Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway works for April 2023

31 March 2023 11:59 am | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency

As the end of March signals the close of the traditional construction season, there is an opportunity to reflect on the work completed over the past six months.

When crews started resealing and rebuilding roads across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region there was optimism that they would be able to achieve the target of renewing over 700 lane kilometres of the regional state highway network.

What followed was one of the wettest summers on record, with consistent rain before Christmas, before Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle (as well as the rain event of 27 January) left a lasting impact on the region.

These weather events meant that a challenging target became much harder, says Roger Brady, Bay of Plenty System Manager at Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency.

“Rain is our worst enemy, in summer we need dry weather to get through our resealing programme, and in winter water has a significant impact on roads. This summer we couldn’t catch a break until very late in the season.

“However, across the region crews have persevered, and been able to get their reward over the past month or so, thanks to more consistent weather. At the same time, they have been dealing with the clean-up following the more significant weather events, which will take some time to fully recover from.

Works will continue for the next couple of months at a reduced volume, with some works able to continue even as temperatures start to drop.

“We’re continuing to complete what work we can,” says Mr Brady. “Everything we do now will help us keep the network safe and accessible over winter.”

Road users are reminded to check the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website for the latest road conditions across the state highway network.

Waka Kotahi Journey Planner(external link)

Bay of Plenty

Tauranga

Takitimu North Link Stage One: A range of construction activities will continue between Te Puna, Bethlehem and Tauriko including Cambridge Road, Harrison Road, Wairoa Road, Minden Road, Loop Road and State Highway 2, there are a number of shoulder closures and reduced speed limits. The new Harrison Road alignment will open with new seal and line marking scheduled in the coming weeks, when there is consistent fine weather. People may notice an increase in truck movements along Moffat Road over the summer months as earthworks ramp up in the Tauriko/Bethlehem area. More information(external link)
SH2 Wairoa Cycleway: Construction commences in the near future on the last 800m section of the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway, between the Wairoa Bridge and Bethlehem. While most of the works will be undertaken at night, there will be traffic management in place for on-road works. Work is expected to take about eight weeks to complete. This project is a partnership between Tauranga City Council and Waka Kotahi. More information(external link).
SH2 Bay Link: At the Bayfair roundabout, partial overnight closures will be in place to allow for the safe installation of precast concrete barriers and service ducting at the flyover. A partial closure will be in place between either Matapihi Road and Girven Road or between Girven and Matapihi Road, these closures will be in place from Sunday 2 April to Wednesday 5 April (from approximately 7pm to 6am, nights only) to enable works to be completed safely near live traffic lanes. On Sunday, the works are scheduled to start earlier, from 5.30pm, due to lower traffic volumes. During these hours there will be signposted detours in place. In the event of bad weather or unforeseen circumstances, the closure may be moved to the next suitable night/s. 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. Road resurfacing commences Tuesday 11 April, with work taking place between 7pm and 5am, Sunday to Thursday nights. Stop/go or lane shifts will be in place most nights, lane closures will be utilised between 16 and 18 April. More information(external link).
SH2 Fifteenth Avenue: Work continues on the upgrade of the intersection at SH2/Fifteenth Avenue and Cameron Road. Traffic management will be in place at the intersection, and there will be a reduced number of lanes on Cameron Road. Minor delays are expected. Cameron Road, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth Avenue, has a southbound lane closure through to mid-2023.
SH2 Hewletts Road: Works to upgrade the footpath on the northern side of SH2 Hewletts Road to a shared path continues. Work is taking place in four consecutive stages to minimise disruption. Stage four works, between Maru St and Aerodrome Rd are scheduled to commence from Monday 3 April. The northbound bus lane will be closed Monday to Friday between 5am and 3pm each day. A detour for people walking and cycling will be in place. Regular traffic lanes will operate as per normal. More information(external link).
SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): For the Tauranga City Council led Pāpāmoa East Interchange construction project, a section of the TELTR, just north of the Kaituna River Bridge, is reduced to three lanes. Whilst earthworks continue on the south side of the road, both eastbound lanes are open and normal speed applies. The inner westbound lane is open whilst work continues along the outside lane - the speed limit past the work site is 70km/h. This layout will remain in place until May 2023 with reinstatement work planned for June 2023. More information(external link)
The Quayside Properties Ltd led Rangiuru Business Park Interchange project continues. Temporary barriers have been installed on both sides of the TELTR, and these will be in place until approximately October 2023, with one lane available in either direction. A temporary speed limit of 70km/h will apply through the site. 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. Pavement work to complete the Rea Road / Tetley Road roundabout will take place as soon as there is consistent fine weather. Stop/go traffic management will be in place overnight at the Morton Road roundabout site, which also has an unsealed section northbound of the roundabout awaiting sealing. Slip repairs are continuing opposite Sargent Drive. A power pole will be replaced near Westbank Drive on Saturday 25 March. Minor delays are expected. More information(external link).
SH29 Lower Kaimai: Chipsealing will take place during the week from Monday 3 April. Work will take place between 9am and 4pm. During this time stop/go and/or lane shift traffic management will be in place, along with temporary speed limits. Minor delays are expected.

Rotorua

SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: Multiple worksites are active on SH30/Te Ngae Road between Iles Road and Ōwhata Road. Temporary traffic management will be in place, including a shoulder closure on the westbound lane between Basley Road and 411 Te Ngae Road, a full closure at the Basley Road and SH30/Te Ngae Road intersection – detours are in place. There is a temporary reduced speed limit through site of 50km/per hr. The upgraded footpath on the lakeside of SH30/Te Ngae Road, between Iles Road and Tennyson Drive is now open. The footpath on the southern side of SH30/Te Ngae Road, between Basley Road and 411 Te Ngae Road is closed with a temporary signalised pedestrian crossing at the city end of Puketāwhero park to cross SH30/Te Ngae Road. Work is underway on the new retaining wall and shared service trench opposite Brent Road on SH30/Te Ngae Road, temporary traffic management will be in place including a contraflow lane shift, shoulder closure on the eastbound lane of SH30/ Te Ngae Road between Puketāwhero Park and Brent Road, the footpath through this section remains closed. Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times. More information(external link).
SH30/SH33 Te Ngae Junction: Construction of safety improvements continue on the western side of the intersection, with a shoulder closure in place. Earthworks continue on the southeast corner of the SH30/SH33 junction, temporary traffic management will be in place including a reduced speed limit through site and a 3-way stop/go during work hours. Moderate traffic delays are expected. More information(external link).
SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Temporary reduced speed limits are in place while maintenance teams work on slip areas and fallen trees. More information(external link).

Eastern Bay of Plenty

SH30 Te Ruato Bay: Road rehabilitation continues just west of Lake Okataina Road. This work is expected to be complete by late-April, during this time stop/go or stop/stop traffic management will be in place as required. Work will take place between 6am and 6pm each weekday.
SH2 Waioeka Gorge: An underslip at the road edge sees a section of road under priority give-way. Care is required when driving through this area.

Tairāwhiti Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay

All State Highways: All state highways within the Tairāwhiti Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay regions have sustained damage during Cyclone Gabrielle, and some routes are impassable for the time being. Other routes are experiencing significant delays due to high traffic volumes, please check the Journey Planner for the most up to date information, and only travel if it is essential. More information(external link).

Manawatū-Whanganui

SH4 Upokongaro to Raetihi: Following Cyclone Gabrielle, crews have been busy clearing slips and debris, removing trees, fixing damaged assets and putting up additional warning signs to ensure the safety of SH4 road users. As well as existing damaged sites, there are several sites along SH4 that received damage from the cyclone and have traffic management in place, including a number that require further investigation and designs completed prior to remedial action taking place.  
SH4 Burrell Road underslip: Following a blessing, work has now begun at the site of an existing underslip near Burrell Road south of Otoko. Crews will construct a new 18-metre-long anchored retaining wall, and underpin an existing concrete crib retaining wall. This work is estimated to take 12 weeks, traffic management will be in place during this time.
SH4 Auraki Stream Road Retreat: Work to retreat the road away from a slip adjacent to the Mangawhero River is currently underway and is expected to be complete by mid-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. More information(external link).
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. A package of work to ensure the ongoing safety and resilience of this site is scheduled to begin on Monday 13 March. The work will begin with access track installation and construction of two new dewatering wells. Traffic management will include shoulder closures and stop/go, which will tie in with the existing temporary speed limit through the slip site. Construction of three new retaining walls north of the main slip area is scheduled to begin by early April.

Waikato

East Waikato

SH25 Opoutere: An underslip underslip has caused significant damage to the road structure. Work is ongoing to retreat the road to allow vehicles past. The temporary road is open with stop/go traffic management, however there may be periods of stop/stop traffic management as required. Geotechnical investigations are ongoing, work to repair the slip will commence after Easter.
SH25 Thames: Asphalt resurfacing takes place on SH25 Queen Street from Sunday 2 April. Work will take place between 6pm and 6am each night, and is expected to take approximately a week to complete. During this time stop/stop traffic management will be in place. Minor delays are expected.
SH25A Kopu-Hikuai: A section of road near the summit has collapsed, and the road is impassable. Geotechnical investigations are ongoing. Detour via SH26, SH2, SH25 via the Karangahake Gorge, or SH25 via Coromandel Town. More information.(external link)
SH24 Matamata: Asphalt resurfacing at the SH24/Burwood Road/Tower Road roundabout commences Tuesday 11 April. Work will take place between 6pm and 5am Sunday to Thursday nights, during work hours the roundabout will be closed, please follow signposted detours. Work will be complete by late-April.

Central Waikato

SH5 Napier – Taupō: SH5 towards Napier is now open to all traffic 24 hours a day. There are 32 damaged sites along the route, travel will take longer than it used to. Daytime road closures are being planned for road renewals in the coming weeks. More information(external link).
SH1 Lichfield: Road rebuilding continues at a site near Puriri Road. This work is expected to be completed prior to Easter. Between the hours of 7am – 7pm, Monday to Friday all northbound light vehicles will detour via Rollett Road, Paraonui Road and Wiltsdown Road. Northbound heavy vehicles and residents living within the worksite will be stacked at the site and let through at set intervals.
SH1 Ātiamuri: Traffic continues to be managed through the 4.5km site where side and median barriers are being installed south of Ātiamuri. Both north and south-bound lanes are restricted to 50km/h with stop/go in place at active work sites. Pavement works and barrier construction will finish in April 2023. More information(external link).
SH1/SH5 Wairakei: Road resurfacing takes place between Monday 3 and Wednesday 5 April, between 6am and 6pm each night. Stop/go traffic management will be in place on all legs of the roundabout during these times.
SH41 Tokaanu: Due to a washout, the road is down to one lane under temporary traffic lights, with a 30km/h temporary speed restriction in place
SH1 Chipsealing: Chipsealing will be completed during the week at two sites just south of Tūrangi. Stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place.

West Waikato

SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia Section: Safety and remedial works have restarted with temporary safety barriers reinstalled over recent weeks. Traffic will be managed through the work sites which are single lane and 50km/h until completion in March 2024. More information(external link).
SH1C Hillcrest: Work at the SH1C/Cambridge Road roundabout continue with one lane available in each direction. A temporary speed limit of 30km/h is in place at all times. Cambridge Road and Johnsview Terrace are operating as left in/left out only. This work sees the intersection changed to traffic light controls, and is expected to be completed by late-2023. More information(external link).
Asphalt resurfacing to the SH1C approaches of the SH1C/Morrinsville Road roundabout will take place on Sunday 2 April, between the hours of 7pm and 6am.
SH23 Dinsdale: Due to the Dinsdale Water Supply Upgrade project, traffic management will be in place around the Dinsdale Roundabout, Rifle Range Road, and the Rifle Range Road and Massey Street intersection until mid-February, dependent on weather and project progress. Full completion of the project is expected by late-April. The northbound lane of Rifle Range Road is closed to traffic. More information(external link).
SH23 Raglan Deviation: An under-slip has occurred at a section of road approximately 1.6km west of Glentui Lane. A temporary two-lane road has been constructed to allow vehicles to pass the affected area, and this is now open to all traffic with a speed restriction of 60km/h. Work to repair the underslip is ongoing and will take several months to complete. More information(external link).
SH3 Glenview: Work is progressing well to create a Bus Hub outside the Glenview Shopping Centre. The project should be complete by early April. More information(external link).
Road resurfacing takes place near Garden Heights Avenue on Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 April, between the hours of 7pm and 6am. During this time access to SH3 from Garden Heights Avenue will be closed, please follow local road detours. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place on SH3. ad resurfacing takes place near Garden Heights Avenue on Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 April, between the hours of 7pm and 6am. During this time access to SH3 from Garden Heights Avenue will be closed, please follow local road detours. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place on SH3.
SH21 Tamahere: Asphalt resurfacing takes place at the intersection with Wiremu Tamihana Drive on Monday 3 April. Stop/go traffic management will be in place between 7pm and 6am.
SH30 Kōpaki: Due to safety concerns Kopaki Bridge is only open to local light traffic until the new bridge is open to traffic in May. The detour for all other vehicles is via Kopaki Road and SH4. More information(external link).
SH39 Pirongia: Road rehabilitation and bridge repairs continues at the northern entry to Pirongia, continues. A road closure will be in place until Sunday 2 April, detours will be in place with heavy vehicles advised to use SH3.
SH31 Kawhia Road: An underslip has appeared at a location on the Kawhia side of the lookout. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit are in place, daytime road closures between 8am and 5:30pm each weekday commence Tuesday 11 April, the road will open for an hour between 12:30pm and 1:30pm to allow traffic past the site. Local road detours will be in place when the road is closed.

North Waikato

SH2 Maramarua: Stop/go traffic management will be in place from Sunday 2 to Thursday 6 April between 9pm and 5am.  This is part of ongoing works that is scheduled to be completed by Thursday 6 April.

Taranaki

SH43 Aukopae: Due to a wash out, there is 30km/h speed restriction in place.
SH3 Awakino Gorge: Asphalt resurfacing takes place at the northern end of the Awakino Gorge from Thursday 30 March until Tuesday 4 April. Stop/go traffic management will be in place between 7am and 7pm, with delays of 10-15 minutes expected. There will be no work on Saturday or Sunday.
SH3 Awakino Bypass: Work is expected to be complete late-March. Stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit will be present when work is taking place.
SH3 Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass: A 50km/h speed limit is in place across a 5km section of SH3 at Mt Messenger. Temporary traffic management measures will still be in place occasionally as required. More information(external link).
SH3 Uruti: Due to maintenance works, there are temporary traffic lights and a 30km/h temporary speed restriction in place near Uruti Road. Minor delays are expected.
SH3 Te Ara Tutohu Waitara to Bell Block: Work to construct the Princess Street Roundabout and underpass has commenced. From Monday 27 March, for approximately two weeks, the intersection of Princess Street and SH3 will be controlled by four sets of traffic lights so crews can undertake tree clearing works. Delays of up to 15 minutes are expected.

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.