Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway works for March 2023

17 March 2023 11:38 am | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

Recent fine weather has seen a steady stream of newly sealed sites appear on the Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway network, which is good news for road users.

With the 2023 Beach Hop underway from the middle of next week, timing is everything for road crews, says Roger Brady, Bay of Plenty System Manager at Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency.

“Every year we plan our sealing programmes to ensure that those travelling up to Whangamatā have a safe journey, and that fresh seal with loose chip don’t impact on people’s experience.

“Our East Waikato team who manage the Coromandel got through most of their Coromandel renewal sites in the first half of the season. Other sections such as SH2 up from Tauranga have sealing to complete, and this will happen once Beach Hop finishes.”

Crews are finishing strong, which will pay dividends over winter.

“The key reason we reseal roads is to waterproof the structural layers underneath – it’s a bit like painting your house,” says Mr Brady.

“The more sealing we can complete now, the better things will be in winter. We all know it has been a challenging summer, however the good news is that we will still be able to get through the vast majority of our summer programme.

Road users are reminded to check the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website for the latest road conditions across the state highway network.

Waka Kotahi 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 State Highway 2, there are a number of shoulder closures and reduced speed limits. The new Harrison Road alignment will open with new seal and line marking scheduled in the coming weeks, when there is consistent fine weather. People may notice an increase in truck movements along Moffat Road over the summer months as earthworks ramp up in the Tauriko/Bethlehem area. On Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 March, between 9am and 4pm each day there will be stop/go traffic management on Moffat Road, Cambridge Road and Cambridge Road East as work starts on the new Cambridge Road East alignment. More information(external link).
SH2 Wairoa Cycleway: Construction commences Monday 20 March on the last 800m section of the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway, between the Wairoa Bridge and Bethlehem. While most of the works will be undertaken at night, there will be traffic management in place for on-road works. Work is expected to take about eight weeks to complete. This project is a partnership project between Tauranga City Council, Waka Kotahi and Western Bay of Plenty District Council. More information(external link).
SH2 Bay Link: At the Bayfair roundabout, two lanes between Matapihi Road and Girven Road will be restored from Tuesday 21 March and will be available until the Bayfair flyover is made available for use. In preparation for this traffic switch, asphalting of the outer lanes around the northern side of the roundabout is scheduled to start this Sunday night. A partial overnight closure of the roundabout will be in place between Matapihi Road and Girven Road from Sunday 19 March to Wednesday 22 March (approximately 7pm to 6am each night). During these hours there will be a signposted detour for motorists via the Golf Road roundabout. In the event of bad weather or unforeseen circumstances, the closure may be moved to the next suitable night/s. More information.(external link)
SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road: A reduced speed limit of 80km/h will be in place while contractor crews are working behind the barriers. More information(external link).
SH2 Fifteenth Avenue: Work continues on the upgrade of the intersection at SH2/Fifteenth Avenue and Cameron Road. Traffic management will be in place at the intersection, and there will be a reduced number of lanes on Cameron Road. Minor delays are expected. Cameron Road, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth Avenue, has a southbound lane closure through to mid-2023.
SH2 Hewletts Road: Works to upgrade the footpath on the northern side of SH2 Hewletts Road to a shared path continues. Work is taking place in four consecutive stages to minimise disruption. The first stage between Totara Street and Waimarie Street has been completed, and works have now started between Waimarie St and Hocking St. The northbound bus lane will be closed Monday to Friday between 5am and 3pm each day. A detour for people walking and cycling will be in place. Regular traffic lanes will operate as per normal.
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 May 2023 with reinstatement work planned for June 2023. 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 improvement works continue at five active sites: between Tanners Point Road to Kauri Point Road, Rea Road / Tetley Road intersection, Lockington Road / Matahui Road intersection, Morton Road intersection and Apata Station Road to Esdaile Road. Pavement work to complete the Rea Road / Tetley Road roundabout will take place as soon as there is consistent fine weather. Stop/go traffic management will be in place overnight at the Morton Road roundabout site, which also has an unsealed section northbound of the roundabout awaiting sealing. Slip repairs are continuing opposite Sargent Drive. Next week sees a power pole replaced near Westbank Drive on Saturday 25 March. Minor delays are expected. More information(external link).
SH2 Ōmokoroa: Service locations have commenced at the SH2/Omokoroa Road intersection. Minor delays are expected. More information(external link).
SH29 Lower Kaimai: Chipsealing will take place during the week from Sunday 19 March. Work will take place at night between 7pm and 6am. During this time stop/go traffic management will be in place, along with temporary speed limits.

Rotorua

SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: Multiple worksites are active on SH30/Te Ngae Road between Iles Road and Brent Road. Temporary traffic management will be in place including, a shoulder closure on the westbound lane between Basley Road and 411 Te Ngae Road, a full closure at the Basley Road and SH30/Te Ngae Road intersection – detours are in place. There is a temporary reduced speed limit through site of 50km/per hr. The upgraded footpath on the lakeside of SH30/Te Ngae Road, between Iles Road and Tennyson Drive is now open. The footpath on the southern side of SH30/Te Ngae Road, between Basley Road and 411 Te Ngae Road is closed with a temporary signalised pedestrian crossing at the city end of Puketāwhero park to cross SH30/Te Ngae Road. In the coming week excavation of the central median between Tumene Drive and Ōwhata Road on SH30/Te Ngae Road will begin which will require stop/go traffic management during hours of work, with a contraflow lane shift in place once the excavations have been completed. There is a shoulder closure on the eastbound lane of SH30/ Te Ngae Road between Puketāwhero park and Brent Road. Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times. Asphalt resurfacing takes place at the intersection of SH30 and Iles Road on the nights of Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 March, a detour via Vaughan Road will be in place between 6pm and 6am each night. More information(external link).
SH30 Holdens Bay: Asphalt resurfacing takes place between Robinson Avenue and Hannah Road from Sunday 19 March to Tuesday 21 March, between the hours of 6pm and 6am each night. Stop/go and stop/stop traffic management will be in place during this time.
SH30 Rotorua Airport: Road reconstruction commences Monday 27 March north of the entrance to Rotorua Airport. Work will take place over five weeks, between the hours of 7am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place. Prior to school holidays work will be paused before and after school hours to assist with vehicle movement in and out of Rotokawa Road. Significant delays are expected when work is taking place.
SH30/SH33 Te Ngae Junction: Construction of safety improvements continue on the western side of the intersection, with a shoulder closure in place. From Tuesday 21 March, excavation work will continue on the south east corner of the SH30/SH33 junction, temporary traffic management will be in place including a reduced speed limit through site and a 3-way stop/go during work hours. Moderate traffic delays are expected. More information(external link).
SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Temporary reduced speed limits are in place while maintenance teams work on slip areas and fallen trees. More information(external link).

Eastern Bay of Plenty

SH5 Tumunui: Asphalt resurfacing takes place at Tumunui Road from Sunday 26 March. Work will take place between 6pm and 6am and is expected to take four nights to complete. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place.
SH30 Te Ruato Bay: Road rehabilitation commences Friday 17 March just west of Lake Okataina Road. This work is expected to be complete by late-April, during this time stop/go or stop/stop traffic management will be in place as required. Work will take place between 6am and 6pm each weekday.
SH30 Te Teko: A road closure will be in place between Te Teko Road and Western Drain Road from Monday 27 to Friday 31 March, between 8am and 5pm each day, to allow multiple maintenance activities to take place. During work hours the detour will be via SH34 Military Road and SH2.
SH2 Wainui to Ōhiwa Beach Road: Shoulder closures will be in place from Monday March 20 SH2/Waiotahe Valley Back Road/Ōhiwa Beach Road and near the Matekerepu Stream bridge, with a speed restriction of 30km/h in place, while geotechnical investigations are underway. Investigations are expected to take three days to complete.
SH2 Waioeka Gorge: An underslip at the road edge sees a section of road under priority give-way. Care is required when driving through this area.

Tairāwhiti Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay

All State Highways: All state highways within the Tairāwhiti Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay regions have sustained damage during Cyclone Gabrielle, and some routes are impassable for the time being. Other routes are experiencing significant delays due to high traffic volumes, please check the Journey Planner for the most up to date information, and only travel if it is essential. More information(external link).

Manawatū-Whanganui

SH4 Upokongaro to Raetihi: Following Cyclone Gabrielle, crews have been busy clearing slips and debris, removing trees, fixing damaged assets and putting up additional warning signs to ensure the safety of SH4 road users. There are several sites along SH4 that received damage from the cyclone, including a number that require further investigation and designs completed prior to remedial action taking place.
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 mid-2023. For the duration of the works the road is reduced to one lane with traffic control operating under traffic signals. Works are generally undertaken away from the road, however there are occasions where traffic signals are used to keep drivers safe from hazards, with delays of up to 10 minutes. More information(external link).
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. A package of work to ensure the ongoing safety and resilience of this site is scheduled to begin on Monday 13 March. The work will begin with access track installation and construction of two new dewatering wells. Traffic management will include shoulder closures and stop/go, which will tie in with the existing temporary speed limit through the slip site. Construction of three new retaining walls north of the main slip area is scheduled to begin by early April.

Waikato

East Waikato

SH25 Beach Hop: Beach Hop takes place from Wednesday 22 to Sunday 26 March. Higher than usual traffic volumes can be expected on SH25, especially in and around Whangamatā.
SH25 Opoutere: An underslip has caused significant damage to the road structure. Work is ongoing to retreat the road to allow vehicles past. The temporary road is open with stop/go traffic management, however there may be periods of stop/stop traffic management as required. Geotechnical investigations are ongoing.
SH25A Kopu-Hikuai: A section of road near the summit has collapsed, and the road is impassable. Geotechnical investigations are ongoing. Detour via SH26, SH2, SH25 via the Karangahake Gorge, or SH25 via Coromandel Town. More information.(external link)
SH24 Te Poi: Road rebuilding commences between Stopford Road and Old Te Aroha Road continues until Tuesday 21 March. Stop/go or stop/stop traffic management will be in place as required, along with a temporary speed limit.

Central Waikato

SH5 Napier – Taupō: SH5 towards Napier is open to all traffic between 7am and 7pm, from Monday 20 March. There are 32 damaged sites along the route, travel will take longer than it used to. Daytime road closures are being planned for road renewals in the coming weeks. More information(external link).
SH5 Tirau: Chipsealing will take place at night from Sunday 19 March. Between the hours of 7pm and 6am the road will be closed between SH1 and SH28 Whites Road intersections, with a detour in place via these same roads. Work is expected to take three nights to complete, weather permitting. Minor delays are expected due to the detour, which is suitable for all vehicles.
SH1 Lichfield: Road rebuilding continues at a site near Puriri Road. This work is expected to take four weeks to complete. Between the hours of 7am – 7pm, Monday to Friday all northbound light vehicles will detour via Rollett Road, Paraonui Road and Wiltsdown Road. Northbound heavy vehicles and residents living within the worksite will be stacked at the site and let through at set intervals.
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 in place at active work sites. Pavement works and barrier construction will finish in April 2023. 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

SH1B Puketaha: SH1B east of Hamilton will remain closed at the southern end of Telephone Road for the foreseeable future. Detour via Holland Road, Waverley Road and Seddon Road. More information(external link).
SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia Section: Safety and remedial works have restarted with temporary safety barriers reinstalled over recent weeks. Traffic will be managed through the work sites which are single lane and 50km/h until completion in March 2024. More information [PDF, 1.4 MB].
SH1C Hillcrest: Work at the SH1C/Cambridge Road roundabout continue 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. This work sees the intersection changed to traffic light controls, and is expected to be completed by mid-2023. More information(external link).
SH23 Dinsdale: Due to the Dinsdale Water Supply Upgrade project, traffic management will be in place around the Dinsdale Roundabout, Rifle Range Road, and the Rifle Range Road and Massey Street intersection until mid-February, dependent on weather and project progress. Full completion of the project is expected by late-April. The northbound lane of Rifle Range Road is closed to traffic. More information(external link). Road resurfacing takes place between 159 and 219 SH23 Newcastle Road on Thursday 23 March, between the hours of 7pm and 6am each night. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place on SH23, however access to/from Newcastle Road and Melva Street will be closed, local road detours will be in place.
SH23 Raglan Deviation: An under-slip has occurred at a section of road approximately 1.6km west of Glentui Lane. A temporary two-lane road has been constructed to allow vehicles to pass the affected area, and this is now open to all traffic with a speed restriction of 60km/h. Work to repair the underslip is ongoing and will take several months to complete. More information(external link).
SH1C Normandy Avenue: Asphalt resurfacing takes place between Lorne Street and Cobham Drive on Tuesday 28 March, between the hours of 8pm and 6am. During this time stop/go traffic management will be in place.
SH3 Melville: Asphalt resurfacing takes place on Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 March, between the hours of 8pm and 6am each night. During this time SH3 will be closed between SH1C Lorne Street and the SH3 Normandy Avenue roundabout. A detour via these two roads is available.
SH3 Glenview: Work has commenced at the Glenview Bus Hub, and this is expected to take three months to complete. As part of this project road resurfacing will take place from Monday 20 to Thursday 23 March, each night between the hours of 7pm and 6am SH3 will be closed, with detours available via local roads on either side. Heavy vehicles will be escorted through the worksite. More information(external link).
SH1 Maungatautari: Repair to the centre median barrier between Maungatautari Road and the SH1/SH29 intersection will take place tonight, Friday 17 March, between 8pm and 4am. Minor delays are expected.
SH3 Ōtorohanga: road resurfacing takes place from Sunday 19 March between Ranfurly Street and SH39 Te Kanawa Street. Work is expected to take three nights to complete, with work taking place between 7pm and 6am each night. During this time the road will be closed, with a detour available via Huiputea Drive which is suitable for all vehicles.. Heavy vehicles need to check height restrictions prior to travelling on the detour.
SH30 Kōpaki: Due to safety concerns Kopaki Bridge is only open to local light traffic. The detour for all other vehicles is via Kopaki Road and SH4. More information(external link).
SH39 Pirongia: Road rehabilitation and bridge repairs continues at the northern entry to Pirongia, continues. A road closure will be in place for two weeks from Monday 20 March, when the rebuild is taking place near the bridge, detours will be in place with heavy vehicles advised to use SH3.
SH31 Kawhia Road: An underslip has appeared at a location on the Kawhia side of the lookout. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit is in place while investigations take place.

North Waikato

SH2 Maramarua: Works to install street lighting and continue until early-April. Stop/go traffic management will be in place from Sunday 19 to Thursday 23 March, between 9pm and 5am each night.

Taranaki

SH43 Aukopae: Due to a wash out, there is 30km/h speed restriction in place.
SH3 Awakino Bypass: Work is expected to be complete late-March. Stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit will be present when work is taking place.
SH3 Tongapōrutu: A slip has the road down to one lane south of Tongapōrutu, which is being controlled by traffic signals. Repair work is expected to be complete by mid-March. Delays of 5-10 minutes are expected.
SH3 Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass: A 50km/h speed limit is in place across a 5km section of SH3 at Mt Messenger. Temporary traffic management measures will still be in place occasionally as required. More information(external link).
SH3 Uruti: Due to maintenance works, there are temporary traffic lights and a 30km/h temporary speed restriction in place near Uruti Road. Minor delays are expected.

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 Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website.