Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Road contractors are continuing to work hard across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway network in the lead up to the Easter and Anzac Day holiday period.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and its contractors are completing an ambitious programme to improve safety and resilience of the network, however like many other workplaces, contractors are experiencing COVID-19 cases amongst their workforces, which may cause plans to change at short notice, says Roger Brady, Bay of Plenty System Manager, Maintenance and Operations.
“Waka Kotahi takes seriously our responsibilities for the safety of our staff, contractors and members of the public. All worksites have comprehensive COVID-19 protocols and work plans in place for the various COVID-19 traffic light settings and Omicron phases, which are strictly adhered to.
Our contractors have also undertaken extensive planning to make sure essential maintenance can continue on Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highways so they remain safe. However, there may be some disruption to other planned works as contractor crews are experiencing a high number of positive cases currently. With critical work programmes taking place in nearby regions as well we are unable to call on additional resources outside the region.
Over the Easter and Anzac Day holiday weekends all sites will shut down at midday the day before the long weekend commences, before re-starting at 9am each Tuesday. There is a small window between the long weekends, however our crews will still be operating, most notably at night on SH1 in Maungatautari.
Due to the aforementioned COVID-19 cases, road users on some routes may notice more roadside litter or debris than usual, and we are working hard to clear this as quickly as possible.
We thank people for their patience as we support our contractors to manage the health and safety of their workforces while continuing to ensure the state highway network remains safe for all those who use it,” says Mr Brady.
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: Wairoa Road will have stop/go in place for trucks crossing. Minden Road has service relocations taking place with stop/go traffic management. A diversion road at Wairoa Road will be live this week with a speed limit of 30km/h. Shoulder closures will be in place throughout the week on Cambridge Road. On SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road a reduced speed limit of 80km/hr will be in place while service relocation works take place. More information(external link).
· SH2 Hewletts Road: As part of the Totara Street cycleway project, night works will take place from late April through to June 2022, from 8pm to 5am each night between Tasman Quay and Totara Street. Eastbound traffic will be reduced to one lane through the intersection. Minimal delays are expected. More information(external link).
- SH2 Bay Link: SH2 at the Bayfair roundabout will be closed from 7pm to 7am on Friday 8 April and Saturday 9 April to allow beams for two spans of the four-span flyover to be lifted into place. Lane closures and detours differ each night; on both nights, lane closures will be in place on all approaches to the Bayfair roundabout to manage traffic flows. If this work is impacted by weather or other unforeseen issues, it will be carried out on the next available weekend. More information(external link).
- SH29 Tauriko West: Investigation works to provide the information needed for the next steps of the Tauriko West enabling works are underway and expected to take place through to early-May 2022. Works will mostly take place overnight between 7pm and 6am, with generally one active work site at any time. It is expected that most works will be completed over one to two nights at each location. This will include topographical surveys, locating buried services, and geotechnical investigations to determine the ground conditions. The investigations will generate some noise due to the machinery and equipment used, and will involve the use of temporary lighting. Traffic management will include shoulder and lane closures. 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. Minor delays are expected.
Tetley Road is temporarily closed between SH2 and Rereatukahia Pā Road for approximately two months. Detour routes are available via Marshall Road, and only add a couple of minutes to the overall travel time. Please follow detour signage. More information(external link).
Rotorua
- SH5 Tarukenga to Ngongotahā: Barrier installation is underway between Dalbeth Road to just north of the golf course. Traffic management will be in place. These works are expected to be complete in April 2022. More information(external link).
- SH30 Te Ngae Road, Basley Road to Coulter 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 on the section north of Pareteiro – Sun Valley Curve passing lane. This includes widening the shoulders, installing a wide centreline and installing roadside safety barriers. More information(external link).
Eastern Bay of Plenty
- SH2 Edgecumbe: Asphalt resurfacing will continue on the eastbound lane of SH2 between Puriri Crescent and College Road, until Sunday 10 April. Work will take place between 6pm and 6am, with stop/go traffic management in place. A temporary speed limit will be in place throughout the day while this work is completed.
- SH2 Waioeka Gorge: HPMV strengthening work on four bridges in the Waioeka Gorge continues, and is expected to be complete in early-April 2022. The bridges are Owhiritoa Stream Bridge, Omaukora Bridge, Gibson Bridge and Sandys Bridge. Bridge crossing restrictions apply to heavy freight vehicles.
- SH35 Raukokore River Bridge: Bridge repairs have taken place; the bridge is open to traffic with the ‘80% of Class 1’ weight restriction lifted for 50MAX and Heavy General Access Vehicles. Heavy vehicles remain restricted to the posted speed limit of 10km/h while crossing the bridge, and all other vehicles will be temporarily speed restricted to 30km/h until mid-April, while steel plates remain on the bridge deck to protect the repaired areas. More information.(external link)
Tairāwhiti / Napier
- SH35 Tairāwhiti: Following recent weather events SH35 remains closed between Tokomaru Bay and Te Puia Springs. Access is expected to be restored prior to Easter.
- SH2 Wairoa – Napier: Road users can expect slips and uneven road surfaces along the East Cape from Wairoa down to Napier, and inland on SH5 and SH38.
Waikato
East Waikato
- SH25 Coroglen: Strengthening work on the Waiwawa River Bridge (SH25) in Coroglen continues and is expected to be complete in the second half of 2022. More information(external link).
- SH25 Waitakaruru: Repairs to the eastbound bridge at Waitakururu commence Monday 11 April. Stop/go traffic management will be in place during the day to allow travel over the Westbound bridge in both directions. Heavy vehicles (Class 2 or above) are not permitted to travel in this direction. Detour is via SH2 and Hauraki Road.
- SH27 Mangawhero Stream Bridge: A detour is 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
- SH1 East Taupō Arterial (ETA): Audio tactile profiled road marking will be installed on the recently resurfaced sections of SH1 between Centennial Dr and Napier Rd, between 6pm and 6am each night. Varying sections will close each night, please follow the detour in place and allow extra time for journeys. More information(external link).
- SH1 Hātepe Hill: Asphalt surfacing of the left-hand northbound lane will continue until mid-April. Stop/go traffic management or lane closures will be in place during this time. More information(external link).
West Waikato
- SH23 Massey Street: Night time resurfacing will take place at two sites on SH23, between SH1 and the Dinsdale Roundabout, from 10 April. Work will take place between 7pm and 6am, during this time the road will be closed with detours in place.
- 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: Day-time tree-felling continues until late April on SH1 between the new Southern Interchange and Newell Road, from 9am until 3pm each day. Dates and times will vary depending on bat monitoring results and weather. There are occasional north-bound traffic detours via SH21 and SH3, and some stop/go while trees are felled. 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: Work has commenced on the drop out between Kopaki Rd and Ohirea Rd, temporary traffic lights are in place to control traffic, along with a temporary speed restriction of 30 km/h.
North Waikato
- SH1 Hampton Downs: Resurfacing between Pokeno and Hampton Downs recommences on Tuesday 12 April between 9pm and 5am, with works ongoing until mid-May. At times SH1 will be down to one lane, or closed with an associated detour, in one direction. More information(external link).
- SH1 Ohinewai: Work continues to install roadside barriers and re-position streetlights. Lane restrictions and temporary speed limits are in place. Work is expected to be complete in early-May. More information(external link).
- SH1 Ngaruawahia: A south-bound closure for gantry and sign installation will be in place from Monday 11 to Wednesday 13 April, between 7pm to 6am each night. Detour via Ngāruawāhia, High-Productivity or Over-Dimension vehicles use SH1B and SH26. More information(external link).
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. Please take extra care through all work sites and allow extra time for your journey.
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.
