Motorists are reminded to leave extra time when travelling around the Bay of Plenty and Waikato over the coming months as work on major projects and roadworks ramps up.
Transport Agency work crews are out in force at the moment, making the most of the warmer, dryer weather to make highways safer and progress projects such as the Waikato Expressway and Maungatapu Underpass in Tauranga.
Drivers are likely to encounter speed restrictions and other traffic management at roadwork sites which may cause delays and should get in the habit of allowing extra time for their journeys.
People can get information on road works and detours in the region they are in, or travelling to by checking www.nzta.govt.nz/summerjourneys(external link) , by calling 0800 444 449 or following the Transport Agency on Facebook or Twitter.
Bay of Plenty travellers can also go to www.drivelive.nz/tauranga(external link) , a dedicated website that tells drivers what the current travel times are to get to key places.
Roadworks sites which may cause delays are detailed below to help people plan head when travelling:
Motorists travelling between Tauranga and Rotorua on SH36 are advised to expect delays this month as contractors carry out rockfall prevention work in the Mangorewa Gorge.
Speed restrictions and traffic lights will be in place at times from February 22 for approximately five weeks. Please allow an extra 10 minutes for your journey.
Speed restrictions will be in place at times from February 26 until April 30 while contractors carry out works on the bridge. Motorists are advised to drive with extra care in the area.
Transport Agency contractors will be resealing a stretch of SH30A (Amohau Street and Te Ngae Road), between Fenton Street and Sala Street from 7pm Friday March 4 until Sunday March 6.
The work will focus firstly on the lanes heading towards the CBD (west/north) on Friday night, and on the lanes heading toward Lynmore and the Rotorua Airport (east/south) on Saturday night.
Work on the eastbound lanes heading towards Lynmore and the Airport will start at 6pm on Saturday with the closure of one lane.
All work, including roadmarking and sweeping of excess loose chip, is expected to be complete by Sunday evening.
The works have been planned so that access to businesses on this section of road, such as Pak’nSave, will be unaffected during their opening hours.
Roadworks and reseals will be underway on other sites around Rotorua over the next week, including:
Motorists are advised to allow an extra 10 to 15 minutes when travelling around the city on the state highway network.
Motorists travelling on SH2 between Tauranga and Waihi are urged to drive with extra care over the next two months as work continues on a major safety upgrade.
A section of highway between Wainui South Road and Sargent Drive will be repaired and widened, and a wire rope central median barrier installed to prevent head on crashes.
Work started in January and is expected to wrap up in early May.
People should only expect minor delays but are urged to stay alert behind the wheel as there will be significant changes including lane closures, speed restrictions and occasional stop/go traffic management.
The long-life road marking will be applied on the Tauranga Eastern Link expressway and motorway from February 22.
The works will be carried out at night for six weeks. The reason for the long time period is the paint is slow to apply and takes hours to dry.
A lane closure and 50km/h speed restriction will be in place.
Drivers are asked to take care when driving along this route.
Motorists using the Te Puke Highway during March are advised to allow extra time when travelling, with road reconstruction work expected to cause delays.
Works are continuing along sections of the highway, which involve digging up and removing the old road and replacing it with new roading before sealing and roadmarking.
The southbound lanes of the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway will be closed for a week this month while contractors carry out road works and apply the final seal.
From 7am on Monday March 7 southbound traffic will be detoured on to the old SH1 route through Ngāruawāhia, joining the expressway at the Horotiu interchange.
The detour will be signposted and is suitable for all heavy vehicles. Northbound traffic will be unaffected by the closure.
The NZ Transport Agency says the detour is needed to complete drainage works, apply the final seal and to establish median barrier crossing points.
The detour is part of three weeks of work on the section that started on March 1, with south-bound traffic down to a single lane at times.
Following the full closure and detour, the road will be re-opened with traffic management in place while the works are completed.
Southbound SH1 traffic at Rangiriri will be diverted onto Wayside Road from 7pm on Tuesday March 8 until 5.30am the following morning to allow contractors to install steel beams.
Motorists are advised to drive with care and allow for short delays.
Fibre optic cable laying through the Karangahake Gorge (SH2) is under way until mid-March. Traffic will be managed through the work under speed restrictions but there will be occasional lane closures and stop-go needed – with a maximum delay of five minutes.
Roadworks are under way in Otorohanga until mid-March on SH31 west of the Waipa River bridge and outside the primary school. Traffic will be managed through the site under stop/go. Expect minor delays.
Stop/go traffic management may lead to delays while work is done on SH25 east of Pipiroa. The work will be over 2-3 days from the week starting 7 March.
Travellers on SH1 through Hamilton should be prepared for minor delays as work to install traffic lights at the Kahikatea Drive and Gallagher Drive intersection continues.
There is a speed restriction and traffic management. Work will be 24-hours and 6 days a week. However night works will not normally take place on Friday or Saturday nights.
Motorists can expect occasional minor delays while work continues on a roundabout at the intersection. It is being built away from traffic and will be completed in May. Motorists on this route should add a few minutes to their journey times, as roadworks continue just south of the intersection.
Work on SH24 Broadway from Isite to Meura St is wrapping up, with two other sections to be completed later this year.
The structural asphalt section from Isite to SH27 will start in a month and be finished before winter. And the section from Meura St to Burwood Rd will now be done in spring.
A reminder that if faults such as potholes are identified, calling Broadspectrum’s 24-hour number 0800 EWAIKATO (0800 39245286) will ensure the fault is quickly logged with the contractor for a fast response.
The Transport Agency apologises for any inconvenience and thanks motorists for their patience during the works.
