As New Zealand adjusts to living under the red traffic light settings, road contractors remain committed to achieving significant maintenance programmes across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway network.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and its contractors are completing an ambitious programme to improve safety and resilience of the network and it is important that contractors make the most of the summer months in which they are able to reseal and re-construct roads, says Roger Brady, Bay of Plenty System Manager.
“Even though next week is a short week due to Auckland Anniversary weekend, contractors will be working hard to progress works across the region.
“We also have kids returning to school, and our worksites will be monitored and adjusted as required to manage traffic during peak periods. Sites will shut down or be completed by midday Friday 4 February for Waitangi Day weekend, before works re-commence at 9am on Tuesday 8 February.
“Over the past two years, contractors have developed comprehensive plans for working under various levels of restrictions and are well-placed to continue working under the requirements of the red traffic light setting. As always, our key focus is to keep road users and contractor crews safe at all times,” says Mr Brady.
Check the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)) before you travel for up-to-date information.
Bay of Plenty
Western BOP
- SH2 Takitimu Drive/Waihī Road overbridge: The completion of the 500m section of State Highway 2 Takitimu Drive under the Waihī Road overbridge works has been hampered by wet weather. The site will remain reduced to one lane in each direction until early February.
Delays of 10-15 minutes can be expected during peak times. More information.(external link)
- SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Safety improvement works at four active sites: between Athenree Road and Tanners Point Road, Rea Road / Tetley Road intersection, Lund Road to Sargent Drive and Apata Station Road to Esdaile Road. More information.(external link)
- Takitimu North Link Stage One: Enabling works are taking place on Wairoa Road, with service relocations taking place until mid-March.
Tree felling will occur near 312 Cambridge Road on Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 February between 9am and 3pm. Stop/Go traffic management will be in place and anticipated to cause delays of up to three minutes for each tree felled. More information.(external link)
Rotorua
- State Highway 36 Rotorua to Tauranga: Please take care as new sections of seal continue to bed in. Road sweeping and line marking activities will be completed early in the week.
- State Highway 5 Tarukenga to Ngongotahā: Remaining road widening and further barrier installation, landscaping and road rehabilitation are underway. These works are expected to be complete late-February 2022. More information.(external link)
- SH5 Rotorua: Surface repairs will be completed between the SH5/SH30A and SH5/Malfroy Road intersections. Works will take place between 7pm and 6am, from Monday 31 January to Thursday 3 February.
- State Highway 30 Te Ngae Road, Iles Road to Basley Road: Construction for the SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two is expected to start in early February 2022. Traffic management will be in place. More information.(external link)
- SH30 Horohoro: Road rehabilitation works commence on a 500m section of road between Collier Road and Apirana Road. Works will take place between 6:30am and 6:30pm, from Monday 24 January until mid-February. At times temporary traffic lights will be utilised overnight, with 5-10 minute delays expected when these are active.
From Tuesday 1 February four chipseal sites will be undertaken between Collier Road and Nicholson Road.
Eastern Bay of Plenty
- SH2 Waioeka Gorge: HPMV strengthening work on four bridges in the Waioeka Gorge started 17 January 2022 and will continue through to April 2022. The bridges are Owhiritoa Stream Bridge, Omaukora Bridge, Gibson Bridge and Sandys Bridge.
Waikato
East Waikato
- State Highway 29 and State Highway 24, western (Waikato) side of Kaimai Range: Road rehabilitation works progressed well, though some resurfacing on SH29 has been postponed due to the wet weather over the past week. Contractors will return from Sunday 13 February for up to two weeks to complete resurfacing of two sections. When works are taking place there will be alternating one-way closures. During the alternating closures, westbound traffic may travel across the Kaimai between 9pm – 12pm, and eastbound traffic between 12.30am and 4.30am. More information.(external link)
- SH2 Karangahake Gorge: Night works planned for late February, details to follow. Peak traffic periods will be avoided.
- State Highway 27 Mangawhero Stream Bridge: A detour is now in place on SH27 until 14 April to allow for the completion of new stretches of road either side of the new bridge being built over the Mangawhero Stream. Traffic is being detoured along SH29, Hopkins Road and Hinuera Road, adding around 3.7 kilometres to a journey between Tirau and Matamata. More information.(external link)
Central Waikato
- SH28 Whites Road (Te Waihou walkway access): Road rehabilitation work is underway on SH28 (Whites Road), between State Highway 1 and SH5, and will be closed to through traffic until early March. The closure will be in effect on weekdays between 6am and 6pm. All vehicles will be detoured via the SH1/SH5 roundabout at the southern end of Tirau. The car park on SH28 that provides access to the Te Waihou (Blue Springs) walk will be closed during the works. More information.(external link)
- Resurfacing SH1 Wairakei Roundabout: Resurfacing night works will take place on SH1 between Kauri Drive and the Wairakei River bridge south of the SH1/SH5 roundabout from 8 to 11 February, between 6pm and 6am. During this time four-way stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h will be place.
- SH1 Desert Road: Road rehabilitation work commences early February on a 1.2km section of road located between the Rangipo Intake Road and the Tukino Access Road. Stop/Go traffic management will be active between 6am-6pm, and a reduced speed limit will be in place until late February.
West Waikato
- State Highway 39 and State Highway 31: Chipsealing will take place on SH39 (between Te Kowhai and and Ngāhinapōuri) and SH31 (between Ōpārau and Kawhia), from Tuesday 1 to Thursday 3 February.
North Waikato
- SH2 Maramarua: A full road closure will be in place from 9pm Sunday 27 February until 5am Thursday 3 March between the SH1/SH2 interchange at Pokeno, and SH2/SH25 roundabout. This will allow various maintenance activities to be completed at the same time, including resurfacing at a number of sites.
- SH1 Ohinewai: Work commenced on Wednesday 19 January to install roadside barriers and re-position street lights. Lane restrictions and temporary speed limits will be in place between 7am and 7pm each day. Work is expected to be complete in March. More information.(external link)
Taranaki
- State Highway 3 Awakino: Multiple crews will be working throughout a 14km stretch of SH3 within the Awakino Gorge, to complete seal repairs. Crews will be on site for two weeks, between 7am and 7pm Monday to Friday. During this time Stop/Go traffic management will be in place, and there is expected to be up to 45 minute delays, due to the length of the site. More information.(external link)
For 24 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.
Some of the above works are weather dependent and may be postponed in the case of poor weather. 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 highways safe and resilient.
