Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
The hard work is paying off, with a number of recovery efforts following recent weather events either completed or in the final stages.
Teamwork has been at the core of the success, says Roger Brady, Bay of Plenty System Manager, Maintenance and Operations.
“Over the past week we have seen the site in Matawai, on State Highway 2, reinstated to two lanes, which is an outstanding effort by the Tairāwhiti Gisborne team. Progress is also being made at the State Highway 35 site near the Motu River bridge, and we hope to have this back to full width by early September. The ability to reinstate the roads so quickly is down to great teamwork between contractors, key stakeholders and suppliers.
“At the same time, we acknowledge that other areas of the country have had rough weather, and we wish them a speedy recovery from the impacts.
“With significant rainfall predicted for next week we recommend drivers 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 Bethlehem. This includes stop/go traffic management in place at Wairoa Road, and a number of shoulder closures and temporary speed limits. More information(external link)
- SH2 Bay Link: Drivers are reminded of the new layout at the Bayfair roundabout. For people approaching the roundabout from Matapihi, the left lane is now a left turn only and the right lane is for traffic going straight through and turning right. A rolling lane closures will be in place across the project site to allow for line marking removal on Sunday night from 7pm to 7am. More information(external link)
- SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road: A section of the Kopurererua Valley cycleway is temporarily closed while services are relocated alongside SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road. While this work is underway there is a reduced speed limit of 80km/h in place. This work is expected to be completed in September. More information(external link)
- SH36 Pyes Pa: Tauranga City Council will be undertaking watermain and wastewater pipe installations commencing Monday 29 August. The work is expected to be complete in mid-October, during this time northbound traffic from the SH36/Pyes Pa roundabout through to the SH36/Kennedy Road will be detoured via Pyes Pa Road through to the SH29A Barkes Corner roundabout. Delays of up to 15 minutes during peak times are expected. More information(external link)
- 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 continues to be down to one lane in either direction until Monday 3 October. This is to allow the installation of a culvert across the TELTR, which will enable earthworks in preparation for construction. Speed is reduced to 50km/h through the work site. Under normal circumstances, we anticipate any delays to be less than two minutes. 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. From Monday 5 September retaining walls will be constructed between Apata Station Road and Esdaile Road. Stop/go traffic management will be in place outside of morning and evening peak traffic, from 9am-4pm. Light vehicles under ten tonne can take an alternative route via Wainui South and Esdaile Road There are currently no right turns to 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 Road and Puketāwhero Park to excavate the shared service trench for the relocation of underground services and installation of the new watermain. A road closure will be in place at the Tennyson Drive and SH30 intersection, from 7am on Wednesday 31 August to 6pm on Thursday 1 September, to install the new watermain. Detours will be in place and minor delays are expected. Night works to trench and underground services across SH30 are scheduled to take place for five nights starting Sunday 4 September, weather dependent. A full road closure of SH30 between Iles Road and Ōwhata Road will be in place from 7pm to 6am each night, with the highway re-opening to traffic during the day. There will be a detour along Vaughan Road, including for heavy vehicles. Local eastbound traffic will be able to use the right hand turn at the Iles Road intersection. Please follow the detour signs in place. Minor delays are expected. More information(external link)
- SH30/SH33 Te Ngae Junction: Intersection safety improvements are commencing soon. Early works include hydro-vac investigation work identifying underground services and clearing vegetation. While this work is underway there will be a reduced speed limit of 30km/h through the site, lane shifts and off-peak shoulder closures. Traffic will be maintained in both directions however the works may cause minor traffic delays. 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. A temporary speed limit of 30km/h applies. 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. There are also ongoing shared path works between Mourea Bridge and Ōkere Falls. Weather permitting, the finishing works will include sealing, installation of the remaining refuge islands and re-installing the side barrier between Mourea Bridge and Hamurana Road. Traffic management will be a combination of shoulder closures and stop/go as required to carry out the works safely. 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. There will be periods where traffic is stopped at each end to allow works to take place across the full road width. Works will continue until early September. More information(external link)
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. Enabling works for the longer-term solution begin this week. More information(external link)
- SH2 Matawai (east of Waioeka Gorge): The road has now been reinstated to full width and is now open to all vehicles.
- 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 October. More information(external link)
- SH2 Esk River Bridge: The bridge over the Esk River on State Highway 2, north of Napier, will be reduced to a 30km/h temporary speed limit from Monday 29 August, due to recent assessments identifying the bridge does not have capacity for sustained increased travel demands. More information(external link)
Waikato
East Waikato
- SH27 Mangatarata: Road surface repairs will take place on Tuesday 30 August, between Mangatarata and Torehape. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place from 8am until 5pm. Minor delays are expected.
Central Waikato
- 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 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 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.
West Waikato
- SH1C Hillcrest: Road surface repairs at the SH1C/Cambridge Road roundabout will take place on Tuesday 30 August. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place.
- 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 Tamahere: SH1 at Tamahere is reduced to one lane in each direction as safety improvements are made to bring the road up to 110km/h design and safety standards. People are asked to take care when driving through the site and follow the posted speed limit of 70km/h. More information(external link)
- SH3 Te Kūiti: Work is taking place to make the entrance to Te Tokanganui-a-Noho marae safer for pedestrians to cross State Highway 3 Awakino Road. Traffic heading east on State Highway 30 will need to detour north along Carroll Street, cross the railway line on Ward Street and then head south on Rora St. The same detour will apply in reverse for westbound traffic. The project is expected to be complete end of September. 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 are complete at a slump near Kōpaki Bridge; however, this site remains under stop/go traffic management, along with a temporary speed restriction of 30km/h.
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. - SH4 Taumarunui: Following storm damage, a section of road north of Taumarunui 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 Hampton Downs: This section of the expressway will be without lighting until November, while work continues on upgrading the state highway. Traffic 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 site by following the posted speed limit of 70km/h. More information(external link)
- SH1 Meremere: Multiple maintenance activities will take place between Island Block Road and Hampton Downs on Monday 29 August. Work will take place between the hours of 9pm and 5am. One lane of traffic will be available in each direction on SH1, utilising the southbound lanes.
- SH1 Te Kauwhata: Multiple maintenance activities will take place on the northbound lanes between Te Kauwhata and Hampton Downs on Wednesday 31 August and Thursday 1 September. Work will take place between the hours of 8pm and 5am each night, and the road will be closed during this time. Please follow the signposted detour via Rodda Road, Hall Road, Summertime Lane, Paddy Road, Whangamarino Road, adding approximately five minutes to journey time.
- SH2 Monument Road: Surfacing work will take place on SH2 between Monument Road and Steen Road on Wednesday 31 August between 9pm and 5am. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place.
- SH2 Kopuku Road: Surfacing work will take place on SH2 at the SH2/Kopuku Road intersection on Thursday 1 September between 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, which is being controlled by traffic lights. Delays of 5-10 minutes are expected. More information(external link)
- SH3 Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass: Stop/go controls are operating daily, with delays of up to 15 minutes expected. The lane closure allows 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 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.
