each day for one week. During this time the bridge will re-open to light vehicles (under 6 tonnes) each night, until 6pm Friday 16 December, when the bridge will be available again to all vehicle weights. More information. 
• SH2 Waioeka Gorge: Road rehabilitation commences north of Oponae. Work is expected to be complete early-December. During this time stop/go and stop/stop traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place. Delays can be expected. Chipsealing in the Waioeka Gorge continues. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, along with a temporary speed limit. 
• SH2 Nukuhou: Road rehabilitation continues near Nukuhou. Work is expected to be complete prior to Christmas. Stop/go and stop/stop traffic management will be in place. Delays are expected. Chipsealing near Nukuhou takes place this week. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, along with a temporary speed limit. 

Tairāwhiti Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay 

• SH35 Kopuaroa: The site remains under stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h at all times. Main improvement works to realign the highway onto more stable ground are underway. Delays are to be expected. More information. 
• SH2 Esk River Bridge: The bridge over the Esk River on SH2, north of Napier, has been reduced to a 30km/h temporary speed limit due to recent assessments identifying the bridge does not have capacity for sustained increased travel demands. Overweight vehicles are required to reduce their speed to 10km/h within their own lane, or to follow the restriction on their permit if it is lower. More information. 

Manawatū-Whanganui 

• SH4 Auraki Stream Road Retreat: Work to retreat the road away from a slip adjacent to the Mangawhero River is currently underway and will continue into 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.  
• 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.  
• SH4 Upokongaro to Raetihi: Crews continue to clear material from numerous slip sites. Traffic is generally reduced down to one lane past these slip sites during working hours. At sites 150m north of Burrell Road and 3km north of Burrell Road, SH4 is reduced down to one lane due to underslips with priority give way and 30km/h speed limits in place. At Aberfeldy, 1km north of Parihauhau Road, speed is reduced to 50km/h due to an underslip compromising the edge line of the northbound lane. 

Waikato 

East Waikato 

• SH25 Coromandel: The Coromandel state highway chipseal programme continues, and crews will be on the network until mid-December. Expect delays due to multiple sites under stop/go traffic management, one-way detours and/or temporary speed limits. 
• SH27 Mangatarata: Road maintenance repairs will be take place on SH27, south of Mangatarata, from Monday 12 December. Work is expected to take one week to complete, between the hours of 7am and 7pm stop/go and stop/stop traffic management will be in place, along with a temporary speed limit. Delays are expected.
• SH27 Kaihere: Asphalt resurfacing will be take place on SH27, near Kaihere, from Monday 12 December. Work is expected to take one week to complete, between the hours of 7pm and 6am stop/go and stop/stop traffic management will be in place, along with a temporary speed limit. Delays are expected.

Central Waikato 

• SH28 Okoroire: Road rehabilitation work at the intersection of Okoroire Road continues, and is expected to be complete by mid-December. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place. 
• SH1 Lichfield: Road reconstruction work continues near Baldwin Road in Lichfield. Northbound light vehicles detour via Wiltsdown Road, Old Taupo Road, Waotu Road, Arapuni Road, Arapuni Street and Princes Street. Northbound heavy vehicles will be sent past the site via stop/go traffic management. Work is expected to be complete by mid-December. 
• SH1 Ātiamuri: Safety improvements on a 4.5km stretch of SH1 between Maroa Road and Tram Road, south of Ātiamuri, are continuing. A 50km/h temporary speed limit is in place through the site and stop/go traffic management with a 30km/h temporary speed limit may also be used at times between 9am and 3pm Monday to Friday. More information. 
• SH32 Whakamaru: Chipsealing continues throughout the week in the Whakamaru area. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place where work is taking place. 
• SH1 Waitahanui: Road reconstruction work continues south of Waitahanui. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit are in place. This work is expected to be complete by complete by mid-December. 
• SH1 Desert Road: The road is down a single lane near Tree Trunk Gorge Road, due to washouts. Temporary traffic signals are in place along with a temporary speed limit; road users are reminded to comply with the traffic management on site. Repair work is underway; there will be short periods of stop/stop traffic management to move machinery to/from site. The second closure is planned for Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 December, more information to follow in due course. More information. 

West Waikato 

• SH1B Puketaha: SH1B east of Hamilton is closed at the southern end of Telephone Road while options for its long-term future are investigated. Detour via Holland Road, Waverley Road and Seddon Road. More information. 
• SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia Section: Asphalt surfacing and removal of the temporary safety barriers will take place overnight throughout next week. Road closures will be in place as this work is completed - southbound closures will take place on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 December between 7pm and 5am, northbound on Sunday 18, Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 December, between 7pm and 5am. Detours will be in place. More information. 
• SH21 Hamilton Airport: Tree felling will take place opposite Raynes Road on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 December, between the hours of 8am and 5pm. During this time there will be short periods of stop/stop traffic management when the trees are brought down. From Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 December there will be further stop/stop traffic management to control vehicle movements out of the timber processing area. 
• SH1 Cambridge: Road surfacing repairs will take place from Monday 12 to Wednesday 14 December, between the hours of 8am and 6pm. Lane closures will be in place, along with a temporary speed limit. 
• SH3 Glenview: Chipsealing will take place south of the SH3/Whatukooruru Drive roundabout on Monday 19 December, between the hours of 7pm and 6am. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place. 
• SH30 Kōpaki: Kōpaki Bridge is closed to through traffic due to safety concerns. Detour via Kōpaki Road and SH4. More information. A localised drop out between Kōpaki Road and Ohirea Road means temporary traffic signals are in place to control traffic, along with a temporary speed restriction of 30 km/h. Repairs are complete at a slump near Kōpaki Bridge; however, this site remains under a temporary speed restriction.  
• SH4 Taumarunui: Following storm damage, a section of road north of Taumarunui, between the State Highway 43 intersection and Okahukura Bridge Road is under stop/go traffic management, controlled by traffic signals. Enabling works have commenced, and plans for the long-term repair of this road are currently being designed.  

North Waikato 

• SH1 Bombay: Due to multiple maintenance activities southbound lanes will be closed between Mill Road, Bombay and Nikau Road on Tuesday 13 December between 9.30pm and 5am. Traffic will still be able to travel south using one of the northbound lanes. The Mill Road intersection will have traffic management in place to guide traffic through the area. 
• SH1 Nikau Road On-ramp: To allow the installation of vehicle sensors the Nikau Road northbound on-ramp will be closed on Thursday 15 December between 9pm and 5am. Please use the Nikau Road southbound on-ramp to travel to the Pokeno northbound on-ramp. 
• SH1 Pokeno: Due to multiple maintenance activities southbound lanes will be closed between Nikau Road and Pokeno on Sunday 11 and Monday 12 December between 9.30pm and 5am. Traffic will still be able to travel south using one of the northbound lanes. At the Nikau Road interchange and the Pokeno interchange there is a short full closure in both directions. Traffic will still be able to travel through the area under traffic management. 
• SH1 Hampton Downs: A series of overnight ramp closures are taking place until Thursday 15 December. Due to the narrow width of the on and off ramps, a full closure is needed for the barrier work to ensure the safety of site staff and to enable construction vehicles to safely enter and leave the site. The recommended detour when the southbound ramps and the northbound onramp are closed is to use the Te Kauwhata Interchange, travelling along Rodda Road and Whangamarino Road. For the northbound offramp closures the recommended detour is to head north past the interchange to Dragway Road, use the turnaround and then access the interchange using the southbound offramp. More information. 
• SH1 Ohinewai: Chipsealing will take place throughout the week. Work will take place between 8pm and 6am each night. On Sunday 11 and Tuesday 13 December work will take place on southbound lanes, on Sunday, 11, Monday 12, Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 December work will take place on northbound lanes. The northbound on-ramp at the Ohinewai interchange will be closed when northbound work is undertaken, the detour via Taupiri interchange will add 20 minutes to travel time. 

Taranaki 

• SH3 Piopio: A slip has the road down to one lane between Mangarongo and Paekaka Roads, which is being controlled by traffic signals. Delays of 5-10 minutes are expected. More information. 
• SH3 Awakino Bypass: Final surfacing works have commenced. Stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit will be in place. 
• SH3 Awakino: A slip south of Awakau Road has the road down to one lane controlled by traffic signals and a 30km/h temporary speed limit. There are various other slips in the gorge that are currently not affecting traffic, however drivers are asked to drive with caution, and expect delays at the single lane section. 
• SH3 Mt Messenger: SH3 Mt Messenger will be closed from 10am to 2pm on Tuesday 13 December and Wednesday 14 December while crews complete asphalt patch repairs in the area. 
• SH3 Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass: A 50km/h speed limit has been introduced across a 5km section of State Highway 3 at Mt Messenger. Lane closures and stop/go traffic management will still be in place intermittently. More information. 

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.