Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway works for January 2023

After a wet start to the New Year, contractors across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty have been enjoying the recent sunshine and taking the opportunity to progress road renewals.

However, the impacts of Cyclone Hale are continuing to be felt across the region, says Roger Brady, Bay of Plenty System Manager at Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

“Earlier this week contractors noted cracks appearing on SH25A between Kopu and Hikuai. The road was closed for approximately 36 hours while investigations took place, allowing us to understand the full extent of the issue. Once we received confirmation that the road could be safely traversed during daylight hours we have put the appropriate measures in place to allow this.

“We appreciate that this route is heavily used during long weekends, with people heading to towns on the eastern side of the Peninsula, and we’re pleased we can accommodate this.”

Elsewhere, good progress has been made on road renewals during the early stages of the month, with more to follow.

“Chipsealing crews have been back on the network for a couple of weeks now, and they are starting to make good progress thanks to the warmer and drier weather,” says Mr Brady.

“Our programme for the remainder of the summer is ambitious, however if we don’t achieve this we’ll have more problems in winter. This will mean a lot of roadworks and disruption, however planning ahead will ease the frustration.

“Using the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner, which provides real-time updates of network conditions, including traffic delays, will help road users plan their way around the most disruptive worksites. Our Summer Journeys page will also be available in the lead-up to long weekends, helping holidaymakers choose the best time to travel to their destination.”

Waka Kotahi Journey Planner

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 coming weeks, when there is consistent 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
• SH2 Bay Link: A single, northbound lane closure on SH2, from Exeter Street to Concord Avenue, is currently scheduled for the night of Friday 20 January, from 7pm to 6am, to allow fascia panels to be lifted into position on the Bayfair flyover’s northern ramp (the ramp closest to Golf 360). At the same time, works are planned to remove some sheet piling from the work zone adjacent to the underpass. There may be minor delays for people using the underpass between 7pm and 6am. Access to Truman Lane is via SH2 Sandhurst interchange only, with access to Truman Lane from the State Highway 29A roundabout closed. Follow detours and allow extra time. All Truman Lane businesses, including Baypark Stadium and Te Maunga transfer station, will remain accessible. On Matapihi Road, the left lane approaching the Bayfair roundabout will remain left turn only and the right lane will continue to be for traffic going straight through and turning right only. More information
• SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road: A reduced speed limit of 80km/h will be in place while contractor crews are working behind the barriers. During the week Powerco will undertake service relocation works adjacent to the Takitimu North Link worksite. A 30km/h temporary speed limit will be in place, and stop/stop traffic management will be required for short periods while drilling takes place, between 9am and 4pm each day. More information
• SH2 15th Avenue: Work continues on the upgrade of the intersection at SH2/15th Avenue and Cameron Road. Traffic management will be in place on the two northern corners, and there will be a reduced number of northbound lanes on Cameron Road. Minor delays are expected.
  Asphalt resurfacing will take place on the 15th Avenue on-ramp on Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 January, between 7pm and 6am. A lane closure and temporary speed limit will be in place, minor delays are expected.
• SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): For the Tauranga City Council led Pāpāmoa East Interchange construction project, traffic on the TELTR, just north of the Kaituna River Bridge, has three operational 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 alongside the outer westbound lane. A temporary speed limit past the worksite is 70km/h. This layout will remain in place until April 2023, including over the holiday period. More information.
  The Quayside Properties Ltd led Rangiuru Business Park Interchange project has commenced. Temporary barriers are being installed on both sides of the TELTR. This will be complete by late-January, following this the barriers will be in place for approximately nine months, with one lane available in either direction. During installation and subsequent works a temporary speed limit of 70km/h will apply through the site. More information
• SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR) Event: The eastbound lanes between Domain Road (Pāpāmoa) and Paengaroa will be closed between 5.30am and 1pm on Saturday 21 January as part of the cycle route for the Mount Festival of Multisport. The alternative route for people driving eastbound during this time will be via Te Puke Highway. Westbound lanes will remain open under usual operation. More information

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. Minor delays are expected. More information.
  Stop/go traffic management will be in place during the day at the Morton Road roundabout site on Wednesday 25 January. Significant delays are expected throughout the day.
  Chipsealing continues in this area on the night of Sunday 22 January. Weather permitting, work will take place over three weeks, from 7pm to 6am each night. During this time stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place.

Rotorua

• SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: Multiple worksites are active on SH30/Te Ngae Road 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 all eastbound traffic - including heavy haulage - required to turn left at Marino Road and follow detours. Any local eastbound traffic at the Iles Road intersection will be required to take the right turn at Iles Road and follow detours. One lane of westbound traffic will be maintained from the Ōwhata roundabout to Iles Road, with a lane shift between 411 Te Ngae Road and Basley Road, no left turn onto SH30/Te Ngae Road from Tennyson Drive, a left turn only into Basley Road from SH30/ Te Ngae Road and a left turn out of Basley Road to SH30/ Te Ngae Road. The upgraded footpath on the lakeside of SH30/Te Ngae Road, between Iles Road and Basley Road is closed. Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times. More information.
• SH30/SH33 Te Ngae Junction: Construction of safety improvements continue on the western side of the intersection, with a shoulder closure in place. More information.
• 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. More information.
• SH36 Mangapouri: Chipsealing takes place in the Mangapouri area throughout the week. Stop/go and stop/stop traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place while works take place, and while new seal beds in.

Eastern Bay of Plenty

• SH2 Waioeka Gorge: Road reconstruction commences Monday 23 January at the northern end of the Waioeka Gorge. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place, delays are expected. Work is anticipated to take three weeks to complete.
  An underslip at the road edge sees a section of road under priority give-way. Care is required when driving through this area.
• SH38 Waimangu: Asphalt resurfacing will take place in three locations between Waimangu and Murupara from Sunday 22 January, taking six days. Work will take place between 7am and 5pm each day, during this time stop/go and stop/stop traffic management will be in place, along with a temporary speed limit. Delays are expected.

Tairāwhiti Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay

• SH35 Tairāwhiti: The road between Tolaga Bay and Ruatoria is now open, expect delays and drive with care.
• 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
• SH35 Turihaua: A temporary speed limit of 60km/h will be in place in and around the freedom camping areas between Turihaua to Pouawa. This will be in effect until 1 February.
• SH2 Napier - Wairoa: Numerous slips have been cleared following Cyclone Hale, however temporary speed limits and stop/go traffic management will be in place where full road width cannot be utilised.
• 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