Right through the middle of the wetter and colder winter months, maintenance crews are out and about across the network on a regular basis, repairing issues or making areas safe as required.
Sandra King, Bay of Plenty System Manager, Maintenance and Operations, explains; “During weather events, road conditions can change quickly, and our teams are ready to respond. Repairs will happen as soon as possible, and in some instances, we may need to install traffic management to ensure the safety of road users and our crews.
“Colder weather means the roads can be icy in shaded or alpine areas, and roads can be slippery even when it gets warmer during the middle of the day.
“Adjust your driving to reduce the risk of sliding. Slow down, increase your following distance, and avoid sudden braking or turning.
“Extra care should be taken, especially over bridges. Bridges cool down quicker than a normal section of road as cold air has more space around the structure to cool it down. That makes it easier for ice to form, which then takes longer to melt away. A bridge may be slippery even if the road either side of the bridge isn’t,” says Ms King.
Take care if you see roadworkers out in the early morning – it’s likely the road ahead hasn’t been treated yet. Visit our website for more information about driving during winter: nzta.govt.nz/winter-driving
Remember to always check NZTA Journey planner for up to date information on road conditions.
Journey Planner(external link)
Note: Over the winter months this traffic bulletin will be issued fortnightly.
Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway works as at 26 July 2024 [PDF, 308 KB]
