Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Road contractors continue to progress significant maintenance programmes across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway network.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and its contractors are completing an ambitious programme to improve safety and resilience of the network and it is important that contractors continue to make the most of the summer months in which they’re able to reseal and re-construct roads, says Cara Lauder, Waikato System Manager, Maintenance and Operations.
“The recent spell of good weather has allowed our contractors to make great progress across the region. Examples include the completion of the re-build of a significant section of State Highway 28 Whites Road, and major asphalt programmes taking place on State Highway 29 Kaimai Range and State Highway 1 East Taupō Arterial.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience, especially where we have road closures and detours, or multiple worksites in the same area. This scale of work shows our investment in the region, and commitment to improving people’s journeys.
“Due to the work taking place there will inevitably be delays to some journeys. As always, our key focus is to keep road users and contractor crews safe at all times,” says Ms Lauder.
Check the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website before you travel for up-to-date information.
Journey Planner(external link)
Bay of Plenty
Tauranga
- Takitimu North Link Stage One: Enabling works continue on Wairoa Road and Minden Road, with service relocations and tree felling taking place until mid-March. When tree felling is taking place on Minden Road stop/stop traffic management will be in place, with minor delays expected. More information(external link).
· SH2 Hewletts Road: As part of the Totara Street cycleway project, night works are taking place from 8pm to 5am until late-April between Tasman Quay and Totara Street. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. Minimal delays are expected. More information(external link).
- SH2 Bay Link: A small section of Girven Road (between Gloucester Road intersection and the Bayfair roundabout) has been reduced to one lane in each direction until late-March, to allow construction of the permanent road along the two central lanes of Girven Road. Minor delays are expected. More information(external link).
Western Bay of Plenty
- SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Safety improvement works continue at four active sites: between Athenree Road and Tanners Point Road, Rea Road / Tetley Road intersection, Lund Road to Sargent Drive and Apata Station Road to Esdaile Road.
Tetley Road is temporarily closed between SH2 and Rereatukahia Pā Road for approximately two months. Detour routes are available, and only add a couple of minutes to the travel time. Please follow the signs. More information(external link).
- SH36 Mangorewa Gorge: Resurfacing work will take place from Wednesday 2 to Friday 4 March on two sites in the Mangorewa Gorge. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place from 7pm until 7am.
Rotorua
- SH5 Tarukenga to Ngongotahā: Remaining road widening, further barrier installation, and landscaping are underway. These works are expected to be complete in March 2022. More information(external link).
- SH5 & SH30 Chipsealing: Chipsealing continues across the Rotorua area, with sites on both SH5 in Fairy Springs and SH30 east of Hannah’s Bay. Work will take place at night to minimise disruption, please drive with caution and expect minor delays during sealing and for up to 48 hours afterwards as the new seal beds in.
- SH30 Te Ngae Road, Iles Road to Basley Road: Service location for SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two is underway. Traffic management will be in place. More information(external link).
- SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Safety improvement upgrade work continues either side of the area known as the Pareteiro – Sun Valley Curves. This includes widening the shoulders, upgrading the road surface, and installing roadside safety barriers. More information(external link).
Eastern Bay of Plenty
- SH2 Waioeka Gorge: HPMV strengthening work on four bridges in the Waioeka Gorge continues, and is expected to be complete in May 2022. The bridges are Owhiritoa Stream Bridge, Omaukora Bridge, Gibson Bridge and Sandys Bridge. Bridge crossing restrictions apply to heavy freight vehicles.
Road rehabilitation works continue in the Waioeka Gorge, with a 300m section of road near Oponae under stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit until late March.
- SH35 Raukokore River Bridge: A recent routine inspection has identified a significant internal defect within the bridge structure. Heavy vehicles restrictions are in place while the bridge awaits repair, and all vehicles remain limited to 10kmh when driving across the bridge. More information(external link).
- SH35 Cape Runaway: Road rehabilitation works continue on a section of road between Ngarue Road and Taitua Road East. Works will take place between 6:30am and 6:30pm until mid-March. At times temporary traffic lights will be utilised overnight, with 10-15 minute delays expected when these are active.
Waikato
East Waikato
- SH29, western (Waikato) side of Kaimai Range: Road rehabilitation and resurfacing works are progressing well on two separate sections of SH29. There will be alternating one-way closures each night from the night of Sunday 27 February through to the night of Thursday 3 February. During the alternating closures, westbound traffic may travel across the Kaimai Range between 9pm and 12am, and eastbound traffic between 12.30am and 4.30am. More information(external link).
- SH25 Coromandel: From Monday 28 January chipsealing will re-commence on SH25 between Whitianga and Waihi. Work is expected to take approximately two weeks to complete, with multiple sites being completed each day. Delays are to be expected.
Strengthening work on the Waiwawa River Bridge (SH25) in Coroglen is set to get underway on Monday 28 February with short overnight closures while scaffolding is erected. Short delays are expected. More information(external link).
- SH27 Mangawhero Stream Bridge: A detour is now in place on SH27 until 14 April to allow for the completion of new stretches of road either side of the new bridge being built over the Mangawhero Stream. Traffic is being detoured along SH29, Hopkins Road and Hinuera Road, adding around 3.7 kilometres to a journey between Tirau and Matamata. More information(external link).
Central Waikato
- SH5 Tirau: Road rehabilitation work continues on a 250m section of road located immediately east of the Waihou River Bridge on SH5, south of Tirau. Stop/go traffic management will be active from 6am to 6pm, and a reduced speed limit will be in place until early-March.
- SH30 Ātiamuri: Road rehabilitation work continues on a 250m section of road located between the SH1/SH30 intersection and Humphrey Road. Stop/go traffic management with a temporary speed limit will be in place until early March, with temporary traffic lights used overnight when required.
- SH1 Ohakuri: Road rehabilitation work commences on Monday 28 February on a 400m section of road located immediately south of the SH1/Tutukau Road intersection. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place from 6am until 6pm for approximately one week.
- SH5 Rangitaiki: Road rehabilitation work continues on a 400m section of road near Lochinver Station. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place from 6am until 6pm until mid-March.
Resurfacing night works commence on Sunday 27 February on a 600m section of road immediately east of the Ohinekuku Bridge over the Waipunga River. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place from 6pm until 6am for one week.
West Waikato
- SH1 Cobham Drive: The Ring Road – Wairere Drive extension project continues, and is expected to be completed by mid-2022. More information(external link).
- SH1 Tamahere: Four nights of full road closure in late March are planned for SH1 between the SH1/SH26 and SH1/SH21 intersections to allow gantry signage installation to take place, as part of the Waikato Expressway project. More information(external link).
- SH39 Mangaotama Stream Bridge: This bridge on SH39 remains restricted to heavy traffic, with detours in place. The best alternative route for freight is to use SH3 and SH1 through Hamilton and Te Awamutu. A tender has been awarded for the necessary repair work and we will share the details of this once they are confirmed. More information(external link).
- SH30 Kopaki: Due to a drop out between Kopaki Rd and Ohirea Rd, a priority give way is in place with a temporary speed restriction of 30 km/h.
North Waikato
- SH1 Ohinewai: Work commenced on Wednesday 19 January to install roadside barriers and re-position streetlights. Lane restrictions and temporary speed limits are in place. Work is expected to be complete in March. More information(external link).
- SH1 Ngaruawahia Bypass: SH1 Southbound between Taupiri and Horotiu will be closed overnight on Monday 28 February, to allow tie-in works with the Hamilton Section of the Waikato Expressway.
Safety improvement work and gantry signage installations will commence on the same section in early-March. Single and dual direction road closures will be in place through to late-March.
For 24 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.
Some of the above works are weather dependent and may be postponed in the case of poor weather. For up-to-date information on road works, traffic, detours and delays, motorists are encouraged to visit the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website.
Journey Planner(external link)
Waka Kotahi thanks motorists for their patience while we complete this essential work to keep the state highways safe and resilient.
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