Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
As Christmas trees start going up and presents get wrapped, contractors continue to renew roads around the Waikato & Bay of Plenty region.
The lead-up to Christmas will see works undertaken throughout the region, however the path to each and every house will be clear of roadworks come December 25.
Contractors want to make the most of the last few weeks of the year, and this will mean some disruption to a variety of routes, says Roger Brady, Bay of Plenty System Manager at Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.
“There are a number of road closures planned over the coming weeks, which will allow critical work to take place in a safe environment. The decision to close a road to undertake work is not taken lightly, and generally this happens when there is no room to pass machinery and crews on site.
“Elsewhere, our programmes for resealing and rebuilding roads continue. We have a significant programme of work to complete this summer, and the more we can do prior to Christmas, the easier we make it for road users, and ourselves, in the New Year.
“Some sections of the network will be very busy; State Highway 2 between Waihī and Tauranga has two important projects along with our annual chipseal programme happening at the same time. We recommend road users plan ahead to ensure they leave with plenty of time to get to their destination.
“Please be courteous to our crews across the network, and help ensure they get to go home safe at the end of the day, This includes driving to the posted temporary speed limit through worksites”, says Mr Brady.
Road users are recommended to use the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner which provides real-time updates of network conditions, including traffic delays.
Journey Planner(external link)
Bay of Plenty
Tauranga
- Takitimu North Link Stage One: A range of construction activities are taking place between Te Puna, Bethlehem and Tauriko including Cambridge Road, Harrison Road, Wairoa Road and Minden Road, there are a number of shoulder closures and reduced speed limits. The new Harrison Road alignment will open mid-December with new seal and line marking scheduled in coming weeks. More information(external link).
- 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 is underway and will be completed in Construction work includes signalising the existing slip lane into Totara Street 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 from Sunday to Thursday night between 8pm and 6am. Eastbound traffic along Hewletts Road will be maintained on both lanes but will be reduced to one lane intermittently during this time. Minimal delays are expected. More information(external link).
- SH2 Bay Link: From early December, access to Truman Lane will be via State Highway 2 Sandhurst interchange only. A short part of Truman Lane will be one direction westbound only, enabling the next stage of road reconstruction. Access to Truman Lane from State Highway 29A roundabout will be closed. Follow detours and allow extra time. More information.(external link)
- SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road: A reduced speed limit of 80km/h will be in place while contractor crews are working behind the barriers. More information.
- 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 is back to three lanes. Whilst earthworks continue on the south side of the road, both eastbound lanes are open and normal speed applies. One westbound lane is open whilst work continues in the outer westbound lane, speed past the worksite is set at 70km/h. This layout will remain in place until April 2023. More information.(external link)The Quayside Properties Ltd led Rangiuru Business Park Interchange Project has commenced, with investigation work taking place alongside the TELTR. The left-hand eastbound lane will be closed on weekdays between Tuesday 6 and Friday 16 December. A shoulder closure will be in place on the westbound side. More information(external link).
Western Bay of Plenty
- SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Safety improvement works continue at five active sites: between Tanners Point Road to Kauri Point Road, Rea Road / Tetley Road intersection, Lockington Road / Matahui Road intersection, Morton Road intersection and Apata Station Road to Esdaile Road. Completion of the Rea / Tetley roundabout will take place as soon as there is consistent weather. Minor delays are expected. More information(external link). Chipsealing commences in this area early-December. Weather permitting, work will take place over three weeks, Sunday to Thursday nights, from 7pm to 6am each night. During this time stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place.
- Te Puke Highway – Chipsealing work along Te Puke Highway, between Poplar Lane and Welcome Bay Road, has commenced. While a lane closure is in place, traffic heading towards Te Puke from Tauranga/Papamoa will be diverted along the Tara Road, Parton Road, Bell Road route. Traffic travelling from Te Puke towards Tauranga will continue as normal, with speed restrictions in place.
- SH2 Pongakawa: Chipsealing takes place east of the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road from Monday 28 November. Work will take place at night between the hours of 7pm and 6am. Stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place during and for up to 48 hours after each site is completed.
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 no left turn lane out of Basley Road to SH30/Te Ngae Road, and no left turn from the SH30/Te Ngae Road westbound lane into Tennyson Drive; minor delays are expected. The upgraded footpath on the lakeside between Iles Road to Tennyson Drive, heading east on SH30/Te Ngae Road, is closed while final sections are completed. Minor delays are expected. People walking and cycling are asked to take extra care and follow the marked detours, using the temporary signalised pedestrian crossing and at the western end of Puketāwhero Park to cross SH30/ Te Ngae Road safely. More information(external link).
- SH30/SH33 Te Ngae Junction: Construction of a retaining wall is ongoing. This work is not impacting road users. More information(external link).
- SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Safety improvement upgrade work continues near Pareteiro – Sun Valley Curves passing lane. Temporary traffic management is in place with a contra flow or stop/go and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h during work hours. 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. Temporary traffic management sees a combination of shoulder closures and stop/go as required. This may cause minor traffic delays. More information(external link).
- SH36 Kaharoa: To allow chipsealing and other maintenance activities to take place a road closure will be in place between Roy Road and Kaharoa Road on Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 December, between the hours of 8am and 4pm. Detours via SH2 and SH33 will add significant travel time.
Eastern Bay of Plenty
- SH30 Awakeri to Whakatāne: Pavement and utility site investigation work along SH30 between the SH2/SH30 and Shaw Road/SH30 intersections continues. Works will be undertaken across a number of sites, at night or during the day (depending on the specific task), under stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit.
- SH2 Pekatahi Bridge: This bridge currently has a maximum weight limit of 6 tonnes, all vehicles unable to travel over the bridge must detour via State Highway 30, Hinemoa Street, Arawa Road, Valley Road and Taneatua Road. This detour will add an extra 20 minutes to travel time. Bridge closures will commence Monday 12 December, with the bridge closed from 7am to 6pm each day for one week. During this time the bridge will re-open to light vehicles (under 6 tonnes) each night, until 6pm Friday 16 December, when the bridge will be available again to all vehicle weights. More information(external link).
- SH2 Waioeka Gorge: Road rehabilitation commences north of Oponae. Work is expected to be complete early-December. During this time stop/go and stop/stop traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place. Delays can be expected. Chipsealing in the Waioeka Gorge continues. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, along with a temporary speed limit.
- SH2 Nukuhou: Road rehabilitation commences near Nukuhou on Monday 5 December. Work is expected to take four weeks to complete, during this time stop/go and stop/stop traffic management will be in place. Delays are expected.
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. Main improvement works to realign the highway onto more stable ground are underway. Delays are to be expected. More information(external link).
- 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(external link).
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.
- SH1 Taihape: Patching repairs and resealing of a section of SH1 in Taihape township continue. Work at this site is expected to take 10 days to complete, and there will be Stop/Go traffic management in place between Ruru Rd and Toroa St between 7am and 6pm on weekdays until Friday 9 December.
Waikato
East Waikato
- SH25 Coromandel: The Coromandel state highway chipseal programme continues, and crews will be on the network until mid-December. Expect delays due to multiple sites under stop/go traffic management, one-way detours and/or temporary speed limits.
Central Waikato
- SH28 Okoroire: Road rehabilitation work at the intersection of Okoroire Road continues, and is expected to be complete by mid-December. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place.
- SH1 Lichfield: Road reconstruction work continues near Baldwin Road in Lichfield. Northbound light vehicles detour via Wiltsdown Road, Old Taupo Road, Waotu Road, Arapuni Road, Arapuni Street and Princes Street. Northbound heavy vehicles will be sent past the site via stop/go traffic management. Work is expected to take three weeks to complete.
- 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(external link).
- SH30 Ātiamuri: Chipsealing will take place throughout the week in the Upper Ātiamuri area. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place where work is taking place.
- SH32 Whakamaru: Chipsealing will take place throughout the week in the Whakamaru area. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place where work is taking place.
- SH1 Wairakei Roundabout: Asphalt resurfacing of the roundabout will commence Sunday 4 December and will take one week to complete. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place each night between 7pm and 6am.
- SH1 Waitahanui: Road reconstruction work continues south of Waitahanui. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit are in place. This work is expected to be complete by complete by mid-December.
- 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. Repair work is underway; there will be short periods of stop/stop traffic management to move machinery to/from site. The second closure is planned for Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 December, more information to follow in due course. More information(external link).
West Waikato
- Fieldays Event: Fieldays takes place until Saturday 3 December. Additional traffic volumes are expected, with major delays on all routes to Mystery Creek. More information on travel options to Fieldays(external link).
- 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(external link).
- SH1 Waikato Expressway – Ngāruawāhia Section: A single lane in either direction is available through the worksite, as road rehabilitation and safety improvement works take place. More information(external link).
- SH1C Norton Road Roundabout: Road resurfacing takes place on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 December, between the hours of 7pm and 6am each night. During these times the roundabout will be closed, with a detour from the northern end of Avalon Drive, onto Forest Lake Road, Ulster Street, Mill Street and Massey Street for southbound traffic (opposite for southbound). This work is weather dependent.
- SH21 Hamilton Airport: Tree felling will take place opposite Raynes Road on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 December, between the hours of 8am and 5pm. During this time there will be short periods of stop/stop traffic management when the trees are brought down. From Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 December there will be further stop/stop traffic management to control vehicle movements out of the timber processing area.
- SH1 Cambridge: Road surfacing repairs will take place from Sunday 11 to Thursday 15 December, between the hours of 7pm and 6am. Lane closures will be in place, along with a temporary speed limit.
- SH3 Te Awamutu: Asphalt resurfacing will take place from Sunday 4 December for three nights, between the hours of 7pm and 6am each night. During this time SH3 will be closed from Golf Road to the Sloane Street roundabout, and from Park Road to Cambridge Road. Traffic will be detoured via Cambridge Road and Golf Road. Minor delays are expected, this work is weather dependent.
- SH30 Te Kuiti: Road closures will be in place between SH3 and Rora Street on Friday 2 December (10am to 7:30pm), Saturday 3 December (6:30am to 4:30pm) and Sunday 4 December (6:30am to 5pm), as part of the 150-year celebration of the Te Tokanganui-a-Noho marae. More information(external link).
- SH30 Kōpaki: Due to safety concerns Kopaki Bridge will be closing on Friday 9 December. Detour via Kopaki Road and SH4. More information(external link). 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.
- SH4 Taumarunui: Following storm damage, a section of road north of Taumarunui, between the State Highway 43 intersection and Okahukura Bridge Road 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 Pokeno: There will be a full southbound closure on Wednesday 7 December between 10pm and 5am. Traffic will still be able to travel south using one of the northbound lanes. Please follow traffic management directions. Various on and off ramps will be closed. Please follow signposted detours. The Mercer northbound on-ramp will also be closed for chipsealing. Please take the southbound on-ramp to the next exit and turn around to head north. Oram Road (slip lane) will be closed. Newly laid chipseal will require aftercare. Reduced speeds will be in place during the day on Friday 9 to Sunday 11 December
- SH1 Mercer: Southbound lanes will be closed on Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 December between 10pm and 5am. Traffic will still be able to travel south using one of the northbound lanes under traffic management. The Mercer southbound on-ramp will also be closed for chipsealing. Please take the northbound on-ramp to the next exit and turn around to head south. Oram Road (slip lane) will be closed. Newly laid chipseal will require aftercare treatment. Reduced speeds will be in place during the day on Wednesday 6 to Sunday 11 December
- SH1 Hampton Downs: A series of overnight ramp closures are taking place until Thursday 15 December. Due to the narrow width of the on and off ramps, a full closure is needed for the barrier work to ensure the safety of site staff and to enable construction vehicles to safely enter and leave the site. The recommended detour when the southbound ramps and the northbound onramp are closed is to use the Te Kauwhata Interchange, travelling along Rodda Road and Whangamarino Road. For the northbound offramp closures the recommended detour is to head north past the interchange to Dragway Road, use the turnaround and then access the interchange using the southbound offramp. More information(external link).
- SH1 Te Kauwhata: The northbound off-ramp will be closed on Monday 5 December between 12am and 5am. Please use the next available off-ramp.
- SH2 Maramarua: Chipsealing and linemarking will take place throughout the week. Work will take place at night between the hours of 9pm and 5am; stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place. Reduced speeds will be in place during the day and night on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 December.
- SH2 Mangatawhiri: Barrier repair will take place on Wednesday 7 December, between the hours of 9pm and 5am. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place
Taranaki
- SH3 Piopio: A slip has the road down to one lane between Mangarongo and Paekaka Roads, which is being controlled by traffic signals. Delays of 5-10 minutes are expected. More information(external link).
- SH3 Awakino Bypass: Final surfacing works have commenced. Stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit will be in place.
- SH3 Awakino: A slip south of Awakau Road has the road down to one lane controlled by traffic signals 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 Mt Messenger: SH3 Mt Messenger will be closed from 10am to 2pm on Tuesday 13 December and Wednesday 14 December while crews complete asphalt patch repairs in the area.
- SH3 Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass: A 50km/h speed limit will be introduced across a 5km section of State Highway 3 at Mt Messenger with effect from Monday 5 December. Lane closures and stop/go traffic management will still be in place intermittently. More information(external link). 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,
Journey Planner(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.
