Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway works for October 2023

13 October 2023 11:31 am | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

Good progress has been made at a number of worksites across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region this week, with some even having the finishing touches applied.

An early start to the season has been helped by more settled weather over recent weeks, allowing sealing programmes to chip away at their programme of work. Similarly, the first rebuilds are nearing completion, with the site at Rotorua Airport almost complete.

The best news of the week was in Rotorua at the Utuhina Stream Bridge site, where the road closure was lifted three days ahead of schedule due to the excellent work of all involved.

This promising start needs to be maximised says Frankie Evans, Bay of Plenty Journey Manager at Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

“Our road maintenance programme is all about momentum over the summer period. We’ve started well, and if we can continue to progress well this side of Christmas, we will have set ourselves up well to bring things home early in the New Year.

“The weather events earlier this year showed how even the best laid plans can be brought to their knees. We’re doing everything we can to put ourselves in the best possible position, but we’ll need a little luck to be on our side as well.

All is not rosy though, with reports of abusive behaviour towards road workers at the Utuhina Stream Bridge site making national headlines.

“To say this behaviour is disappointing would be a massive understatement,” says Ms Evans. “The Fulton Hogan team working on that site has done a magnificent job to get through the work required and open the road up ahead of time. They should be applauded, not abused.”

With a long weekend coming up, road works at most sites will be paused at midday (or close to it) on Friday 20 October before resuming again on Tuesday 24 October. This will help road users travelling over the holiday period make the most of their time.

With so much work happening the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner is the best place for information on the status of the state highway network. With live updates on worksites and other road hazards, Journey Planner can help road users plot the best route to their destination.

Journey Planner(external link)

Bay of Plenty

Tauranga

Takitimu North Link Stage One: Earthworks have commenced across a number of sites. On Wairoa Road, stop/go traffic management will be in place while trucks are crossing Wairoa Road, and 30km/h speed limits will be in place at all times within the construction area. Minden Road has a 30km/h speed limit throughout the construction zone. A temporary haul road into the Te Mete Valley is being constructed to support the summer earthworks season. The single-lane haul road will be separated from SH2. Road users should be aware of the new road layout and temporary speed limit of 60km/h on SH2 alongside the haul road. More information(external link).
Cambridge Road: Construction work to complete the new Cambridge Road overbridge, between Bethlehem and Tauriko continues. Work to connect the bridge with Cambridge and Moffat roads and utility services will be completed in three phases. Phase 1 involves building a diversion road allowing traffic to flow during these works. While these works take place there will be slower speed limits in place on Cambridge Road, shoulder closures and when necessary, stop/go traffic management.
Cambridge Road (East): Tauranga City Council has commenced slip repair work at Cambridge Road East near the St Andrews Drive roundabout. Cambridge Road is now one-lane only while the work is underway, drivers heading into the city detour via St Andrews Drive, Castlewold Drive and Wakefield Drive. Drivers coming from the city are to use Cambridge Road as usual. There is a 30km/h speed restriction past the work site. The slip was caused by recent weather and the repair team has finished clearing the slipped soil and has now begun constructing a retaining wall to help prevent future slips. The repair is expected to be completed in mid-December, weather dependent.
Totara Street: Tauranga City Council will be completing road construction on Totara Street, between Maui Street and Triton Avenue, in November. When work takes place traffic will be reduced to one lane (open for travel between Mount Maunganui and Hewletts Road). Totara Street will be closed to ALL traffic heading to Mount Maunganui from Hewletts Road, with a detour via Newton Road. More information(external link).
SH2 Bay Link: People travelling between Baypark and Bayfair will continue to see several road layout changes over the next few months with the project nearing completion. Closures will vary night to night, depending on site requirements and progress, and people are asked to allow extra time, follow signposted detours and drive with caution through the project site. To minimise impact, works are undertaken at night where possible with the aim to minimise disruption to people travelling through the area. More information(external link).
SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road (TDTR): A reduced speed limit of 80km/h is in place while contractor crews are working behind the barriers.
SH2 Fifteenth Avenue: Work continues on the upgrade of the Fifteenth Avenue / SH2 / Cameron Road intersection. Work is currently underway at the northeast and northwest (SH2 and Fifteenth Avenue) corners while contractors work to complete the pram crossings and footpaths. Temporary traffic management is in place, with a left turning lane closure. Traffic can still turn into Cameron Road from the SH2 using the centre lane. More information(external link).
SH2 Dive Cres: Maintenance work will be undertaken between Marsh Street, Dive Crescent and Mirrielees Road. Work will be conducted each night until Tuesday 17 October, between the hours of 7pm and 5am each night. 30km/h temporary speed limit and detour will be in place during working hours.
SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): Traffic management for the Tauranga City Council led Pāpāmoa East Interchange construction project has been removed until construction of the interchange itself commences in early 2024. More detail will be shared closer to the time. 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 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: Lane shifts and speed reductions are in place at four intersections (Sharp Road, Lockington Road / Matahui Road, Pahoia Road, Omokoroa Road) while testing activity and roundabout construction takes place. Road layout changes will occur as works progress. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management which may cause longer delays, although typically there will be minor delays of one to two minutes. More information(external link).
SH2 Wairoa Cycleway: The Tauranga City Council cycleway construction continues with work taking place both under the Wairoa bridge and in the on-road shoulder at night. The cycleway is due to be completed by late-2023.
SH2 Pongakawa: Road rebuilding continues. Work is expected to be complete by early November, during this time stop/go traffic management and a westbound detour option via Pukehina Road, Old Coach Road and Pongakawa Station Road will be in place. Delays and additional travel time 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 there is stop/go, lane shifts and shoulder closures, temporary pedestrian crossings, footpath closures, and/or reduced speed limits. Minor traffic delays are expected. Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times. More information(external link).
SH30 Rotorua Airport: Road rebuilding between Rotorua Airport and 875 Te Ngae Road continues through to Friday 20 October. Temporary traffic management will be in place, and there will be one lane available in each direction for the majority of the works, to minimise disruption. These works are weather dependent, so may need to be postponed, delayed, and/or extended beyond the expected completion date. Significant disruption is expected at peak travel times.
SH30/SH33 Te Ngae Junction: Surfacing of the SH30/ SH33 Te Ngae Junction roundabout continues. Temporary traffic management will be in place between 6pm and 6am Saturday 14 October and between 9am and 3:30pm Monday 16 October. This includes a reduced speed limit through site and three-way stop/go. Noise and vibration are associated with these works, which are expected to take four nights (weather permitting). Delays are expected. More information(external link).
SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Work on the SH33 safety improvements project continues from Tuesday 24 October with contractors working on a 5km section of road between Sun Valley Curves and Maniatutu Road. Work includes widening of the road corridor, installing safety barriers and improving drainage. 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).

Eastern Bay of Plenty

SH2 Edgecumbe: Road rehabilitation continues near the Omeheu Canal. Traffic management will be in place, including a full road closure from Monday 16 October until mid-November, 9am to 3:30pm each day. HPMV vehicles to detour via SH30 and SH34, all other vehicles can use Main Street, Otakiri Road and SH34. Work is expected to be complete by late November.
SH2 Wainui to Ōpōtiki: Safety improvements between Parkinsons Road and Woodlands Road near Ōpōtiki 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.
SH2 Manganuku Bridge, Waioeka Gorge: Investigations are ongoing for the most effective way of repairing the bridge. The 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.
SH2 Waioeka Gorge Chipseal: Road resealing takes place between Ōpōtiki and Matawai from Wednesday 18 October, Monday to Friday each week. For the first two weeks road closures will be in place between 7am and 5pm, with 20-minute opening periods at 9am, midday and 2pm. Following the closures there will be approximately a week where stop/go and/or stop/stop traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place while work continues. Work will finish at 2pm on Friday 20 October, ahead of Labour Day weekend. More information(external link).

Tairāwhiti Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay

SH2 Waioeka Gorge: Foam bitumen stabilisation work continues on Monday 30 October. This work will take place during the day with stop/go traffic management in place.
SH5 Napier – Taupō: Progress continues at a number of slip sites at the Hawke’s Bay end of SH5. Stop/go traffic management is in place at various sites, along with temporary speed limits.

Manawatū-Whanganui

SH1 Taihape north: Road rebuild continues at a section of State Highway 1 / Mataroa Road just north of Taihape. Night works will be in place between 6pm and 6am daily for seven weeks (weather permitting) between Goldfinch Street to just past Abattoir Road. Works are expected to be complete by mid-November. During works, SH1 will be reduced to one lane under stop/go, with a reduced speed limit in place. Delays of up to 10 minutes are expected.
SH1 Utiku: A ‘slow slip’ has resulted in cracking between Micklesons Road and Utiku South Road. A 30km/h temporary speed limit is in place through the area, along with a temporary re-alignment and narrowing of traffic lanes.
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 Streat road retreat: A 30km/h temporary speed restriction remains in place at Auraki Stream road retreat project site. Vehicles are now able to utilise the new section of road, the project is expected to be completed in October.

Waikato

East Waikato

SH25: Recovery works are underway at a number of sites, with temporary traffic management such as lane closures and stop/go along with reduced speed limits in place where required. 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 is underway, and the bridge is expected to be open in March 2024. Additional works are taking place across SH25A while the road is closed. More information(external link).
SH26 Chipseal: Road resealing continues throughout October between Motumaoho and Te Aroha, with work taking place under stop/go traffic management between 6am and 8pm each weekday. This work is weather dependent. Minor delays are expected when sealing is taking place.
SH27 Tahuna: Road rehabilitation near Hart Road commences Tuesday 24 October, and is expected to take one week to complete. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place during work hours.

Central Waikato

SH1 Lichfield: The northbound slow lane near Puriri Road is closed until further notice, while investigations take place into repair options.
SH1 Ātiamuri: Side and median barriers have been installed on a 4.5km stretch of highway south of Ātiamuri. Some speed restrictions will be in place while finishing works and final surfacing are completed. Temporary steel barriers have been installed from Atiamuri village to Ohakuri Road and a temporary speed restriction of 50km/h applies until work is completed mid-2024. More information(external link).
SH1 Oruanui: Road rehabilitation continues, and is expected to be complete by late October. Stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place. Delays are to be expected.
SH1 Wairakei: Road rehabilitation commences on Tuesday 24 October, and is expected to take three weeks to complete. Stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place. Delays are to be expected.
SH5 Mamaku: Road rebuilding commences Monday 16 October on a 560m section within the Mamaku Range. Stop/go traffic management will be in place between 6am and 6pm each day, Monday to Friday. Work is expected to be complete by late November.
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.
SH5 Iwitahi: Road rehabilitation continues, and is expected to be complete by mid-November. Stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place at all active worksites. Delays are to be expected.

West Waikato

SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia Section: Safety improvements and remedial works require the closure of a single lane in each direction with a 50km/h temporary speed limit, until completion. More information(external link).
SH26 Newstead/Eureka: Road resealing takes place in the Newstead and Eureka areas for one week, with work taking place under stop/go traffic management between 6am and 8pm each weekday. This work is weather dependent. Minor delays are expected when sealing is taking place.
SH1C Te Rapa: Road resurfacing takes place on SH1C Mangaharakeke Drive from Sunday 15 October for approximately three nights. Work will take place at night between 8pm and 5am, during this time northbound lanes between the Norton Road roundabout and Horotiu interchange will be closed. Detour via Lincoln Street, Forest Lake Road and Te Rapa Road. During this time additional road surface repairs will take place on the Te Rapa Bypass section of SH1C.
SH1 Karāpiro (Gorton Road): Road rebuilding continues until late October, this requires a daytime detour for southbound traffic via Karāpiro Road, Taotaoroa Road and SH29. Northbound traffic will remain on SH1. Overnight the detour will not be required and all traffic will remain on SH1, travelling through stop/go at the site to manage safety. Southbound heavy vehicles will be given the option of being held at the site and let through at regular intervals, or they can use the detour. Emergency services will be provided with access through the site at all times. While this closure is in place, crews are taking the opportunity to do as much other work as possible within the section, including the below work at Keeley’s Reserve and work for PowerCo. More information(external link).
SH1 Karāpiro (Keeley’s Reserve): Construction of a turnaround bay at Keeley’s Reserve continues. The reserve will be closed for the construction period, which is expected to take up to 9 weeks, weather permitting. The speed limit near the reserve will reduce from 100km/h to 50km/h northbound and 70km/h southbound, Monday to Saturday from 7am to 6pm each day. Motorists are advised to prepare for minor delays. Once completed, the right turn out of Keeley’s Reserve onto SH1 will remain open until the turnaround at Tunakawa Road is built early next year and more flexible safety median barriers are installed, at which point the right turn out of Keeley’s Reserve will be permanently closed. More information(external link).
SH30 Te Kūiti: Due to a slip, priority give-way is in place near Mangaokewa Road, motorists are advised to proceed with caution.
SH30 Kōpaki: Due to a drop out between Kōpaki Road and Ohirea Road intersection there is stop/go traffic management in place with a temporary speed limit of 30km/h. Remedial works have started and are expected to be completed by the end of October. Caution is advised when travelling through this area.

North Waikato

SH1 Waikato Expressway – Rangiriri Section: Remedial works requiring various interchange ramp closures are underway. This work is expected to be complete in mid-November. SH1 traffic is being managed through the site with a temporary speed restriction of 50km/h, however all four lanes will be open for Labour Weekend traffic (20-23 October). The final stage starting at the end of October will see the Te Kauwhata Interchange southbound off and on ramps closed, with drivers needing to use the Rangiriri ramps. More information(external link).
SH1 Mercer: There will be a full southbound closure between Pioneer Road and the Mercer interchange on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 October between 10pm and 5am each night. Traffic will still be able to travel south using one of the northbound lanes.
SH2 Mangatawhiri: Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place on Sunday 15 October between 10pm and 5am.

Taranaki

SH3 Tongapōrutu: Pavement repairs continue north of Hutiwai Road. Work is expected to be complete by mid-October (weather permitting), and the site will be managed under traffic-light stop/go controls, with delays of approximately 10-15 minutes.
SH3 Uruti: Rock mesh slip protection work commences Tuesday 24 October. Stop/go traffic management will be in place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, along with a 30km/h temporary speed restriction for approximately 9 weeks. Delays of up to 15 minutes are expected.
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 24/7. Delays of up to 15 minutes 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.