Road contractors are continuing to work hard across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway network, to make the most of the excellent weather we are experiencing.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and its contractors are completing an ambitious programme to improve safety and resilience of the network, however like many other workplaces, contractors are experiencing COVID-19 cases amongst their workforces, which may cause plans to change at short notice, says Roger Brady, Bay of Plenty System Manager, Maintenance and Operations.
“Waka Kotahi takes seriously our responsibilities for the safety of our staff, contractors and members of the public. All worksites have comprehensive COVID-19 protocols and work plans in place for the various COVID-19 traffic light settings and Omicron phases, which are strictly adhered to.
Our contractors have also undertaken extensive planning to make sure essential maintenance can continue on Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highways so they remain safe. However, there may be some disruption to other planned works.
We thank people for their patience as we support our contractors to manage the health and safety of their workforces while continuing to ensure the state highway network remains safe for all those who use it,” says Mr Brady.
Check the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)) before you travel for up-to-date information.
Enabling works continue on Wairoa Road and Minden Road, with service relocations and tree felling taking place until mid-March. When tree felling is taking place on Minden Road stop/stop traffic management will be in place, with minor delays expected.
As part of the Totara Street cycleway project, night works are taking place from 8pm to 5am until late-April between Tasman Quay and Totara Street. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. Minimal delays are expected.
Totara Street safety upgrade(external link)
A small section of Girven Road (between Gloucester Road intersection and the Bayfair roundabout) has been reduced to one lane in each direction until late-March, to allow construction of the permanent road along the two central lanes of Girven Road. Minor delays are expected.
Baypark to Bayfair Link project
Safety improvement works continue 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. Minor delays are expected.
Tetley Road is temporarily closed between SH2 and Rereatukahia Pā Road for approximately two months. Detour routes are available, and only add a couple of minutes to the overall travel time. Please follow detour signage.
Remaining road widening, further barrier installation, and landscaping are underway. These works are expected to be complete in March 2022.
SH5 Tarukenga to Ngongotahā project
Chipsealing commences on Sunday 13 March, with northbound (towards Rotorua CBD) closures from 7pm to 6am, for three nights. This is followed by southbound closures from Sunday 20 March, between 7pm and 6am, for three nights. Detours will be in place, and minor delays are expected.
During the day there will be a 30km speed limit through this area, while the new seal beds in.
Plan ahead: SH30A Amohau Street Sealing Commences Mid-March (traffic bulletin, 2 March 2022)
Service location for SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two is underway. Traffic management will be in place.
Find out more about SH30 Eastern Corridor – Stage Two
Safety improvement upgrade work continues on the section north of Pareteiro - Sun Valley Curve passing lane. This includes widening the shoulders, installing a wide centreline and installing roadside safety barriers.
SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa
HPMV strengthening work on four bridges in the Waioeka Gorge continues, and is expected to be complete in May 2022. The bridges are Owhiritoa Stream Bridge, Omaukora Bridge, Gibson Bridge and Sandys Bridge. Bridge crossing restrictions apply to heavy freight vehicles.
Road rehabilitation works continue in the Waioeka Gorge, with a 400m section of road near the historic Tauranga Bridge under stop/stop traffic management and a temporary speed limit for three weeks from Monday 7 March. Between 6am and 6pm the road will be closed for up to 30 minutes at a time, with traffic lights used to control traffic.
Bridge repairs have taken place; the bridge is open to traffic with the ‘80% of Class 1’ weight restriction lifted for 50MAX and Heavy General Access Vehicles. Heavy vehicles remain restricted to the posted speed limit of 10km/h while crossing the bridge, and all other vehicles will be temporarily speed restricted to 30km/h until early April, while steel plates remain on the bridge deck to protect the repaired areas.
SH35 Raukokore River Bridge Repairs completed (media release, 4 March 2022)
Road rehabilitation works continue on a section of road between Ngarue Road and Taitua Road East. Works will take place between 6:30am and 6:30pm until late-March. At times temporary traffic lights will be utilised overnight, with 10-15 minute delays expected when these are active.
Chipsealing continues on SH25 between Whitianga and Waihi. Sealing will take place until mid-March, with multiple sites being completed each day. Delays are to be expected.
Strengthening work on the Waiwawa River Bridge (SH25) in Coroglen continues, and is expected to be complete in the second half of 2022.
Overnight closures on Waiwawa River Bridge in Coromandel (SH25) (media release, 24 February 2022)
Road maintenance will commence on SH27 between Pioneer Road and Paeroa-Tahuna Road on Monday 21 March, for up to five days. The road will be closed to through traffic between 7am and 5pm, during this time a light vehicle detour via Pioneer Road, Morrinsville-Tahuna Road and Paeroa-Tahuna Road will be in place, heavy vehicles will need to use SH26 to connect to either SH2 or SH1B.
SH26 Morrinsville
Asphalt reconstruction works will commence on SH26 (Allen Street) between Canada Street and the SH26/Waverley Avenue intersection, from Sunday 20 to Thursday 31 March. Detours will be in place; more information to follow.
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.
SH27 detoured south of Matamata from 13 January to 14 April (traffic bulletin, 14 January 2022)
Resurfacing of SH1 between Kauri Drive and the Wairakei River bridge south of the SH1/SH5 roundabout will take place from Sunday 13 to Monday 14 March, between 6pm and 6am. Four-way stop/go traffic management will be in place, with a temporary speed limit of 30km/h through the worksite.
The first week of work at the top of Hātepe Hill is progressing well. Due to COVID-19 related disruptions to workforce the asphalt surfacing will commence on Monday 21 March, for approximately three weeks.
SH1 Hātepe Hill Road Repairs Commence 6 March (media release, 4 March 2022)
The Ring Road – Wairere Drive extension project continues, and is expected to be completed by mid-2022.
Ring Road - Wairere Dr Extension(external link)
Four nights of full road closure in late March are planned for SH1 between the SH1/SH26 and SH1/SH21 intersections to allow gantry signage installation to take place, as part of the Waikato Expressway project.
Day-time tree-felling will take place on SH1 between the Southern Interchange and Newell Road, 9am-3pm. Dates and times will vary depending on bat monitoring results and weather.
Upcoming closures on Hamilton section of Waikato Expressway
This bridge on SH39 remains restricted to heavy traffic, with detours in place. The best alternative route for freight is to use SH3 and SH1 through Hamilton and Te Awamutu. A tender has been awarded for the necessary repair work and we will share the details of this once they are confirmed.
Tender to repair SH39 Mangaotama Stream bridge awarded (media release. 8 February 2022)
Due to a drop out between Kopaki Rd and Ohirea Rd, a priority give way is in place with a temporary speed restriction of 30 km/h.
Work commenced on Wednesday 19 January to install roadside barriers and re-position streetlights. Lane restrictions and temporary speed limits are in place. Work is expected to be complete in March.
Ōhinewai lighting upgrade safety works starts tonight (traffic bulletin, 19 January 2022)
A south-bound closure for gantry installation will be in place from Monday 14 to Friday 18 March, between 7pm to 6am each night. Detour via Ngāruawāhia, High-Productivity or Over-Dimension vehicles use SH1B and SH26.
Upcoming closures on Hamilton section of Waikato Expressway
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. Please take extra care through all work sites and allow extra time for your journey.
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.
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