Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway works for March 2024

8 March 2024 1:23 pm | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

With most renewal activities wrapping up at the end of the month, contractors are on a final push to complete as much work as weather and time allows.

Nighttime temperatures have started to drop, and this can affect the quality of any chipseal application, says Andu Oakley, Waikato System Manager at NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

“Warm temperatures are critical in ensuring the bitumen stays in a liquid state while the chip is applied over the top. This means the different materials can bind together and provide the seal over the layers underneath.

“To minimise disruption we complete significant volumes of chipsealing at night, especially on corridors with high traffic volumes. Temperatures have started dropping below 10 degrees overnight, which is an indicator that any seal we lay down will not succeed. Sites which we’re unable to complete this week may need to be completed during the day, when ground temperatures are warmer. Other activities such as asphalt resurfacing will continue into April, including several significant sites across the region.

“Asphalt work can still take place in slightly colder temperatures, and this allows us to keep working away through April.

This work all helps to prepare our roads for the winter ahead. The more we can do to waterproof our roads the better they perform during periods of wet weather,” says Mr Oakley.

For up-to-date travel information please check the Journey Planner.

Journey Planner(external link)

Bay of Plenty

Tauranga

Takitimu North Link Stage One: Earthworks are underway across a number of sites. On Wairoa Road, traffic has been shifted onto the Wairoa Bridge. Traffic on the bridge is down to one lane with traffic management still in place. The road layout will change frequently while drainage and utilities are installed along with tying in works to connect to the existing road. Pavement work for this will start next week. On Thursday 14 and Friday 15 of March from 7.30am work will be undertaken on Minden Road to install utilities along the shoulder. Traffic management will be in place with a 30km/h speed limit, lanes will be narrowed, with minimal disruption expected. A temporary haul road, separated from SH2, into the Te Mete Valley is operational with a temporary speed limit of 60km/h alongside the haul road. More information(external link).
SH2 Te Puna: Tree removal between Loop Road and Ainsworth Road will take place on Saturday 16 March, both lanes will be held at a stop-stop while the cut and fell process is undertaken. Delays are to be expected.
Cambridge/Moffat roads: Construction work to complete the new Cambridge Road Overbridge, between Bethlehem and Tauriko continues. Until April 2024, there is 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 all heavy vehicles can use SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road. More information(external link).
Waihī Road, Tauranga: Tauranga City Council has commenced asphalt resurfacing work on Waihī Road, this will continue until Sunday 10 March, the SH2 on-ramp to SH2 Takitimu Drive will be closed while works take place.
SH2 Bay Link: On Thursday 14 and Friday 15 March (from approximately 9pm to 5am), road closures will apply on Matapihi Road that will change access to and from Owens Place and Matapihi. During these hours, access in and out of Matapihi Road and Owens Place for light vehicles will only be available via a signposted detour temporarily connecting Maunganui Road with the end of Titoki Place. This temporary access point on Titoki Place will provide for a left in from SH2/SH29A Te Maunga interchange, and a right out, also towards SH2/SH29A Te Maunga interchange. Traffic controllers will be stationed across the Bay Link project site controlling traffic with stop/go signals while this temporary arrangement is in place. Businesses on Owens Place and Matapihi Road will remain accessible during their normal trading hours. More information(external link).   
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.
SH29A Maungatapu to Baypark: From Sunday 10 to Thursday 14 March, 7pm to 5am SH29A between the Maungatapu roundabout and SH2/SH29A Te Maunga interchange will be fully closed in both directions to apply final surfacing around the SH29A roundabout at Baypark. Truman Lane will be closed to through traffic. Access to Baypark and Truman Lane businesses will be available via Sandhurst interchange and a staffed access point on Truman Lane. All light vehicles travelling on SH2 from Tauranga Eastern Link/Pāpāmoa to SH29A/Maungatapu/Welcome Bay, detour via SH2 Bayfair flyover or Maunganui Road north, SH2, Elizabeth Street, Cameron Road, Fifteenth Avenue, Turret Road/Hairini bridge and Welcome Bay Link Road. All light vehicles travelling from SH29A/Maungatapu to Arataki/Matapihi/Mount Maunganui or SH2/Tauranga Eastern Link/Pāpāmoa detour via Welcome Bay Link Road, Turret Road/Hairini bridge, Fifteenth Avenue, Cameron Road, Elizabeth Street and SH2. All heavy and HPMV vehicles travelling to/from SH2/Tauranga Eastern Link/Pāpāmoa and SH29A/Maungatapu/Welcome Bay detour via SH2 Bayfair flyover or Maunganui Road north, SH2, SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road and SH29A.
SH2/Fifteenth Ave: Early works are underway at SH2/Fifteenth Ave where an on-ramp bridge connection will be built as part of the Takitimu North Link project. Tree felling will take place from Thursday 21 to Saturday 23 March (7.30am – 6pm each day) with a shoulder closure in place from the Cameron Road intersection onto SH2. Stop/go will be in place Saturday 23 March on Fifteenth Ave.
SH2 Takitimu Drive, Tauranga: Night works will start on Sunday 17 March and run for 8 nights from 8pm to 4.30 am on Takitimu Drive near the Kopurererua Stream. The SH2 City Centre/Mt Maunganui off-ramps will be closed to traffic travelling east from Bethlehem and travelling north from Tauriko. During the day there will be temporary speed limits in place. Light vehicles will detour on SH2 to 15^th Avenue off-ramp then to Cameron Road, Elizabeth Street and then re-join SH2 at the Elizabeth Street roundabout. Heavy vehicles travelling north will be required to take SH29A and SH2 via Baypark and Bayfair, heavy vehicles travelling east will detour SH2 to 15^th Avenue off-ramp then through to Turret Road, onto SH29A and SH2 via Baypark and Bayfair.
SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR) Shared Path: The shared path alongside SH2 is diverted until May 2024. An alternative option for path users is available via Kaituna Road and Te Tumu Road.
SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): The Quayside Properties Ltd-led Rangiuru Business Park Interchange project continues. Temporary barriers are 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).

Western Bay of Plenty

SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Roundabout construction is underway at Sharp Road with significant activities on the southbound lanes. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays, but typically expect minor delays of one to 2 minutes. Please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team. In the Athenree Gorge, lane shifts and speed restrictions are in place while line markings are changed.
SH2 Apata Curves: Road widening works are underway with lane shifts and speed restrictions in place. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays, however typically delays will be between one to 2 minutes. Please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team.
SH2 Tahawai: Lane shifts, shoulder closures and speed restrictions are in place between Kauri Point Road and Stokes Road as services are relocated. These works are expected to be completed by the middle of March.
SH2 Bethlehem to Athenree: Resealing is underway at a number of locations on SH2 between Bethlehem and Waihī. Reseals between Te Puna and Ōmokoroa will result in some line-marking changes with wide centrelines installed (providing greater separation for opposing traffic).
SH2 between Te Karaka Drive and Barrett Road: Road rehabilitation night works near Whakamārama will continue until Thursday 14 March. Stop/stop will be needed between Barrett Road and Te Karaka Drive on Sunday 10 March. During this time there will be a one-hour traffic hold with a 10-minute release to allow 60m sections to be milled and resurfaced. From Monday 11 March traffic control will revert to stop/go. No work will take place on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 March. More information(external link)
SH29 Kaimai Range: The Kaimai Range will be closed from Sunday 17 March to Thursday 21 March, from 8pm to 3.30am to allow road resurfacing and maintenance to take place. The closure points on the western side of the Kaimai Range is at the SH29/24 and SH29/28 intersections and on the eastern side of the Kaimai Range at the SH29/Cambridge Road intersection. Detours are available for all vehicles southbound via Rotorua and northbound via the Karangahake Gorge. Emergency services will have access at all times, residents can access their property from the relevant side of the closure. More information(external link).

Rotorua

The 10^th edition of Crankworx Rotorua starts on Friday 15 March and continues for 10 days. From Wednesday 20 March until Sunday 24 March competition will move from Whakarewarewa Forest to Skyline Rotorua on SH5. There may be more traffic in the area due to people attending the event during this time.
SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage One: Nightworks continue from Monday 11 March with line marking on Stage One between Tarawera Road and Iles Road. This night work (7pm to 6am) includes limit lines, fire hydrant/valve markings along the road and through the intersection. We expect to have completed this work by the end of the week, weather dependent. More information.(external link)
SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: Work underway between Tumene Drive and Ōwhata Road includes surface milling, asphalting and stormwater connections in the westbound lane. Multiple active worksites may include stop/go, lane shifts and shoulder closures, temporary pedestrian crossings, footpath closures, and/or reduced speed limits. The bus stops outside 473 and 429 SH30 Te Ngae Road are currently closed while construction is underway on new bus stop foundations. The nearest operational bus stop is located 50-metres west on SH30 / Te Ngae Road (towards Basley Road). Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times. More information(external link).

SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Pavement construction is underway and minor traffic delays are expected for this work about 6km north of Ōkere Falls. Other work includes widening of the road corridor, installing safety barriers and improving drainage. Temporary traffic management is in place including stop/go, lane shifts, shoulder closures and reduced speed limits. More information(external link).

Eastern Bay of Plenty

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. Repairs will start on the bridge Monday 18 March and will take 3-4 weeks to complete.

Tairāwhiti Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay

SH5 Napier to Taupō: Recovery alliance Transport Rebuild East Coast is undertaking work at multiple sites on SH5. This includes safety improvements at various high-risk curves, as well as repair, recovery and routine maintenance work. Overall, please plan for delays of 30-45 minutes across the whole SH5 Napier to Taupō corridor. While this work takes place, stop/go traffic management and temporary reduced speed limits of 30km/h and/or 50km/h are in place in certain areas. Safety improvements are underway at Marshall’s Bridge between Eskdale and Glengarry, and south of the passing lane between Te Pōhue and Te Hāroto. In addition, TREC will start work in early March to improve safety at the slow vehicle bay and curves near Tarawera Cafe. As work is dependent on many other variables such as weather, these dates may change at short notice. More information(external link)

Manawatū-Whanganui

SH1 Utiku: Road repairs are in progress with a view to restoring the road back to 100km/h by the end of March. Currently 2 lanes are open through the site at 30km/h, from time to time there will be stop/go traffic management in place.
SH1/3 Bulls to Sanson: Full night closures continue to allow for roundabout tie-in works. The section of SH1/3 outside Base Ohakea is closed at night between 7.30pm and 6am Sunday nights to Friday mornings. The southbound detour for light vehicles is via Tangimoana Road, Taylor Road and onto SH1. The southbound detour for heavy vehicles is via Tangimoana Road, Campion Road and onto SH1. The detour for all northbound traffic is via Fagan Road, Speedy Road, Tangimoana Road and back onto SH1/3. The new roundabout is now open with a 30km/h speed restriction in place and uneven surfaces at times. During daytime hours (and on Friday and Saturday nights), all motorists will be travelling on the new road alignment. More information(external link).
SH4 Raetihi: There will be a daytime closure on SH4 between Whanganui River Road and Alexandra Road from 9am to 4pm on 18-22 March. As there are no local detours available, through traffic heading north will need to travel via SH3 from Whanganui, SH1 and SH49; and southbound traffic via SH49, SH1 and SH3.

Waikato

A variety of safety improvements across the Waikato have started about to commence, these will contribute towards making the roads safer. The programme of works includes a mixture of new and modified signage, new hazard warning signs, roadside safety/barrier guard rail, road widening, improved road lines and improved road markings. It is expected there will be minimal disruption for motorists while this work is completed. The works will take place over the next 3 months. More Information(external link).

East Waikato

SH25 Coromandel: Recovery work is underway along SH25 to repair damage caused by last summer’s severe weather. The sites include Kereta, Te Kouma and Wharekaho. Stop/go traffic management will be in place at these locations. Work is also underway between Whangamatā and Waihī to repair and upgrade side drains. More information(external link).
SH25A Taparahi Bridge: Temporary speed limits are still in place. Work to finish the restoration of SH25A at the Taparahi worksite is expected to be completed by the end of March. More information(external link)
SH25 Ruamahunga: Our team working to stabilise the large slip site at Ruamahunga is making great progress and needs equipment and supplies delivered to the top of the slope by helicopter on a regular basis. The next closure will be 19 March and will take place between 12 noon and 2pm. SH25 will be closed in both directions at the site for up to 20 minutes at a time so the helicopter can safely operate over the road to deliver those important supplies. The road will then reopen to allow traffic to clear before the next closure.
SH27 Waharoa: Safety upgrade work continues on SH27 between Walker Street and McGowan Street and is expected to take up to 4 weeks to complete. SH27 is open to traffic, under lane diversions and stop/go traffic management when needed. Car parks on SH27 will be inaccessible during this period, however the rest area and car park across the road from the Pitt Street intersection will remain open and a safe crossing will be provided at all times. Minor delays are to be expected.
SH27 Mangatarata: Stop/go traffic management will be in place until late March, while a southbound side barrier, new signs and line marking (including rumble strips) are installed. At times, there will be nightworks between 7pm and 6am, and a reduced speed limit. Minor delays are expected.
SH24 Matamata to SH29: Until mid-April stop/go traffic management will be in place at times while road widening work is completed, followed by signage and rumble strip installation. Minor delays are expected.

Central Waikato

SH1 Lichfield: Road rehabilitation continues until Friday 22 March from 6am to 6pm. There will be stop/go in place from 6am-6pm Monday to Saturday along with a temporary speed limit. A detour for light vehicles in both directions will be available via Rollett Road, Paroanui Road, Wiltsdown Road and then rejoining SH1 and reverse. Heavy vehicles will travel through the worksite under stop/go.
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.
SH1 Maroa Road: The 4.8km site is currently operating at 100km/h until finishing works for the safety barrier installation resume. Stop/go will be in place on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 March for barrier repairs, between 8am-5pm.
SH1 East Taupō Arterial: Road widening and flexible safety barrier installation continues between Napier Road and the airport roundabout. Speed restrictions will be in place, with completion expected to be mid-2024. 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. Works to repair the washout are due to begin early April and will take 3-4 weeks to complete.

West Waikato

SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia section: Safety improvements and remedial works continue with traffic managed through the site with single lanes and 50km/h speed restriction. The next block of night-time closures and detours is for northbound traffic Sundays to Thursdays, 17 March to 11 April More information(external link)
SH1 Waikato Expressway – Rangiriri Section: Final surfacing is underway until Easter. SH1 traffic is on single lanes during the work. During the 2-3 days of southbound lane sealing on 17-18-19 March (weather dependent, may vary) the on and off-ramps southbound will be closed. Detours will be in place using the state highway, however local road users may choose to use the local roads. More information(external link)
SH1C/SH1 Tamahere Interchange Hamilton: On Friday 15 March, one lane on the southbound on-ramp at the interchange on Alfred Main Drive will be closed so barriers can be installed. The work will take place between 8pm and 5am.
SH1/SH29 Piarere Intersection: Work is progressing with mass filling on the north and south sides of the intersection to accommodate the foundation works. Traffic delays are expected during construction in this area and an increase of vehicle movements including truck and trailers carrying material to site. Temporary traffic management is in place, including shoulder closures and lane shifts, please follow the instructions of the team on site and any temporary traffic signage. More Information(external link)
SH1 Karāpiro: Work is underway on a section of SH1 between Keeley’s Reserve and Moana Roa Road in preparation for median barrier being installed mid-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 (left-hand) 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.
SH1 Karāpiro (Tunakawa Road): The Gorton Road turnaround is now in place and the right turn onto Gorton Road has been reinstated. The focus has shifted to the Tunakawa Road turnaround. During construction there is no right turn onto SH1 from Tunakawa Road. Motorists need to make use of the Keleey's Reserve turnaround to change direction, which adds around 4-6 minutes to your journey. Once the turnaround construction is complete, the installation of median barrier from Tunakawa Road to Fergusson Gully Road can commence. This is expected to occur towards the end of March, with all work completed by mid-April 2024. More information.(external link)
SH1 Karāpiro (Hickey Road): Construction of the fifth turnaround bay in the SH1 Cambridge to Piarere safety improvements project, just north of Hickey Road, is underway. Along with constructing the turnaround bay, there will be road widening at the weigh station on SH1, between Hickey and Hydro Roads, and installing median and side safety barriers. Construction hours are 7am – 6pm Monday to Saturday, with no work on Sunday or public holidays, and temporary traffic management will be in place during construction. The impact on SH1 traffic is expected to be minor, although there are multiple worksites between Cambridge and Piarere, so some delays to journeys are expected. More information(external link)
SH23 Raglan: SH23 will be closed overnight between 9pm and 5am between houses #4095 and #4180, this is to enable crews to remove existing road layers and replace them. Vehicles will be allowed through the worksite at 9.45pm, 11pm, 1am and 3am. The work is expected to be completed in mid March. More Information(external link)
SH30 Kōpaki: The underpass repairs are due to start Monday 18 March and are expected to take 4 weeks to complete. There will be stop/go traffic management in place 24/7, however between 7am and 5pm there will be periods of stop/stop while machinery is moved around the site. Delays of up to 30 minutes should be expected.
SH30 Te Kūiti: Due to a slip, priority give-way is in place near Mangaokewa Road, motorists are advised to proceed with caution.
SH3 Te Kūiti: Drivers on SH3 are advised to expect delays, with work taking place to build a retaining wall and culvert on a stretch of highway between Te Kūiti and the SH3/SH4 junction. For the first few days of construction traffic will be down to one lane with stop/go traffic control while the highway is temporarily widened on the southbound shoulder. Drivers should expect short delays at this site. Once this is done the road will be reopened to 2 lanes under speed restrictions for up to 3 months while the retaining wall and culvert are being built, with a few days of stop/go expected at the end of the project.
SH31 Otorohanga: Road repairs will be undertaken on SH31 Between Maniapoto Street and the Waipa River Bridge on Sunday 10 March for 2 nights from 7pm to 6am. Chip sealing will then follow overnight on Thursday 14 March between 7pm and 6am with sweeping and line marking applied the following night.

North Waikato

SH1 Bombay: Nikau Road to Bombay interchange: There will be a full northbound closure on Thursday 14 March between 9pm and 5am for vegetation maintenance. Traffic will still be able to travel north using one of the southbound lanes.
SH1 Mercer: Pioneer interchange to Mercer interchange: There will be a full southbound closure on Sunday 10 March between 10pm and 5am. Traffic will still be able to travel south using one of the northbound lanes for resurfacing to take place.
SH2 Pokeno: Slip repairs are being carried out until Tuesday 12 March between 7am and 7pm outside Max Birt Sawmills, Pokeno (1.5km from the SH1 Southern Motorway on-ramp). During this time there will be speed reductions in place and road layout changes. More information(external link)
SH2 Oleary Road to Irish Road: Stop/go traffic management will be in place from Sunday 10 to Tuesday 12 March between 9pm and 5am. Eastbound traffic will still be able to travel east using one of the westbound lanes. Westbound traffic will not be able to use the passing lane until after Rimu Road. Access to and from Avon Road will be closed. Traffic will be detoured via Pokeno and SH1/SH2 link.
SH2 Wyatt Road to Kopuku Road: Stop/go traffic management will be in place on Sunday 10 and Monday 11 March between 9pm and 5am for resurfacing to take place.
SH2 Coalfields Road to Maramarua township: Stop/go traffic management will be in place on Sunday 10 and Monday 11 March between 9pm and 5am for resurfacing to take place.
SH2 Dimmock Road to Heaven Road: Stop/go traffic management will be in place on Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 March between 9pm and 5am for resurfacing to take place.

Taranaki

SH3 Uruti: Slip repairs continue at SH3 Uruti, north of Mangamaio Road. The work includes the installation of rock mesh protection to improve the safety and resilience of this slip-prone area of the network. The site will be run under stop/go traffic controls 24/7 with delays of approximately 10-15 minutes for the duration of construction and is expected to be completed by the end of March.
SH3 Mt Messenger: From 7pm on Friday 5 April to 4am on Monday 8 April SH3 Mt Messenger will be closed for resurfacing. There will be scheduled openings to clear traffic queues. Outside this time, road users can expect stop/go traffic management at night between 6pm and 6am between Tuesday 2 April and Friday 19 April, with delays expected of up to 15 minutes. Road users are encouraged to plan ahead.
SH3 Te Ara Tutohu Waitara to Bell Block: Until mid-June, Princess Street will be closed between SH3 and Armstrong Avenue to everyone except residents while roadworks continue. People travelling to or from Waitara via Princess Street will need to use Nelson Street or Bayly Street. Those wanting to access Princess Street west from Princess Street east (Tikorangi side) will need to use Bayly Street. Both lanes of SH3 are open, and a temporary roundabout will be in place at the Princess Street and SH3 intersection, with the current traffic lights removed. The roundabout is expected to be complete by mid-2024 More Information(external link)
SH3 Pio Pio: Crews will complete asphalt repairs at Moa Street, SH3 in Pio Pio between Ruru and Tui Streets from 22-26 March (weather permitting) between 4pm and 6am, Sunday to Friday. There will be stop/go in place, delays of approximately 10 minutes can be expected. Pedestrian and property access will be maintained; however, some parking may be impacted temporarily while particular areas are under repair. Access to businesses within the site will be maintained, and the footpath will not be impacted. In the case of unsuitable weather, work will be postponed to the next available night.
SH4 Paroparowhero Culvert Replacement: Work to repair damage from heavy rainfall on SH4 north of Taumarunui, between the intersection of SH43 and Okahukura Bridge Road will continue until June 2024. The repair work involves a temporary lane to maintain traffic flow under 24/7 e-light stop/go controls, while crews install a 3.5 x 4 metre box culvert. From early next week, vehicles will use a temporary road built to enable crews to complete work over both lanes of the existing state highway. Please drive carefully and follow all temporary speed restrictions in place. The work is scheduled to take approximately 6 months, weather permitting. Road users are asked to plan ahead for delays of up to 15 minutes in this area.
SH4 Taumaranui: Work still start on stage one of road rehabilitation on Hakiaha Street in Taumaranui from 19-21 March between 7pm and 5am. There will be a road closure at the SH4 overbridge between Taupo and Bell Roads. Southbound light vehicles will be detoured via Taupo Road, and northbound traffic will be detoured via Bell Road and Short Street. There is no alternative route for heavy vehicles, these vehicles will be convoyed through at two-hourly intervals. (9pm, 11pm, 1am and 3am) each night. Stage two will start mid-April.

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.