Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway works for January 2024

Crews are cracking on with work on State Highway 2 between Waihī and Tauranga, making the most of dry spells of weather and kicking off the new year with a significant programme of road renewals, to help keep this corridor in good condition.

“Road users should expect to see several active sites over the coming weeks with resurfacing taking place alongside ongoing project works. Delays are to be expected, particularly as roads get busier with people returning to work and school,” says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Acting Regional Manager Maintenance and Operations, Roger Brady.

Reseal sites are weather dependent and programmed to get underway 22 January 2024. Night works will start at the Wairoa bridge and then continue through to Katikati. Following this, day works will start from the Athenree rest area and work back towards Katikati at various sites. People should expect reduced speed limits during in the days following work at each site.

Reseal works are being coordinated with the Waihī to Ōmokoroa project team, who have commenced shoulder widening at Athenree Gorge. South of Katikati, the project team are tracking well towards the completion of the SH2 / Sharp Road roundabout, marking the fourth of the six roundabouts completed ahead of the installation of flexible median barrier. There is significant activity on the southbound lanes at this site, with speed restrictions in place, and intermittent stop/go traffic management which may cause longer delays.

The Takitimu North Link project has enjoyed the dry start to January, getting stuck into earthworks with a target of 700,000m3 this season. Key sites are at SH2 near Loop Road (Te Puna), Minden Road, Te Mete Valley, Wairoa Road and Cambridge Road, Bethlehem, where major works are underway.

“The closure of a section of Moffat Road came into effect on 9 January and will be in place until April. When there are significant traffic management changes like this, we normally expect a heightened period of disruption over a few weeks as people experience it and adjust their journeys. We anticipate the return to school will be a particularly busy time with increased traffic volumes around school runs.

“Thank you for your patience while this important work takes place,” Roger Brady says.

View larger map of  Waihī to Tauranga corridor summer worksites 2024 [PDF, 238 KB]

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 we work towards completing the Wairoa Road bridge in preparation of 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 heavy trucks can use SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Road. More information

• SH2 Bay Link: People travelling between Baypark and Bayfair will continue to see several road and lane closures at night. From Sunday 21 January to Thursday 25 January, road closures will apply on SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link and SH2/Maunganui Road between approximately 7pm and 6am each night. In addition, on Sunday 21 January and Monday 22 January (from approximately 7pm to 6am each night) the SH2 Hewletts Road flyover will be fully closed in both directions to allow for the installation of flexible median safety barriers. A detour via the Golf Road roundabout will apply. Once installation of the barriers gets underway, vehicles will not be able to cross SH2/Maunganui Road between Spur Ave and the Bayfair flyover. 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

• 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 between 8pm and 6am each night for 2 nights in both directions 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)

• SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR) Event: The eastbound lanes between Domain Road (Pāpāmoa) and Paengaroa will be closed between 5.30am and 1pm on Saturday 20 January as part of the cycle route for the Tauranga Half Ironman, which is part of the Mount Festival of Multisport. The alternative route for people driving eastbound during this time will be via Te Puke Highway. Westbound lanes will remain open. More information(external link)

Western Bay of Plenty

• SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Roundabout construction is underway at Sharp Road with significant activity on the northbound lanes with speed restrictions, there will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays. A speed limit of 50km/h will be in place. In the Athenree Gorge, near Athenree Road, shoulder widening has started and there will be lane shifts in place with speed restrictions. More information

• 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 the crews to work on the side of the road.

• SH2 Bethlehem to Athenree: Resealing will start in the coming weeks at a number of locations on SH2 between Waihī and Bethlehem. Night works will start at the Wairoa Bridge and then continue through to Katikati, delays are expected. Day works will then start on the Athenree rest area and work back towards Woodland Road.

• SH2 Te Puke Highway to Otamarakau: Side barrier and guardrail installation will start on 22 January until 30 January. There will be stop/go traffic management between 6am and 7pm during this time. Detours are not required for these works.

Rotorua

• SH5 Ngongotahā: Chipsealing will start between Western Road and the Ngongotahā roundabout from Wednesday 24 January to Tuesday 30 January. Crews will be operating between 9am and 4pm daily. A southbound road closure will be in place on SH5 between Western Road and Ngongotahā roundabout during each workday.  Temporary traffic management and a reduced speed limit will be in place. A detour will be available to southbound traffic on SH5 to Western Road then SH36 and then to the SH5/36 Ngongotahā Roundabout.  HPMV Vehicles travelling south should detour through SH1 Tīrau onto SH30 and SH5.

• SH36 Kaharoa: Road rehabilitation has started between Kaharoa Road and Te Waerenga Road. The work will continue between the hours of 7am and 5pm each day until Friday 2 February, with traffic management and speed restrictions in place. People should expect moderate delays.

• SH5 Rotorua: Due to water main upgrades, lane closures will be in place between Malfroy and Devon Streets until Wednesday 31 January. Minor delays are expected.

• SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage One: Nighttime line marking will be underway from Sala Street to Iles Road from 7pm Monday 15 January to 5am Friday 26 January. This will include limit lines, fire hydrant/valve markings along the road and through the intersection. Temporary traffic management will be in place including short-term lane closures, road closures, shoulder closures and temporary speed restrictions while the work is undertaken and drying. We expect this work to take 2 weeks, weather dependent.

• SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: There are multiple active worksites on SH30/Te Ngae Road between Iles Road and Ōwhata Road. In places there is stop/go, lane shifts and shoulder closures, temporary pedestrian crossings, footpath closures, and/or reduced speed limits. Minor traffic delays are expected. Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times. More information

• SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Work on SH33 safety improvements is underway with contractors working along this section of highway. Work includes road widening, installing safety barriers, improving drainage and rehabilitation works. Temporary traffic management will be in place including stop/go, lane shifts, shoulder closures and reduced speed limits. Minor traffic delays are expected. More information

Eastern Bay of Plenty

• SH2 Pekatahi Bridge: Pekatahi Bridge, located north of Tāneatua on SH2, will close daily for maintenance from Monday 22 January 2024 for 4 - 5 days. Closures will take place daily between 8.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Thursday, to allow contractors to replace a section of handrail and repair broken and loose decking planks. The closure may be extended to Friday morning between 8.30am and 12pm (midday) if required, to finish the work. A detour will be in place for northbound traffic, using Tāneatua Road, Arawa Road, Hinemoa Street and onto SH30 towards Awakeri. Southbound traffic should use the same route, in reverse. This detour is expected to add up to 20 minutes to journey times and is suitable for all vehicles, including High Productivity Motor Vehicles (HPMV).

• 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.

Manawatū-Whanganui

• SH1 Utiku: The site is being actively monitored, and an altered road layout with various traffic management and a 30km/h temporary speed restriction is in place.

• 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 3 new retaining walls north of the main slip area are ongoing.

Waikato

East Waikato

• SH2 Karangahake Gorge: Through the gorge the 600m section between Crown Hill Road and School Road has had its speed reduced temporarily from 80km/h to 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

• SH25 – Coromandel: Recovery works are ongoing at a number of sites across the peninsula, with temporary traffic management in place. This currently includes works to stabilise the large slip sites at Ruamahunga Bay, Pumpkin Hill, and Wharekaro. The road will be reduced to a single lane under stop/go traffic management with stop/stop traffic management as required.

• SH24 Te Poi: Road rehabilitation work started on Monday 15 January between Te Poi Road and Stopford Road on SH24. The work is expected to take 2 weeks to complete, with road closures in place during the day and the road reopening at night from 7pm through to 6am. There will be a detour in place via SH29, Te Poi Road and SH24.

• SH26 Morrinsville: Due to asphalt resurfacing, there will be a full road closure from Sunday 14 January to Friday 26 January (opening at 5pm) between Thames Street and Allen Street. The closure will be in place 24 hours a day, during this time a detour will be available for eastbound road users via SH26, Avenue North, Snell Street, Studholme Street, Coronation Road and Seales Road and westbound via SH26, Roaches Road, Kereone Road, Walton Road and Studholme road. The road will be open to residents, Fonterra tankers and HPMV’s travelling westbound through the worksite.

• SH25 Otakeao Stream Bridge: A routine bridge inspection will be undertaken on Tuesday 30 January, from 5am – 7am. To allow the crews to inspect the bridge safely, there will be a single lane closure and stop/go traffic management will be in place. This is expected to only cause minor delays.

• 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 will be in place. This is expected to only cause minor delays.

• SH26 Ohinemuri River Bridge: A routine bridge inspection will be undertaken on Monday 5 February, from 1am – 5am. To allow the crews to inspect the bridge safely, there will be a single lane closure and stop/go traffic management will be in place. This is expected to only cause minor delays.

Central Waikato

• SH1 Lichfield: The northbound slow lane near Puriri Road is closed until further notice, while investigations take place into repair options.

• 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. From 22-26 January there will be stop/go operating 6am-6pm at a narrow section where safety barriers cannot be used. Expect delays of up to 5 minutes. From 30 January the stop-go will be 24/7 until approximately 9 March. Light vehicles can use Oruanui Road-Forest Road-Tirohanga Road and vice versa as an alternative route to avoid delays on SH1.

• SH1 Maroa Road: The 4.8km site is currently operating at 100km/h until finishing works for the safety barrier installation resume at the end of January under speed restrictions and stop/go traffic management.

• SH1 East Taupo Arterial: Road widening and flexible safety barrier installation for 5km from Napier Road to the airport roundabout begins on Monday 15 January. Speed restrictions will be in place with completion expected to be mid-2024. More information

• SH5 Wairakei: Road rehabilitation near Dick’s Hill and Palmer Mill Road will occur in two stages from 19 January:

• Dick’s Hill: Runs from 19 January until 16 February. Work will take place from Monday to Saturday between 6am and 6pm with stop/go traffic management will be in place with temporary speed limits. Outside of these hours both lanes will be open with reduced speed limits.

• Palmer Mill Road: Will start on Monday 19 February and run until 15 March. Work will take place from Monday to Saturday between 6am and 6pm with stop/go traffic management will be 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: Upcoming roadworks on SH1 near Halletts Bay, between Taupō and Tūrangi, is scheduled for Tuesday 30 January to Saturday 3 February, weather dependent. Stop/go traffic management will be 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 not 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. North to Hamilton via SH41, SH32. And vice versa. More information

• SH4 Makatote: Road rehabilitation continues at the Makatote Viaduct between National Park and Tohunga Junction. This work is expected to take 2 weeks to complete. There will be road closures between 8am and 4.30pm between Tuesday 23 January to Thursday 25 January, weather dependent. When the road is closed a detour will be in place via SH49, SH1, SH46 and SH47, back to SH4 and vice versa. This detour will potentially add 1.5 hours to journey times. Intermittent stop/go will be in place between the hours of 6am and 6pm Monday to Saturday. More information

West Waikato

• SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia section: Safety improvements and remedial works have resumed, and night-time detours are planned, as work continues to bring the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway up to 110km/h standard. There is a block of closures, Sunday to Thursday each week, running from 14 January to early February. There will be detours in place, 7pm-5am each night, on the following dates:
  Northbound: January 14 to 18, Southbound: January 21 to 25, Southbound: January 30 to Feb 1, and Northbound: February 4, 6, 7 and 8.
  
  The detours are different for each direction due to roadworks in Ngāruawāhia town which prevent southbound highway traffic using this route as a detour. The northbound detour takes SH1 traffic via Ngāruawāhia on the old highway between Horotiu and Gordonton Road interchanges. HPMVs must use SH1B, and overweight vehicles need to use SH2/27, under an existing overweight permit. Southbound detour traffic will use SH1B, re-joining SH1 via Lake Road, however heavy vehicles (50 tonnes and above) must continue on SH1B, including the local road detour around Telephone Road, and connect to SH1 again at Cambridge or via SH26 into Hamilton. More information

• SH1/SH29 Piarere Intersection: Work on the SH1/SH29 Piarere Roundabout has started with enabling works. This will require alternating shoulder closures on SH1/SH29 with no delays to traffic. We expect this work to take up to 2 weeks. More information

• 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 in February 2024. More information

• SH 1 Karāpiro: Work is underway on a section of SH1 between Keeley’s Reserve and Moana Roa Road in preparation for median barrier being installed in early 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 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 2024.

• SH1 Karāpiro (Gorton Road): The construction of turnaround bays at Tunakawa Road and Gorton Road will get underway later this month. Work will begin at Gorton Road on Monday 22 January 2024, followed by Tunakawa Road approximately 5 weeks later. 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. There will be periods of stop/go nightworks and one full night closure (12.30am – 6am) of the Gorton Road intersection, otherwise access will remain for residents/road users. The impact on SH1 traffic is expected to be minor delays as there will be speed restrictions in place. The speed will be reduced to 30km/h through the intersection, as well as 400m northbound on SH1 and 700m southbound on SH1, while construction crews are onsite (7am - 6pm, Monday to Friday). Work on both turnarounds is expected to be completed by mid-April, after which the installation of flexible median barrier from Tunakawa Road to Fergusson Gully Road can begin.

• 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.

• 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: Preparation for under-slip repairs will being on SH30 south of Kōpaki on 22 January, with work to create a shoulder area to allow vehicles to safely pass the worksite. Works are expected to last for a week, and there will be stop/go traffic management in place between 7am and 5pm. During this time, there may be delays of up to 20mins. The road will re-open in both directions at 5pm with a shoulder closure in place. Further work to repair the under-slip itself, will begin on 7 February and is expected to be completed by the end of February.

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: Rock mesh slip protection work north of Mangamaio Road continues. Stop/go and stop/stop traffic management will be in place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, along with a 30km/h temporary speed restriction. Delays of up to 30 minutes are expected.

• SH3 Te Ara Tutohu Waitara to Bell Block: Due to ongoing safety improvement work SH3 is closed between Nelson Street and Bayly Street until 2 February 2024. The road is closed to both lanes of traffic at all times, with a detour in place through Waitara. 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 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.