Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Clean-up and reinstatement works are continuing across the Waikato & Bay of Plenty region, as well as further afield, following recent extreme weather events.
Contractors have been working hard to restore access to communities that were affected by the impact on the state highway network over the past weeks, says Roger Brady, Bay of Plenty System Manager, Maintenance and Operations.
“Our contractors have responded quickly to the impact of recent weather, and they have really demonstrated their dedication to the communities they serve.
“We have now restored access to the state highway network across the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and through to Tairāwhiti Gisborne, where there has been significant damage.
“While we are in the recovery phase of this work, road users are asked to be mindful that there are a number of sites throughout the region that are under a temporary speed limit, and may also have uneven surfaces. We are working as quickly as possible to resolve these, although for some locations permanent fixes will need to wait for drier weather.”
“Winter is a challenging time to carry out work, and we have crews out regularly monitoring and maintaining the network. Our focus will move towards renewing and resurfacing roads when the drier, warmer weather arrives towards the end of the year.
“Wet weather will continue in coming months, roads may need to be close again at short notice. We recommend road users check the Journey Planner before heading out to ensure they have the latest up-to-date information on road conditions,” says Mr Brady.
Journey Planner(external link)
Bay of Plenty
Tauranga
- Takitimu North Link Stage One: A range of construction activities are taking place between Te Puna and Tauranga. This includes stop/go traffic management in place at Wairoa Road, and a number of shoulder closures and temporary speed limits. A section of the Kopurererua Valley cycleway is temporarily closed while service relocations take place alongside SH29 / Takitimu Drive Toll Road. The work began in June and is expected to be completed in September More information(external link).
- SH2 Bay Link: The Te Maunga interchange is partially open at the intersection of SH2 and SH29A. A detour is in place for road users travelling from the Tauranga Eastern Link to SH29A via the Sandhurst interchange, Mangatawa Link Road and Truman Lane. A 50km/h temporary speed restriction is in place across the interchange. Other temporary speed limits are in place throughout the rest of the site. 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 mid-August 2022. Works are weather dependent and may need to be extended in case of long periods of bad weather. Works will mostly take place overnight between 7pm and 6am, with generally one active work site at any time. Traffic management will include lane closures. More information(external link).
- SH2 Tauranga East Link Toll Road: From Monday 1 August to Friday 5 August, the Tauranga East Link Toll Road eastbound lane (Paengaroa) will be reduced to one lane for 1km, just before the Kaituna River Bridge. This is to allow permanent guard rail to be installed on the eastern side of the state highway. People are asked to take care when driving through the site by following the posted speed limit of 70km/h. We do not expect this to cause delays to traffic and we thank people for their patience.
- SH2 Papamoa East Interchange: Earthworks have commenced, with the first stage of construction expected to be complete by 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.
There are currently no right turns to either Tetley Road and limited right turn options to Rea Road. Detours routes are available, please follow the signs and directions of the traffic management team. More information(external link).
Rotorua
- SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: Multiple worksites are active between Iles and Basley Roads. This week includes night closures between Iles and Ōwhata Roads to allow services to be undergrounded beneath SH30.
The following week sees a temporary road closure on Tennyson Drive from 7am Monday 8 August to 6pm Tuesday 9 August. More information(external link).
- 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, as well as a temporary speed limit of 30km/h. 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. We appreciate this work may cause some delays during peak travel times and thank people for their patience. 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. More information(external link).
- SH2 Waioeka Gorge: A road closure will be in place from 8am until 4pm on Wednesday 3 August, to allow sluicing of the slip face at Balls Bluff. Other routine maintenance activities will be undertaken at the same time.
Tairāwhiti Gisborne/Hawkes Bay
- SH35 Kopuaroa: Heavy vehicles with trailers are now permitted to pass through this site between the hours of 7am and pm each day. The site remains under stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h at all times.
A long-term fix for the site is currently in the design phase, and construction is planned to start in early spring. More information(external link).
- SH2 Matawai (east of Waioeka Gorge): A single lane is open under stop/go traffic management while contractors work to clear a large slip. Over-dimension vehicles are not able to access the site due to the narrow width of the lane. More information(external link).
- SH5 Te Haroto (between Taupō and Napier): Due to a dropout, the road is down to one lane with a 50km/h speed restriction and temporary traffic lights in place. Work to re-instate the road to two lanes is expected to be complete in September.
Waikato
East Waikato
- SH25 Coroglen: Strengthening work on the Waiwawa River Bridge (SH25) in Coroglen continues and is expected to be complete late August. More information(external link).
- SH25 Coromandel to Waihi: Multiple sites are under stop/go traffic management to allow slips and blocked drains to be cleared. Closures may be required, especially at a slip site located between Coromandel and Te Rerenga.
- SH25A Kopu to Hikuai: Clean up works following recent extreme weather events continues this week.
- SH29 Kaimai Summit: Work to repair a broken culvert continues this week. This section of SH29 is reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction, with a 30km/h temporary speed limit in place. Work is expected to be completed early-August.
Central Waikato
- SH1 Atiamuri: 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 at all times 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).
- SH1 Taupō: Surfacing works will be undertaken on SH1 in the Taupō region on Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 August. Delays and potential detours can be expected.
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(external link).
- SH1 Maungatautari: Tree felling and essential maintenance activities will commence Monday 8 August. The road will be closed between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday. Local detour is via Karapiro Road, Taotaoroa Road and SH29; those travelling regionally are advised to consider alternative routes.
Heavy vehicles will be allowed through at 11am and 1pm each day. More information(external link).
- SH1 Tamahere: SH1 at Tamahere 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 sites by following the posted speed limit of 70km/h. We appreciate this work may cause some delays during peak travel times and thank people for their patience. More information(external link).
- SH30 Kōpaki: A localised drop out between Kōpaki Road and Ohirea Road means temporary traffic lights are in place to control traffic, along with a temporary speed restriction of 30 km/h.
Repairs have been undertaken at a slump near Kōpaki Bridge, this site is under stop/go traffic management between the hours of 7am and 6pm, along with a temporary speed restriction of 30 km/h. Outside these hours the road is closed, due to the potential for continued road movement making the site unsafe when there is low visibility.
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 State Highway 4.
North Waikato
- SH1 Hampton Downs: SH1 at Hampton Downs 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 sites by following the posted speed limit of 70km/h. We appreciate this work may cause some delays during peak travel times and thank people for their patience. More information(external link).
Taranaki
- SH3 Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass: Stop/go controls are operating daily, with delays of up to 15 minutes expected. These measures enable a lane closure to allow for Bypass enabling works. More information(external link).
- 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: Due to wastewater maintenance, northbound light vehicle traffic is being detoured via Waitara. 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.
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.
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.
