Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway works for June 2023

Fieldays 2023 is fast approaching, with the event taking place at Mystery Creek from Wednesday 14 to Saturday 17 June. Over 100,000 people are expected at the region’s annual agricultural trade show, and this will undoubtedly have an impact on roads nearby.

Planning ahead to avoid pinch points is crucial, allow extra time or take the bus to help you arrive at the event on time and ready to soak up all that agricultural innovation,” says Cara Lauder, Waikato System Manager for Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. 

“We always experience a significant increase in traffic volumes on State Highway 1, 21 and State Highway 3 during Fieldays week as people head into Mystery Creek via State Highway 21 Airport Road,” Ms Lauder says. 

“A key pinch point will be the remedial and safety works on SH1 at Ngāruawāhia where traffic is reduced to one lane both northbound and southbound. Expect delays here or consider an alternative route,” says Ms Lauder. 

If you are travelling from locations north of Hamilton, keep an eye out for electronic signs advising the best route to Fieldays or alerting motorists to queues around the southern end of the Cambridge section of the Waikato Expressway. 

Work to improve access and safety under the Tamahere Interchange will be taking a break for a week during the Fieldays to ensure smoother travel through the area. 

Free buses are available from the Hamilton Transport Centre. Park n Ride options are available from The Base (Te Rapa, Hamilton), Cambridge BMX Club, corner of Milton and Lamb Streets, and the Te Awamutu i-SITE on Gorst Avenue. If you do choose to drive to Fieldays free parking is available from 6am onwards. 

Around other parts of the Waikato and Bay of Plenty roading network it is business as usual with cyclone recovery works continuing, and contractors out in all conditions to monitor and maintain the network. This includes proactive and reactive maintenance to keep roads in good condition, before any permanent repairs take place during the warmer, drier months. 

Finally, check the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner before you leave home to ensure you have the latest information on the state highway network.    

Journey Planner(external link)

Bay of Plenty

Tauranga

• Takitimu North Link Stage One: A range of construction activities will continue between Te Puna, Bethlehem and Tauriko including Cambridge Road, Harrison Road, Wairoa Road, Minden Road, Loop Road and SH2, there are a number of shoulder closures and reduced speed limits. More information.(external link)
• SH2 Bay Link: SH2 Bay Link: A small section of Maunganui Road southbound, between the Bayfair roundabout and Exeter Street, is now closed 24/7 until early spring (weather dependent) to allow for road reconstruction. A detour for people travelling locally is in place. The new Bayfair flyover is not impacted by this closure and will continue to provide for most traffic, including those travelling between Mount Maunganui and Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL)/Pāpāmoa or SH29A/Maungatapu. Find out more govt.nz/baylinkdetour(external link). 
  On Friday 9 June, and from Sunday 11 June to Thursday 15 June (from approximately 7pm to 6am each night, nights only), there will be momentary rolling blocks on Maunganui Road northbound between Exeter Street and Concord Avenue while asphalt is placed behind barriers at ground level.  
  From Monday 12 June to Saturday 17 June and Monday 19 June to Tuesday 20 June 2023 (from approximately 7pm to 6am each night, nights only) the northbound lane of the Bayfair flyover will be closed to fit handrails to the flyover. Northbound road users will use the single lane available at ground level and the Bayfair roundabout to travel from Tauranga Eastern Link/Pāpāmoa or SH29A/Maungatapu towards Mount Maunganui or the city centre. The flyover will remain open to southbound traffic travelling from Mount Maunganui or the city centre towards SH2/SH29A Te Maunga interchange, with temporary traffic management and lane shifts in place. A 50km/h temporary speed limit applies. 
  Truman Lane has reopened to one lane in each direction between the SH29a roundabout and Bay of Plenty House Removers, and access from the SH29a roundabout has been restored. A 50km/h temporary speed limit applies on Truman Lane, which lowers to 30km/h on the approach to the SH29A roundabout. Drivers are reminded that the detour via Sandhurst interchange, Mangatawa Link Road and Truman Lane for people travelling from Pāpāmoa/Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) towards SH29A/Maungatapu will remain in place while work continues on the final ramp at SH2/29A Te Maunga interchange. If work is delayed due to weather or other unforeseen issues, it will be carried out on the next suitable night/s. 
• SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road (TDTR): A reduced speed limit of 80km/h will be in place while contractor crews are working behind the barriers.   
• SH2 Fifteenth Avenue: Work continues on the upgrade of Fifteenth Avenue and Cameron Road intersection. Work will shift to the southwest corner of the Fifteenth Avenue intersection early next week. Temporary traffic management will be in place with shoulder closure at the SH2 corner and a north-bound lane closure on Cameron Road, with traffic able to turn left onto SH2 from the north-bound centre lane. Moderate traffic delays are expected. 
• SH2 Pāpāmoa: Bridge maintenance will be conducted on SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link until mid-June, above the Domain Road interchange. Lane closures will be in place with a 50km/h temporary speed limited between 7am and 6pm. There will be at least one lane available in each direction at all times. 
• SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): For the Tauranga City Council led Pāpāmoa East Interchange construction project, a section of the TELTR, just north of the Kaituna River Bridge, is reduced to three lanes. Whilst earthworks continue on the south side of the road, both eastbound lanes are open and normal speed applies. The inner westbound lane is open whilst work continues along the outside lane - the speed limit past the work site is 70km/h. This layout will remain in place until late July 2023 with reinstatement work planned to follow. More information.(external link)

The Quayside Properties Ltd led Rangiuru Business Park Interchange project continues. Temporary barriers have been installed on both sides of the TELTR, and these will be in place until approximately October 2023, with one lane available in either direction. A temporary speed limit of 70km/h will apply through the site. More information(external link). 

Western Bay of Plenty 

• SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa:  Safety improvements continue at four active sites: between Tanners Point Road to Kauri Point Road, Rea Road /Tetley Road Roundabout, Lockington Road/Matahui Road intersection and Apata Station Road to Esdaile Road.  
  Lane shifts and intermittent stop/go traffic management will be in place throughout these worksites, which may cause some delays, however typically only one to two minutes of additional travel time will be experienced. More information(external link)
• SH2 Wairoa Cycleway: Peak time congestion issues on SH2 between Ōmokoroa and Bethlehem are set to continue over the coming weeks. The majority of the work will take place at night however concrete work will take place during the day when temperatures are more conducive. Delays during peak travel periods are expected from Monday 12 June onwards. The cycleway is due to be completed in August 2023.  
• SH2 Wairoa River Bridge: Road rehabilitation between Wairoa River Bridge and Bethlehem continues until Tuesday 13 June, with work taking place between 8pm and 5am each night. Stop/Go traffic management and temporary speed limits in place. These works are weather dependant. 
• SH29 Kaimai: Road resurfacing takes place near the Kaimai School from Wednesday 14 June to Friday 23 June between 9am and 4pm each day. Temporary traffic management will be in place including lane shifts and reduced speed limits, minor delays are expected.  

Rotorua

• SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: There are multiple active worksites on SH30/Te Ngae Road between Iles Road and Ōwhata Road. In places the temporary traffic management includes lane shifts, shoulder closures, temporary pedestrian crossings, temporary signalised crossings, footpath closures, and/or reduced speed limits. There is a road closure at Tennyson Drive, as well as shoulder closures and pedestrian detours in place. Moderate traffic delays are expected. Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times. More information(external link).    
• SH30/SH33 Te Ngae Junction: There is a three way stop/go in place 24/7 as construction work continues on the new roundabout. Access for traffic will be maintained, however significant traffic delays are expected of up to 30 minutes during peak times and up to 10 minutes off-peak. People travelling to/from the north on SH33 in light vehicles are encouraged to use Hamurana Road, SH36 and/or SH5. More information(external link).  
• SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Work on the SH33 safety improvements project will resume this week between the Sun Valley Curves and Okere Falls. Temporary traffic management will be in place including stop/go, lane shifts and shoulder closures while these works are underway. Minor traffic delays are expected. More information(external link). 
• SH30 Lake Rotoiti: Repairs on an underslip have now been completed. A temporary speed limit remains in place until the site can be sealed which is expected to take place in mid June. 
• SH30 Rotomā: There are two slips between Matahi Road and SH34 Kawerau Road. Heavy commercial vehicles may travel eastbound through the site, however westbound must detour via SH34 Military Road, SH2 and SH33 back to SH30. All light vehicles can use SH30 as normal. This detour will add approximately 40 minutes to journey times. Stop/go traffic management is in place at the western slip. Road users are urged to drive with caution. Manawahe Road is currently closed until further notice due to flooding from the 18km mark through to the intersection with Matahi Road. 
• SH36 Mangorewa Gorge: Due to a slip on State Highway 36 Mangorewa Gorge (Tauranga Direct Road), approximately 500 metres south of the Mangorewa Track Carpark, caution is advised when driving through this area. Stop/go traffic management is currently in place with a reduced speed limit of 30km/h. A geotechnical assessment has been completed, and a timeframe to repair the slip will be confirmed in due course. The road is expected to be reduced to one lane for up to three months. 
• SH30 Atiamuri: The Taahunataara Stream Bridge, located between Nicholson Road and Upper Atiamuri School, will be closed from 7am Monday 12 June through to 5pm Friday 16 June, to repair subsidence at the western end of the bridge. Due to site constraints and the nature of the repair it is not possible to allow any vehicles through the site. For light vehicles there is a short local road detour via Nicholson Road, Parsons Road, and Ohakuri Road. Heavy Vehicles are required to use SH5 and SH1. 

Eastern Bay of Plenty

• SH2 Waioeka Gorge: Alongside the foamed bitumen stablisation works already underway, an asphalting programme to further strengthen and protect the highway for the future is scheduled to begin from Monday 19 June. The work is expected to be complete by the end of September. Road users will see stop/go traffic controls in place from Monday 12 June as preparation gets underway. The asphalting works will be carried out at night between 7pm and 5am, seven days a week. The work will be done at night to minimise disruption and to keep Tairāwhiti moving during the day.  More information.(external link) 
• SH2 Manganuku Bridge, Waioeka Gorge: After planned testing on the Manganuku Bridge, further investigations are required. The reduced speed limit of 30km/h for heavy vehicles will remain in place until results are determined. 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. 
• SH38 Murupara: Due to an underslip north of Murupara township priority give way has been set up whilst geotechnical investigations are carried out. 
• SH2 Wainui to Ōpōtiki: Safety improvements between Wainui Road and Woodlands Road, Opotiki continue. This work is expected to be complete in late-2023 (weather dependent). Works consists of shoulder widening and the installation of safety barriers. During this time road users can expect to see shoulder closures and/or stop/go operations in place, as required. Works will take place between 7am and 5pm each weekday. Please allow extra time for your journey as delays up to 10 minutes may be experienced. 

Tairāwhiti/Hawkes Bay

• SH2 Esk River bridge: Strengthening works have now been completed however work under the bridge may require stop/go traffic management at times up to Friday 16 June. The 30km/h temporary speed limit will remain in place until work has been completed. 

Manawatū-Whanganui

• SH4 Upokongaro to Raetihi: As well as existing damaged sites, there are several sites along SH4 that received damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and have traffic management in place, including a number that require further investigation and designs completed prior to remedial action taking 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 three new retaining walls north of the main slip area are ongoing. 
• SH4 Auraki Stream Road Retreat: Work to retreat the road away from a slip adjacent to the Mangawhero River is currently underway and is expected to be complete by August 2023, weather dependent. The main earthworks for the road are now complete and traffic has been moved onto the new road’s southbound lane. The same traffic management that is in place now past the work site will remain in place for traffic on the new road: a 30km/h temporary speed limit and stop/go. The lane of the new road that people will travel on from Thursday will be unsealed at this stage. Ongoing earthworks, pavement construction, sealing, line marking, and barrier installation work will continue after the traffic is moved onto the new road. More information(external link)
• SH4 Otoko: Due to slip clearing, kerb and channel and culvert repair works, there will be multiple stop/go sites with 30km/h temporary speed restrictions in place on weekdays between 7am and 5pm. Plan your journey accordingly allowing extra time for travel. 
• SH4 Hawken Road Underslip: The road is down to one lane near Hawken Road while design work to fix road damage is underway. Stop/go traffic management with traffic lights is in place, delays of up to 10 minutes should be expected. 
• SH4 Burrell Road underslip: Work continues at the site of an existing underslip near Burrell Road south of Otoko. Crews are constructing a new 18-metre-long anchored retaining wall, and underpinning an existing concrete crib retaining wall. Traffic management will be in place during this time, with work expected to be completed by mid-June. 

Waikato

East Waikato

• SH25 Opoutere: An underslip has caused significant damage to the road structure. The road is open with stop/go traffic management in place, light vehicles and 6–8-wheel trucks are able to use this route. 
  Heavy vehicles must use alternative routes. Full access and completion of the slip repairs is expected later in June. More information(external link). 
• SH25A Kōpū-Hikuai: A section of road near the summit has collapsed, and the road is impassable.  Detour via SH26, SH2, SH25 via the Karangahake Gorge, or SH25 via Coromandel Town. Work to construct a bridge over the slip area commences later this month. More information: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/sh25a-bridge-construction-get-underway-next-fortnight(external link)
• SH25 Whiritoa:  Asphalt resurfacing will take place between Whiritoa Beach Road and Parakiwai Quarry Road from Sunday 11 June to Friday 16 June, between 8pm to 5am each night. Stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place. These works are weather dependent. 

Central Waikato

• SH1 Ātiamuri: Traffic continues to be managed through the 4.5km site where side and median barriers are being installed south of Ātiamuri. Both north and south-bound lanes are restricted to 50km/h with stop/go traffic management in place at times. Pavement works and barrier construction will finish in July. More information(external link). 
• 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. 

West Waikato

• Mystery Creek – Field Days 2023: All roads leading to Mystery Creek will experience significant congestion between Wednesday 14 and Saturday 17 June, with significant delays towards the area in the morning, and exiting the area in the afternoon/evening. Alternative routes or travel arrangements should be considered. 
• SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia Section: Safety improvements and remedial works require a single lane in each direction with a 50km/h temporary speed limit, until completion in May 2024. More information(external link). 
• SH21 Tamahere: A series of overnight closures are planned from Sunday 18 June to enable safety improvements at the Tamahere interchange. Closures will take place from 9pm to 5am on Sunday 18 June (northbound on-ramp), Monday 19 June (southbound off-ramp) and Wednesday 21 June (eastbound lanes at the SH21 Roundabout). Detours will be in place. Lane shifts and a temporary speed limit are in place at all other times, The project is expected to be complete in July. More information(external link)
• SH23 Dinsdale: Full completion of the Hamilton City Council Dinsdale Water Supply project is expected by mid-2023. More information(external link). 
• SH1C Hillcrest: Work at the SH1C/Cambridge Road roundabout continues with one lane available in each direction. A temporary speed limit of 30km/h is in place at all times. Cambridge Road and Johnsview Terrace are operating as left in/left out only. Additionally, until mid June there will be no left turn from SH1C Cobham Drive into local Cambridge Road. Please use the Wairere Drive-Cobham Drive interchange to access local Cambridge Road and the Hillcrest shops. This work sees the intersection changed to traffic light controls, and is expected to be completed by late August 2023. More information(external link). 

North Waikato

• SH1 Nikau Road to Mill Road: A full northbound closure will take place on Wednesday 14 June, between 9pm and 5am, to allow maintenance activities to take place. Traffic will still be able to travel north using one of the southbound lanes.  
• SH1 Pokeno to Nikau Road: There will be a full northbound closure on Thursday 15 June between 9.30pm and 5am to allow maintenance activities to take place. Traffic will still be able to travel north using one of the Southbound lanes. 
• SH1 Koheroa Road to Pokeno:  There will be a full northbound closure on Tuesday 13 June between 10pm and 5am to allow maintenance activities to take place. Traffic will still be able to travel north using one of the southbound lanes. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place. 
• SH2 Kopuku Road to Coalfields Road: Road resurfacing will take place on Tuesday 13 June, between 9pm and 5am. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place. 

Taranaki

• SH43 Aukopae: Due to a wash out, there is 30km/h speed restriction in place. 
• SH3 Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass: Due to barrier installation and cut stabilisation works, stop/go traffic management with a 30km/h speed restriction will be in place between 7am and 5pm until Wednesday 14 June with delays of up to 15 minutes. This excludes King’s Birthday weekend, when the stop/go will finish at midday on Friday 2 June and resume at 8am on Tuesday 6 June, and the weekend of Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 June. More information(external link). 
• SH3 Tongapōrutu: Crews have commenced work to install a retaining wall on SH3 north of Hutiwai Road. The site will remain under stop/go traffic management until late June.. Following this, a temporary speed limit will remain in place until crews return to the site to complete pavement repairs later in the year when the weather is warmer and drier. 
• SH3 Awakino Gorge: Crews continue to repair the road in the Awakino Gorge between Managanui and Awakau Roads. The site remains unsealed, and work will continue at the site over the coming weeks, at times under stop/go traffic controls, to maintain the road surface until a longer-term repair can take place. Delays of approximately 10 minutes are expected.  
• SH3 Awakino Gorge: Crews have commenced work to install a retaining wall in the Awakino Gorge, just south of Awakau Road. The repairs are scheduled for completion in mid-to-late July, weather permitting.   
• SH3 Mangaotaki: Work to repair damage caused by an under slip between Mangarongo and Paekaka Roads is scheduled to commence mid-June, these works will take approximately 3 weeks to complete.  Work will be completed under stop/go traffic controls with delays of approximately 10 minutes. 
• SH3 Te Ara Tutohu Waitara to Bell Block: Due to safety improvement works, there will be stop/go traffic management with a 30km/h speed limit in place on weekdays between 7am and 5:30pm Delays of up to 10 minutes are expected. 

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