Road renewals commence throughout the Waikato & Bay of Plenty region next week, with a number of contractors looking to make a head start on their programmes, weather permitting.
With over 700 lane kilometres of the network to be rebuilt or resealed this season, every dry, warm day needs to be well utilised to keep on track with delivery goals, says Roger Brady, Bay of Plenty System Manager at Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
“It’s going to be a busy summer, and we are being up front about the fact that we will be consistently causing disruption for road users across the region. However, this is for the long-term benefit of road users, as it means we are delivering on our commitment to provide a safe, accessible and reliable state highway network.”
Key focus areas for the coming months include the Coromandel (SH25), Waihī to Ōmokoroa (SH2) and the eastern Bay of Plenty (SH35). Asphalt programmes will be commencing in towns such as Whakatāne, Te Awamutu and Putaruru.
“We appreciate that there are going to be multiple worksites on some corridors, especially corridors such as Waihī to Ōmokoroa, which has a long-term safety improvement project underway as well. Our advice is plan ahead by using the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner (www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)) which provides real-time updates,” says Mr Brady.
“This level of activity will continue right through until April or May next year. However, we always look to minimise disruption during holiday periods and around large events such as Beach Hop and Fieldays, which draw in people from outside the region.”
Bay of Plenty
Tauranga
- Takitimu North Link Stage One: A range of construction activities are taking place between Te Puna and Bethlehem. This includes stop/go traffic management in place at Wairoa Road and Minden Road, and a number of shoulder closures and temporary speed limits. More information.
- SH2 Hewletts Road: As part of the Tauranga City Council Totara Street cycleway project, work at the intersection of SH2 Hewletts Road and Totara Street has commenced, and will be completed in November. Construction works will include signalising the existing slip lane and upgrading the island to provide a fully signalised crossing for shared path users. These works will take place between Tasman Quay and Totara Street each night between 8pm and 5am. Eastbound traffic along Hewletts Road will be reduced to one lane during this time. Minimal delays are expected. More information(external link).
- SH2 Bay Link: The first vehicle entrance to Bayfair Shopping Centre on Girven Road after the Bayfair roundabout has reopened, and Girven Road eastbound between the Bayfair roundabout and Gloucester Road has been restored to two lanes. There will be a single lane closure on SH2/Maunganui Road from Concord Avenue to Exeter Street from approximately 7pm to 6am each night from Monday 26 September to Thursday 29 September. During this time, temporary barriers will be removed, and work areas prepared around the base of the northern ramp of the Bayfair flyover. This scheduled work is weather-dependent. If it is delayed due to weather or other unforeseen issues, it will be carried out during the next suitable shift. Drivers are reminded of the new layout at the Bayfair roundabout. For people approaching the roundabout from Matapihi, the left lane is now a left turn only and the right lane is for traffic going straight through and turning right. More information.
- SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road: A section of the Kopurererua Valley cycleway is temporarily closed while services are relocated alongside SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road. There is an alternate track parallel to the closed section and signposted for track users. This work is expected to be completed in September. In early to mid-October a reduced speed limit of 50km/h will be in place while contractor crews install barriers. This is expected to take place over two days. More information.
- SH36 Pyes Pa: The Tauranga City Council watermain and wastewater pipe installations have progressed ahead of schedule. Traffic diversions have now been removed; shoulder closures remain in place while works continue outside the carriageway.
- SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): For the Tauranga City Council led Pāpāmoa East Interchange project, traffic on the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road, just north of the Kaituna River Bridge continues to be down to one lane in either direction. Traffic lanes will be modified overnight on Monday 26 September, weather permitting; this will see both eastbound lanes and one westbound lane operational, with the temporary speed through the worksite increased to 70km/h. This layout will remain in place until April 2023. More information(external link).
Western Bay of Plenty
- SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Safety improvement works continue at five active sites: between Athenree Road and Tanners Point Road, Tanners Point Road to Tuapiro Road, Rea Road / Tetley Road intersection, Morton Road intersection and Apata Station Road to Esdaile Road. Minor delays are expected. More information.
- Chipsealing commences near Athenree on Sunday 16 October. Work will take place at night, between the hours of 7pm and 6am, Sunday to Thursday nights. When works are taking place stop/go traffic management and a reduced speed limit will be in place. The majority of this work is expected to be complete by late-November.
- SH2 Athenree to Pahoia: Road surface repairs will take place in multiple locations. Work will be undertaken between 7pm and 6am each night, from Sunday 25 to Thursday 29 September. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place.
- SH2 Te Puna: SH2 will be closed between the SH2/Te Puna Road/Minden Road and SH2/Clarke Road intersections on both Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 October, between the hours of 5am and 4pm, to allow tree removal to take place. A detour via Te Puna Road, Te Puna Station Road and Clarke Road will be in place. Delays are expected. More information.
Rotorua
- SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: Multiple worksites are active between Iles Road and Puketāwhero Park to excavate the shared service trench for the relocation of underground services and installation of the new watermain. Temporary traffic management will be in place with an intermittent lane closure on Basley Road, with no left turn lane out of Basley Road to SH30/Te Ngae Road. A detour will be in place for local traffic via Owhatiura Drive and Iles Road. Minor delays are expected. The upgraded footpath on the lakeside between Iles Road to Basley Road, heading east on SH30/Te Ngae Road, is now open, including the installation of a temporary pedestrian crossing on SH30/Te Ngae Road adjacent to Lynmore Rise Village. Works continue in the area and pedestrians are asked to take care. More information.
- SH30/SH33 Te Ngae Junction: Intersection safety improvement works are ongoing. Traffic will be maintained in both directions however works may cause minor traffic delays and people are asked to take extra care while traveling through the site. More information.
- SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Safety improvement upgrade work continues near Pareteiro - Sun Valley Curves passing lane. During the day and when the crew are on site, either two lanes will be open or stop/go will be in place – depending on the works. A temporary speed limit of 30km/h applies. Outside of work hours and when the site is unattended, the worksite will have a shoulder closure and a temporary speed limit of 50km/h. There are also ongoing shared path works between Mourea Bridge and Ōkere Falls. Traffic management will be a combination of shoulder closures and stop/go as required to carry out the works safely. Allow extra time. More information(external link).
Eastern Bay of Plenty
- SH35 Motu River: 24/7 single lane access has been reinstated, with traffic signal control in place, along with a 30km/h temporary speed limit. There will be periods where traffic is stopped at each end to allow works to take place across the full road width. Works will continue until late-September. More information.
- SH35 Chipseal 3rd October – Chipsealing commences near Whangaparāoa on Monday 3 October. Work will take place during the day, between the hours of 7am and 7pm, Monday to Friday. When works are taking place stop/go traffic management and a reduced speed limit will be in place. The majority of this work is expected to be complete by early-November.
- SH30 Whakatāne: Resurfacing work between SH2/Gateway Drive/Phoenix Drive and Whakatāne Landing Bridge commences Sunday 2 October, taking up to three weeks to complete. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place between 6pm and 6am Sunday to Thursday; during this time Coastlands residents will have a signposted single direction detour. Temporary speed limits will remain in place during the day when there are uneven surfaces.
- SH2 Waimana Gorge: Road rehabilitation commences Monday 3 October just south of Fraser Road. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place until late-October.
- SH2 Wainui Road to Ōpōtiki: Service relocation work between Pohutukawa Drive and Paerata Ridge Road continues. Stop/go traffic management will be in place during the day when this work is taking place. This work is expected to be complete by the end of the month. More information.
- SH2 Waioeka Gorge: A section of the Waioeka River is in close proximity to the road edge. Traffic management is in place, and remedial works will commence in the near future.
Tairāwhiti Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay
- SH35 Kopuaroa: The site remains under stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h at all times. Enabling works for the longer-term solution have commenced. More information.
- SH2 Esk River Bridge: The bridge over the Esk River on SH2, north of Napier, has been reduced to a 30km/h temporary speed limit due to recent assessments identifying the bridge does not have capacity for sustained increased travel demands. Overweight vehicles are required to reduce their speed to 10km/h within their own lane, or to follow the restriction on their permit if it is lower. More information.
Manawatū-Whanganui
- SH4 Auraki Stream Road Retreat: Work to retreat the road away from a slip adjacent to the Mangawhero River is currently underway and will continue into 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.
- 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.
- SH4 Upokongaro to Raetihi: Crews continue to clear material from numerous slip sites. Traffic is generally reduced down to one lane past these slip sites during working hours. At sites 150m north of Burrell Road and 3km north of Burrell Road, SH4 is reduced down to one lane due to underslips with priority give way and 30km/h speed limits in place. At Aberfeldy, 1km north of Parihauhau Road, speed is reduced to 50km/h due to an underslip compromising the edge line of the northbound lane.
Waikato
East Waikato
- SH25 Coromandel: The Coromandel state highway chipseal programme commences on Tuesday 27 September and will continue through until late November. Expect delays due to multiple sites under stop/go traffic management, one-way detours and/or temporary speed limits.
- SH25 Hikaui Bridge: From Tuesday 25 October the bridge will be closed to all traffic from 8pm to 6am, Sunday to Thursday, for an expected period of up to four weeks. The bridge closure is necessary while we carry out this essential and significant maintenance work. During this time the bridge will be open to traffic during the day with temporary traffic management and a speed restriction of 10km/h in place. More information.
- SH27 Matamata: Resurfacing work on SH27 Firth Street at the intersection with Tainui Street and Farmers Road commences Sunday 2 October. Between the hours of 7pm and 6am the road will be fully closed, and a southbound closure will remain in place during the day. A detour will be in place via Burwood Road and SH24. Work is expected to take one week to complete. The detour is suitable for all types of vehicle including High Productivity Motor Vehicles.
- SH2 Karangahake Gorge: Road resurfacing is planned to commence mid-October. Night-time road closures will be in place when work is being completed. More detail to follow in the near future.
- SH25 Whenuakite: Road rehabilitation commences Monday 3 October just south of Boat Harbour Road. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place until mid-October.
Central Waikato
- SH1 Putaruru: Road resurfacing at the SH1/Main Street roundabout will be undertaken on Wednesday 5 October, between 7pm and 6:30am. During this time the road will be closed, with a detour via Neal Street, Commerce Street and Market Street. Minor delays are expected. Further resurfacing will take place just north of the roundabout on Thursday 6 October, lane diversions will be in place while this is completed.
- SH1 Ātiamuri: Safety improvements on a 4.5km stretch of SH1 between Maroa Road and Tram Road, south of Ātiamuri, are continuing. A 50km/h temporary speed limit is in place through the site and stop/go traffic management with a 30km/h temporary speed limit may also be used at times between 9am and 3pm Monday to Friday. More information.
- SH1 Desert Road: The road is down a single lane near Tree Trunk Gorge Road, due to washouts. Temporary traffic signals are in place along with a temporary speed limit; road users are reminded to comply with the traffic management on site. Once repair work is underway, daytime road closures are going to be required.
West Waikato
- SH1B Puketaha: SH1B east of Hamilton is closed at the southern end of Telephone Road while options for its long-term future are investigated. Detour via Holland Road, Waverley Road and Seddon Road. More information.
- SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia Section: Night-time closures will be in place between the Taupiri and Horotiu interchanges to undertake pavement repair work. The closures will take place from Sunday 9 October for 10 nights (excluding Friday and Saturday nights) for both directions of travel. The detour for light vehicles will be via Great South Road, over-weight and over-dimension loads will need to use SH1B. Following these closures we will use a combination of lane closures, contraflow and additional night-time closures to complete the remainder of the work.
- SH21 Tamahere Interchange: Work has commenced on safety improvements under the interchange. The SH21/Tamahere Drive roundabout is closed between 8pm and 5am, Sunday to Thursday nights until Thursday 29 September. Stage one of the improvement work is expected to be complete in early-2023. More information.
- SH3 Te Awamutu: Resurfacing of SH3 Sloane Street, between Vaile Street and Fraser Street, will commence Sunday 9 October. Between 6pm and 6am the road will be closed, with a detour via Golf Road and Cambridge Road. Work is expected to take three nights to complete.
- SH39 Te Kowhai: Chipsealing takes place between Burbush and Te Kowhai next week. Stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place.
- SH3 Te Kūiti: Work is taking place to make the entrance to Te Tokanganui-a-Noho marae safer for pedestrians to cross SH3 Awakino Road. At times traffic heading east on SH30 will need to detour north along Carroll Street, cross the railway line on Ward Street and then head south on Rora St. The same detour will apply in reverse for westbound traffic. The project is expected to be complete by the end of September. More information.
- SH30 Kōpaki: A localised drop out between Kōpaki Road and Ohirea Road means temporary traffic signals are in place to control traffic, along with a temporary speed restriction of 30 km/h. Repairs are complete at a slump near Kōpaki Bridge; however, this site remains under a temporary speed restriction. Truck drivers are reminded that the existing Kōpaki rail overbridge has a maximum weight limit of 6 tonnes. If compliance with the load restriction doesn’t greatly improve, the potential risk to both road and rail users will force us to close the road to all traffic. The detour route between Maniaiti/Benneydale and Te Kuiti is via Kōpaki Road and SH4.
- SH4 Taumarunui: Following storm damage, a section of road north of Taumarunui is under stop/go traffic management, controlled by traffic signals. Enabling works have commenced, and plans for the long-term repair of this road are currently being designed.
North Waikato
- SH1 Hampton Downs: This section of the expressway will be without lighting until November, while work continues on upgrading the state highway. Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction as safety improvements are made to the road, bringing it up to 110km/h design and safety standards. People are asked to take care when driving through the site by following the posted speed limit of 70km/h. More information.
- SH2 Mangatāwhiri & Maramarua: Due to multiple maintenance activities, traffic management will be in place between 10pm and 5am each night on SH2 between the SH1/SH2 interchange and Maramarua, as follows:
- Monday 26 September - Wyatt Road to Coalfields Road and Maramarua township – stop/go
- Tuesday 27 September - Rawiri Road to past Wyatt Road and Coalfields Road to Maramarua – stop/go. Traffic management will be in place to manage entry and exit to Rawiri Road.
- Wednesday 28 September - McPherson Road to Dobson Road and Pendergrast Road to Mangatāwhiri Road – stop/go.
- Thursday 29 September - Mangatāwhiri Road to Rawiri Road – full closure. There will be a signposted detour via Koheroa Road, Mangatāwhiri Road and Rawiri Road. The Mangatāwhiri intersection and Rawiri Road intersection will be operating under stop/go traffic management to allow traffic to travel through the area.
Taranaki
- SH3 Piopio: A slip has the road down to one lane, which is being controlled by traffic lights. Delays of 5-10 minutes are expected. More information.
- SH3 Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass: Stop/go controls are operating daily, with delays of up to 15 minutes expected. The lane closure allows for Bypass enabling works. More information.
- SH3 Awakino: A slip has the road down to one lane under stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h temporary speed limit. There are various other slips in the gorge that are currently not affecting traffic, however drivers are asked to drive with caution, and expect delays at the single lane section.
- SH3 Waitara: Northbound light vehicle traffic is being detoured via Waitara to enable stormwater works to be carried out for Te Ara Tūtohu Waitara to Bell Block safety improvements. Heavy vehicles and all southbound vehicles continue to use SH3 under stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit. Delays of between 5-10 minutes can be expected. Sealing work is being completed next week, before the detour is lifted, with stop/go remaining on SH3. More information. 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 (www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)).
Waka Kotahi thanks motorists for their patience while we complete this essential work to keep the state highway network safe, accessible and resilient.
