Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway works for February 2024

With schools starting back there’s been a significant increase in traffic on the state highway network across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, resulting in lengthy delays for some.

People can expect longer travel times along key routes, such as State Highway 2 north of Tauranga, with ongoing project activity and daytime speed reductions in place to allow chip to bed in following overnight resurfacing works, explains Roger Brady, Acting Regional Manager Maintenance and Operations at NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.  

”Crews are cracking on with our significant programme of road renewals to keep the roads in good condition. With more hot, dry weather forecast over the next week, contractors are looking to complete as much work as possible.” 

Higher traffic volumes are also expected around the region with people taking advantage of a long weekend with Waitangi Day on Tuesday.  

“While the weather may be hot, you can still play it cool,” says Mr Brady. “The Waitangi Day holiday journey planner shows the expected peak traffic periods on key routes such as SH2 towards the Coromandel, from both Auckland and Tauranga. 

Holiday Journey Planner(external link)

“Ensure you check the expected travel time for your journey, pack plenty of water and snacks, and take the time to perfect your Spotify playlist. Roads are likely to be busy and it pays to be prepared.” 

A series of road closures are also scheduled from later this month for the State Highway 29 Kaimai Range allowing contractors to deliver maintenance in a more effective manner.  

This is a new way of working in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region explains Mr Brady.  

“Previously we have accommodated vehicles when working on this corridor. Closing the road gives us better outcomes; we can finish the work quicker and improve safety for our crews on site.  

“With around 14,000 vehicles using this road every day, including several thousand heavy vehicles, it is critical we are able to maintain SH29 to ensure the route is safe and accessible for all road users,” says Mr Brady.  

Bay of Plenty

Tauranga

• Takitimu North Link Stage One: Earthworks are underway across a number of sites. On Wairoa Road, stop/go traffic management will be in place while trucks are crossing Wairoa Road, and 30km/h speed limits will be in place at all times within the construction area. Work in this area will become more evident as the Wairoa Road bridge is completed in preparation for its opening. Minden Road has a 30km/h speed limit throughout the construction zone. A temporary haul road into the Te Mete Valley is operational to support the summer earthworks season. The single-lane haul road is separated from SH2. Road users should be aware of the new road layout and temporary speed limit of 60km/h on SH2 alongside the haul road. More information. 
• Cambridge/Moffat Roads: Construction work to complete the new Cambridge Road Overbridge, between Bethlehem and Tauriko continues. Until April 2024, major works require a full closure of a section of Moffat Road between Tauranga Adventist School and Cambridge Road (East). This is disruptive, there are local alternative routes for light vehicles, and all heavy vehicles over 15 Tonne, trucks can use SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Road. More information(external link). 
• SH2 Bay Link: People travelling between Baypark and Bayfair will continue to see several road and lane closures at night. On Sunday 4 February, and from Wednesday 7 February to Friday 9 February, road closures will apply at Bayfair roundabout and on SH2 between SH2/SH29A Te Maunga interchange and Bayfair flyover from approximately 7pm to 6am each night. Closures will vary night to night, depending on site requirements and progress, and people are asked to allow extra time, follow signposted detours and drive with caution through the project site. To minimise impact, works are undertaken at night where possible. More information(external link).    
• 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 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR) Shared Path: The shared path alongside SH2 is diverted until May 2024. Over the coming months there will be an increase in heavy plant and machinery in the area. The safety of crew and the public is a priority, and the best way to ensure the safety of all parties is to temporarily close the shared path to cyclists and pedestrians. An alternative option for path users is available via Kaituna Road and Te Tumu Road. 
• SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): The TELTR will close in both directions between 8pm and 6am each night for 2 nights starting Monday 19 February to allow for the installation of the watermain to the underneath of the Rangiuru Bridge. A detour will be available via the Te Puke Highway. More information(external link). 

The Quayside Properties Ltd-led Rangiuru Business Park Interchange project continues. Temporary barriers will be in place until approximately June 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 continues at Sharp Road with significant activity on the southbound lanes, Stop/go traffic management will be in place along with temporary speed restrictions overnight. During the day there will be intermittent stop/go in place which may cause longer delays, however typically there will be minor delays of one to two minutes. At the Rea/Tetley, Lockington/Matahui and Morton Road Roundabouts there will be nightworks with resurfacing commencing on Sunday 11 February. Stop/go will be in place overnight with speed restrictions throughout the day.
• Athenree Gorge: Shoulder widening in the Athenree Gorge has started and there will be lane shifts in place with speed restrictions. At Apata Curves, road widening works is underway with lane shifts in place and stop/go traffic management. 
• SH2 Tahawai: Lane shifts, shoulder closures and speed restrictions are in place between Kauri Point Road and Stokes Road as services are relocated. These works are expected to be completed by mid-February.
• Western tie-in (near Loop Road): Construction continues at the western tie-in of the Takitimu North Link project, where utilities need to be moved. SH2 will be reduced to 50km/h in the area during this work, and the passing lane heading west will be removed to allow crews to work on the side of the road. From 7am – 7pm on both Saturdays and Sundays for the weekends of 10-11 February and 17-18 February there will be stop/stop traffic management on SH2 near Loop Road to allow vegetation clearance to take place. A back-up weekend of 24-25 February will be used depending on weather and any other unforeseen circumstances. 
• SH2 Bethlehem to Athenree: Resealing is underway at a number of locations on SH2 between Bethlehem and Waihī. Night works started at Wairoa Bridge and then continue through to Katikati, delays are expected. Night works will then start on the Athenree rest area and work back towards Woodland Road. Reseals between Te Puna and Ōmokoroa will result in some line-marking changes with wide centrelines installed, and passing lanes removed near Barrett/Plummers Point roads and Ainsworth Road. 
• SH2 Katikati: The Katikati A&P show is being held from 9am to 4pm on Sunday 4 February at the Uretara Domain. There town centre is expected to be slightly busier due to people attending the show. 

Rotorua

• SH36 Kaharoa: Road rehabilitation continues between Kaharoa Road and Te Waerenga Road. The work will continue between the hours of 7am and 5pm each day until Friday 9 February, with traffic management and speed restrictions in place. People should expect moderate delays.
• SH30 Ātiamuri: Road rehabilitation is planned to take place from Wednesday 7 February to Thursday 29 February between 7am and 5pm each day. Temporary traffic management will be in place with stop/go during work hours and will remain in place for 48 hours after works are complete until the road has been swept and line marked. 
• SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage One and Two: Nightworks have been extended on Stage One between Tarawera Road and Iles Road and will now include some line marking on Stage Two near Basley Road and Tennyson Drive. This work will be undertaken at nights (7pm to 6am) and includes limit lines, fire hydrant/valve markings along the road and through the intersection. 
• Work underway on the remaining section of Stage Two between Ōwhata Roundabout and Tumene Drive includes surface milling, asphalting and stormwater connections in the westbound lane. Multiple active worksites may include stop/go, lane shifts and shoulder closures, temporary pedestrian crossings, footpath closures, and/or reduced speed limits. Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times More information.(external link)
• SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: The team is working on the final section of improvements along this section of state highway. 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. Minor traffic delays are expected. More information(external link).

Eastern Bay of Plenty

• SH2 Manganuku Bridge, Waioeka Gorge: A reduced speed limit of 30km/h for heavy vehicles will remain in place until further notice. 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:

• SH5 Napier to Taupō: Work is underway at multiple sites on SH5 to improve safety at high-risk curves. Construction work has started to widen the road shoulder at the intersection of SH5 and Marshall’s Bridge (north of Eskdale); while on SH5 at Te Pōhue (south of the passing lane) earthworks are underway in preparation for shoulder widening. While this work takes place, stop/go traffic management is in place and temporary reduced speed limits of 30km/h and/or 50km/h. This work is taking place concurrently with Transport Rebuild East Coast’s (TREC) work to repair various SH5 sites. This includes repairs to the site near the underslip at SH5 Captain’s Culvert, which is currently underway. Traffic will continue to flow both ways, however temporary reduced speed limits of 30km/h to 50km/h are in place at Captain's Culvert. Overall, please plan for delays of up to 30 minutes across the whole SH5 Napier to Taupō corridor. 

Manawatū-Whanganui

• SH1 Utiku: Road repairs are in progress with a view to restoring open road speeds by end of March. 2 lanes are open through the site at 30km/h, and from time to time there will be stop/go traffic management. 
• SH4 Te Oreore slip: Following a slip in 2019, a temporary road is in place at Te Oreore, south of Raetihi with a 30km/h temporary speed limit in place. The road will be closed from 8.30am to 5pm for up to 5 days from Monday 19 February.  

Waikato

East Waikato

• SH2 Karangahake Gorge: A 600m section through the gorge, between Crown Hill Road and School Road, has a temporary speed limit of 50km/h. This section of the highway includes the entrance to the Karangahake Reserve, which is the starting point for many of the popular walks in the historic gorge. The temporary speed limit will be in place until after Waitangi Day. More information(external link).
• SH25 Ruamahunga slip: State Highway 25 at Ruamahunga, north of Thames, is reduced to a single lane with stop/go traffic management for important slope stabilisation work. On Friday 9 February the road will be fully closed for short periods of about 20 minutes outside of peak travel hours, to allow for a helicopter to safely operate over the road. After each 20-minute closure the road will be reopened for approximately 20 minutes to allow traffic to clear before the next closure. The helicopter will be delivering equipment and materials and helping to remove vegetation. If the weather is unsuitable, this work will be postponed. 
• SH25 Coromandel: From Monday 12 February up to 6 locations along SH25 will have stop/go traffic management in place due to recovery works, and from mid-March up to 10 locations. While SH25A was closed last year, work on the wider SH25 Coromandel state highway network was carefully managed to minimise disruption, now SH25A is open, this essential work must be completed. More information.(external link)
• SH25 Whiritoa: Road rehabilitation starts south of Parakiwai Quarry Road on Wednesday 7 February. Work will take two weeks to complete, during this time stop/stop traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place between 7am and 6pm each day. Delays are to be expected.
• SH26 Waihou River Bridge: A routine bridge inspection will be undertaken on Sunday 4 February, from 8pm – 12am (midnight). To allow the crews to inspect the bridge safely, there will be a single lane closure and stop/go traffic management in place. Minor delays can be expected.  
• SH26 Ohinemuri River Bridge: A routine bridge inspection will be undertaken in the early hours of Monday 5 February, between 1am and 5am. To allow the crews to inspect the bridge safely, there will be a single lane closure and stop/go traffic management in place. Minor delays can be expected.  
• SH29 Hinuera: To allow road rehabilitation to take place a full road closure of SH29 at Hinuera will be in place weekdays, between 6am and 6pm, from Wednesday 7 February to Monday 26 February. A detour is available westbound via SH27, then left onto Puketutu Road, then left onto Hinuera Road, Hopkins Road and back on to SH29 and vice versa travelling eastbound.  Minor delays are expected. More information.(external link)
   

Central Waikato

• SH1 Lichfield: The northbound slow lane near Puriri Road is closed until further notice, while investigations into repair options take place. 
• SH1 Ātiamuri: Road widening is under way for safety barrier installation along a 6.9km section of SH1, from the Waikato River Bridge south to Thorpe Road. Work is behind temporary safety barriers and there is a 50km/h speed restriction. Stop/go is now in place 24/7 at a narrow section where safety barriers cannot be used. Expect delays of up to 5 minutes.  
• SH1 Maroa Road: The 4.8km site is currently operating at 100km/h until finishing works for the safety barrier installation resume later this month. 
• SH1 East Taupō Arterial: Road widening and flexible safety barrier installation for 5km from Napier Road to the airport roundabout continues. Speed restrictions will be in place, with completion expected to be mid-2024. More information(external link).    
• SH5 Wairakei: Road rehabilitation near Palmer Mill Road is taking place in 2 stages: 
• Stage One: Ongoing until mid-February. Work will take place Monday to Saturday between 6am and 6pm with stop/go traffic management in place and temporary speed limits. Outside of these hours both lanes will be open with reduced speed limits. 
• Stage Two: Work will start Monday 19 February, continuing until mid-March. Work will take place from Monday to Saturday between 6am and 6pm with stop/go traffic management in place with temporary speed limits. Outside of these hours both lanes will be open with reduced speed limits.
• 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. 
• SH1 Halletts Bay: Road rehabilitation on SH1 near Halletts Bay, between Taupō and Tūrangi, continues until Wednesday 7 February, weather dependent. On Saturday 3 February both lanes will be open with a temporary speed limit, on Sunday 4 and Monday 5 February there will be Stop/go traffic management in place at the worksite between 7am-9am and 2.30pm-7pm each workday, with the road closed between 9am and 2.30pm on these days. As the worksite is located at a narrow section of road, there is no room for both machinery and vehicles side by side. The only option is to close the road for periods of time to complete the work. A detour will be in place: North to Taupō via SH41, SH32 and Poihipi Road. North to Rotorua via SH41, SH32, SH30 and SH5. North to Hamilton via SH41, SH32 and SH1. All routes are in reverse to head south. More information(external link)
• SH1 Desert Road – stop/go: Road construction on the Desert Road on two sites at Oturere and Puketarata continues until mid-February. Stop/go traffic management is in place between 6am and 6pm, along with a temporary speed limit. Minor delays are expected.  
• SH1 Desert Road – night closures: Pavement rehabilitation night work at multiple locations along SH1 Desert Road will require road closures. Work will begin at 6pm Sunday 11 February and will take approximately 5 weeks to complete (weather permitting). Between 6pm and 6am, Sunday to Thursday nights, SH1 will be closed between Waiouru and Rangipo. There will be a detour in place via SH46, SH47, SH4 and SH49, back to SH1 and vice versa. This detour adds approximately 35 minutes to travel time. Outside these hours (including all day on Friday and Saturday) both lanes will be open with reduced speed limits. 

West Waikato

• SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia section: Safety improvements and remedial works continue with the final block of current night-time closures affecting northbound traffic on 4, 6, 7 and 8 February. There will be a detour in place between 7pm-5am each night. The northbound detour takes SH1 traffic via Ngāruawāhia on the old highway between the Horotiu and Gordonton Road interchanges. HPMVs must use SH1B, and overweight vehicles need to use SH2/27, under an existing overweight permit.  More information(external link)
• SH1 Waikato Expressway – Rangiriri Section: While remedial work has been completed the repairs need to bed in before final surfacing starts on 2 April. A temporary speed limit of 70km/h remains in place until the final surfacing is completed. 
• SH1/SH29 Piarere Intersection: Contractors are setting up site, including constructing the access road, drainage works and installing environmental controls. Temporary traffic management is in place, including shoulder closures and lane shifts, please follow the instructions of the team on site and any temporary traffic signage. Traffic delays are expected during construction in this area and an increase of vehicle movements including truck and trailers carting material to site More Information.(external link)
• SH1 Karāpiro (Keeley’s Reserve): The bulk of the work has wrapped up on the turnaround bay at Keeley’s Reserve in Karāpiro. The reserve has reopened to the public and the turnaround bay can be used. Due to a nationwide shortage, the streetlighting system is yet to be installed, this will be completed mid-February. More information(external link). 
• SH1 Karāpiro: Work is underway on a section of SH1 between Keeley’s Reserve and Moana Roa Road in preparation for median barrier being installed mid 2024. The main construction work involves 1.5km of shoulder widening, temporary barrier installation, earthworks and pavement construction, followed by surfacing, lighting and permanent barrier installation. During the majority of the construction the slow (left-hand) lane of the southbound passing lane between Keeley’s Reserve and Moana Roa Road will be closed, and the worksite will be under a temporary speed limit of 50km/h. Access in and out of Kentucky Road will remain open. Construction is expected to be finished by late June.  
• SH1 Karāpiro (Gorton Road): The construction of a turnaround bay at Gorton Road continues and will be followed by another at Tunakawa Road. While construction crews are onsite, there will be no right turn onto Gorton Road (Monday to Friday, 24/7). This means that southbound traffic wanting to access Gorton Road will need to travel to the new turnaround bay at Keely’s Reserve to change direction. This will add around 4-6 minutes to your journey. The right turn in will reopen during the weekends and on public holidays. The left turn onto Gorton Road and left and right turn onto SH1 will remain for the duration of construction, with a stop sign rule applied. More information.(external link)
• SH3 Ōhaupō: The Waipā District Council led Ōhaupō Village pedestrian safety improvements are underway and are expected to be complete by late February. During this time lane shifts and stop/go traffic management will be in place, along with temporary speed limits. 
• SH23 Raglan: Preparation works including kerb, channel and drainage works will start near Maungatawhiri Road on Monday 12 February, between 7am and 5pm each day, and continue until Saturday 24 February. From Sunday 25 February, SH23 will be closed overnight between 9pm and 5am between houses #4095 and #4180, this is to enable crews to remove existing road layers and replace them. Vehicles will be allowed through the worksite at 9.45pm, 11pm, 1am and 3am. The work is expected to be completed in early March. More Information(external link)
• SH30 Te Kūiti: Due to a slip, priority give-way is in place near Mangaokewa Road, motorists are advised to proceed with caution. 
• SH30 Kōpaki: Work to repair the under-slip starts Wednesday 7 February and is expected to be completed by the end of February. Stop/go traffic management will be in place between 7am and 5pm each day. The road will re-open in both directions at 5pm, with a shoulder closure in place.  More information(external link). 

North Waikato

• SH1 Pioneer Road to Mercer interchange: There will be a full southbound closure on Sunday 4 February between 10pm and 5am for road surface repairs. Traffic will still be able to travel south using one of the northbound lanes.  
• SH1 Hampton Downs to Te Kauwhata: There will be a full southbound closure on Thursday 8 February between 9pm and 5am for road surface repairs. Please use the recommended detour via Whangamarino Road. 
• SH1 Rangiriri interchange to Hampton Downs: There will be a full northbound closure on Sunday 4, Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 February between 8pm and 5am to allow for multiple maintenance activities to take place. A detour will be available via Rodda Road, Hall Road, Summertime Lane, Paddy Road and Whangamarino Road.
• SH2 Pokeno: Slip repairs will be carried out from Sunday 11 February to Tuesday 12 March between 7am and 7pm outside Max Birt Sawmills, Pokeno (1.5km from the SH1 Southern Motorway onramp). During this time there will be speed reductions in place and layout changes. More information(external link)
• SH2 Irish Road to Coalfields Road, Mangatāwhiri: Lane restrictions will be in place in both directions on Wednesday 7 February between 9pm and 5am to upgrade signage. The road will be open in both directions. 
• SH2 Rawiri Road to Maxwell Road, Mangatāwhiri: Road resurfacing will take place on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 February between 10pm and 5am.  
• SH2 Kopuku Road to Coalfields Road, Mangatāwhiri: Stormwater maintenance will take place on Sunday 4 and Tuesday 6 February between 9pm and 5am.  

Taranaki

• SH3 Awakino: Final surfacing continues. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, with delays of up to 15 minutes expected. Work is expected to be complete by the end of March 2024. 
• SH3 Uruti: Slip repairs continue at SH3 Uruti, north of Mangamaio Road. The work includes the installation of rock mesh protection to improve the safety and resilience of this slip-prone area of the network. The site will be run under stop/go traffic controls 24/7 with delays of approximately 10-15 minutes for the duration of construction. 
• SH3 Te Ara Tutohu Waitara to Bell Block: SH3 at Waitara between between Nelson Street and Bayly Street will open to both lanes of traffic on 3 February 2024. A closure at Princess Street, between Armstrong Avenue and SH3 will be in place from 3 February until mid-2024. People travelling to or from Waitara can use Bayly Street or Nelson Street. More Information(external link)
• 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 lane to maintain traffic flow under 24/7 e-light stop/go controls, while crews install a 3.5 x 4 metre box culvert. Road users are asked to plan ahead for delays of up to 15 minutes in this area.

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.

Journey Planner(external link) 

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