Bay of Plenty traffic bulletin April 24–May 1

Motorists are advised to drive with care and allow extra time when travelling around the Bay of Plenty as work on the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL) and a major road rehabilitation programme continues.

Speed restrictions and stop/go traffic management will be in place at various sites and delays are likely.

Contractors will stop work from 12pm on Friday April 24 until the morning of Tuesday April 28 to avoid disrupting long weekend traffic.

Sites where motorists can expect delays of more than five minutes following the long weekend are detailed below to allow people to plan ahead when travelling.

SH29 between Tauranga and Kaimai summit, Soldiers Rd passing lane pavement rehabilitation

• Stop/go traffic management and a speed restriction of 30km/h will be in place on a stretch of SH29 near Soldiers Road to allow contractors to rehabilitate a 1100 metre length of highway.
• The major road works started in March and are expected to be completed in July.
• For safety reasons the Tauranga bound passing lane within the work site will be closed during the works.
• Contractors will carry out pavement works from 6am until 4pm each day.
• Motorists will be driving on either a metal surface or a new chip seal surface with loose chip and should allow for delays of up to 20 minutes.

SH2 between Tauranga and Waihi, multiple work sites

• Stop/go traffic management  and speed restrictions will be in place at up to eleven different work sites on SH2 between
• Bethlehem and the Athenree Gorge over the next five weeks.
• Contractors are carrying out shoulder widening, installing new safety guard railing and felling trees close to the highway.
• The work started on 23 April and is expected to be completed by early July. Contractors will be working from 6am to 6pm.
• Motorists travelling on this route should allow for delays of up to 10 minutes.

The Transport Agency apologises to motorists for any inconvenience and thanks motorists for their patience and understanding during the works.  

For real time information on highway conditions and incidents visit www.nzta.govt.nz(external link) call 0800 4 HIGHWAYSor follow @nztawaibop(external link) on twitter.

For personalised information about driving conditions on their frequently used routes, motorists can check out and sign up to On The Move(external link)