With many motorists expecting to take an extra day and have another long weekend to encompass Anzac Day and the end of the school holidays, Waikato and Bay of Plenty roads are expected to be busier than normal.
Anzac parades with take place at various times on Tuesday 25 April throughout the country. When travelling through smaller townships be aware of advertised road closures and drive to the sign posted speed limits and detours that may be in place. Motorists are encouraged to check the Waka Kotahi Journey planner prior to leaving for their intended destination. (journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link))
Our work crews are continuing to witness motorists speeding through worksites. We are asking again that all motorists please slow down when passing through worksites and adhere to the temporary speed restrictions which are in place to keep everyone safe and to protect the work that is being undertaken. Crews go to work each day expecting to get home safely at the end of it, just like everyone else. Safety is the top priority.
This is what you can expect to see on your journeys in the upcoming weeks:
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. Through the area of the construction zone on Cambridge Road there will be a stop/go in place on 27-28 April and 1-3 May between the hours of 9am-4pm for utility work. More information(external link).
- SH2 Wairoa Cycleway: Construction commences in May 2023 on the last 800m section of the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway, between the Wairoa Bridge and Bethlehem. Work is expected to take about eight weeks to complete, with the majority of works undertaken at night. This project is a partnership between Tauranga City Council and Waka Kotahi. More information(external link).
- SH2 Bay Link: As part of the Bayfair flyover opening to state highway traffic overnight on Wednesday 26 April, works are taking place in and around the Bayfair roundabout including placing temporary asphalt on Maunganui Road in front of Golf 360 and establishing work zones for road reconstruction on all ground-level roads leading into, and away, from the Bayfair roundabout. Find out more about the flyover opening at nzta.govt.nz/bayfairflyover. The following road and lane closures will be in place:
- A single lane closure on SH2/Maunganui Road northbound and southbound between Concord Ave and Exeter St will be in place on Sunday 23 April and Monday 24 April (from approximately 7pm to 6am each night).
- A single lane closure on SH2/Maunganui Road northbound between Exeter St and Concord Ave, and on Matapihi Road approaching Bayfair roundabout, will be in place from Wednesday 26 April to Friday 28 April (from approximately 7pm to 6am, nights only).
- At the Bayfair roundabout, partial overnight closures will be in place either between Matapihi Road and Girven Road or between Girven and Matapihi Road. The closure will be in place from Wednesday 26 April to Friday 28 April, and again from Sunday 30 April to Wednesday 3 May 2023 (from approximately 7pm to 6am, nights only) to enable upcoming road reconstruction work to be completed safely near live traffic lanes. 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: nzta.govt.nz/baylinkdetour.
- SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road (TDTR): A reduced speed limit of 80km/h will be in place while contractor crews are working behind the barriers. A stop/go will be in place on Sunday 30 April from 9pm while a wick drain crane is crossing the road near Kopurererua Bridge.
Resurfacing work continues between 15th Ave and SH29A from Tuesday 25 April to Thursday 27 April, between the hours of 8:00pm to 5:00am each night. Work will predominantly be completed under stop/go or lane shift, with full closures planned the night of Wednesday 26 April in the northbound direction and Thursday 27 April in the southbound direction. A detour will be in place via Cambridge Road and Moffat Road.
- SH2 Fifteenth Avenue: Work continues on the upgrade of the intersection at SH2/Fifteenth Avenue and Cameron Road. Work is currently focused on the south east corner of the Fifteenth Avenue intersection. Temporary traffic management is in place with a westbound lane closure on Fifteenth Avenue, with traffic able to turn left onto Cameron Road from the centre lane, and a southbound lane closure on Cameron Road, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth Avenue. Moderate traffic delays are expected.
- SH2 Hewletts Road: Work continues to upgrade the existing footpath on the northern side of SH2 Hewletts Road to a shared use path. Work is taking place in four consecutive stages to minimise disruption. Works in the last stage, between Maru St and Aerodrome Rd, are now underway. 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.
- 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.
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: Chip sealing will take place from Wednesday 26 April next week on the roundabouts at SH2 / Rea / Tetley roads and Morton Road, weather dependant. This work will help prevent moisture from seeping into the sub-base under the road and causing potholes. A stop/go will be in place at both roundabouts, please allow extra time for your journey.
Safety improvement works continue at active sites between Tanners Point Road to Kauri Point Road (road widening), and Sargent Drive (slip repairs), intermittent Stop/Go traffic management with the addition of temporary traffic management speed humps being installed at Lockington Road / Matahui Road intersection (roundabout construction) and Apata Station Road to Esdaile Road (road widening) to assist with safe management of traffic speeds through the worksite. Lane shifts and speed reductions will be in place.
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, Basley Road and SH30/Te Ngae Road intersection is now open to left hand turn in and left hand turn out. The upgraded footpath on the lakeside of SH30/Te Ngae Road, between Iles Road and Tennyson Drive is now closed while excavations continue for the removal of the existing berm and kerb and channel in this section. The footpath on the southern side of SH30/Te Ngae Road, between Iles Road and the mid-block opposite Puketāwhero Park is open, and there is a temporary signalised 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. There is a temporary reduced speed limit through site of 50km/per hr. Moderate traffic delays are expected. 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, and 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 during work hours. Moderate traffic delays are expected. More information.
- SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Various work activities continue on sections of road between Allport Road and Hamurana Road in the coming week. Temporary traffic management will be in place including stop/go, lane shifts and shoulder closures while these works are underway. Minor traffic delays are expected. More information.
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.
- SH2 Manganuku Bridge, Waioeka Gorge: After planned testing on the Manganuku Bridge, further investigations are required. The reduced speed limit of 30km/h for heavy vehicles will remain in place until results are determined. Heavy vehicles must adhere to the speed limit as those travelling at higher speeds will exert greater loads on the structure, which currently poses a significant risk.
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 sections of SH2 north of Napier are impassable for the time being. Other routes are experiencing significant delays due to high traffic volumes or detours, please check the Journey Planner for the most up to date information, and only travel if it is essential. More information(external link).
- SH2 Napier North: Work to strengthen the Esk River Bridge will soon be underway. Strength issues were identified after a detailed inspection last year and a temporary 30km/h speed limit put in place. Work will begin on April 30 and will be undertaken overnight From Sunday to Thursday. The bridge will be closed to all traffic (with the exception of emergency services) from 9pm to 5am on these nights. The bridge will remain open during daytimes hours, though there may be occasional work that will require one lane to be closed.
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 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 has commenced.
- SH25 Kereta Hill: Night time closures will be in place from 26 April for up to ten days while road repair work is undertaken. There will be a one-hour time slot each night between 11pm and midnight to allow vehicles through. Daytime closures are required for three days between 11am and midday to undertake chip-sealing and paint marking when the temperatures are higher.
- 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)
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. Works to repair slips and dropouts are ongoing. Daytime road closures are being planned for road renewals in the coming weeks. More information(external link).
- 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 traffic management in place. Pavement works and barrier construction will finish in May 2023. More information(external link).
- 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
West Waikato
- SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia Section: To enable the next stage of pavement repair works to commence, a section of temporary steel barrier needs to be relocated. Temporary surfacing repairs are also being completed. This requires night closures of the southbound lanes and traffic will be detoured for three nights. There will be a southbound closure on Tuesday 25 April (Anzac Day) between 9pm and 5am, and on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 April between 7pm and 5am. Outside these times a single lane in each direction will be available with a 50km/h temporary speed limit, until completion in March 2024. Detours are via Ngāruawāhia with the exception of HPMV (use SH1B) and over-weight vehicles (use SH2/SH27). More information(external link).
- 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).
- SH1C Frankton: Asphalt resurfacing at the SH1C/SH23/Massey/Hall Overbridge intersection commences Sunday 30 April. Work will take place overnight, Sunday to Thursday nights, for approximately three weeks. There will be two detours in place: Detour to Hall Street is via SH1C, Norton Road, Jolly Street and Kent Street, detour to Massy Street is via 1C, Rifle Range Road and Massey Street.
- SH1C Hillcrest: Work at the SH1C/Cambridge Road roundabout continues 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. Additionally, from 5 April until late May, there will be no left turn from SH1C Cobham Drive into local Cambridge Road. Please use the Wairere Drive-Cobham Drive interchange to access local Cambridge Road and the Hillcrest shops. This work sees the intersection changed to traffic light controls, and is expected to be completed by late August 2023. More information.
- SH1C Hamilton: Resurfacing North and South of the Koura Drive overbridge will take place from Wednesday 26 April through to Friday 28 April. Work will take place during the day with reduced speed limits in place.
- SH1 Cambridge to Piarere: Enabling works for 2.8kms of median barrier from Keeley’s Reserve to just past Kentucky Road commences Tuesday 11 April. The southbound - passing lane on SH1 Tirau Road near Keeley’s Reserve will be closed 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday. Delays are expected. Work continues until the end of April, there will be no work or associated traffic management on statutory holidays or during any weekends.
- 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 be completed by early-May. 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).
- 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).
- SH31 Kawhia Road: Current repairs to an underslip require daytime closures between 8am and 5:30pm each weekday until late-May. The road will open for an hour between 12:30pm and 1:30pm to allow traffic past the site. Outside these times stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit are in place. This site will be open on the 24th and 25th April (Anzac weekend).
North Waikato
- SH1 Pioneer Road, Pokeno: Lane restrictions will be in place on Thursday 27 April between 9pm and 5am. Stop/Go traffic management will be in place to allow traffic to travel in both directions.
- SH1 Pokeno to Nikau Road: There will be a full Northbound closure on Thursday 27 April between 9.30pm and 5am, traffic will be able to travel north using one of the southbound lanes. Traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place.
- SH2 Maramarua township: Lane restrictions will be in place on Tuesday 25 April to Thursday 27 April, between 9pm and 5am. Stop/Go traffic management will be in place to allow traffic to travel in both directions.
Taranaki
- SH43 Aukopae: Due to a wash out, there is 30km/h speed restriction in 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.More information(external link).
- SH3 Uruti: Due to maintenance works, there are temporary traffic lights and a 30km/h.
- SH3 Tongapōrutu: Maintenance will continue north of Hutiwai Road with stop/go in place.
- SH3 Awakino Gorge: Maintenance will continue south of Awakau Road with stop/go in place.
- SH3 New Plymouth to Te Kuiti: In the coming weeks state highway maintenance activities such as crack sealing, maintenance patch repairs and drainage repairs will be taking place under stop/go traffic controls.
- SH3 Te Ara Tutohu Waitara to Bell Block: SH3 will be reduced to one lane at the Princess Street intersection from 17 April for approximately three weeks while stormwater works are completed. Stop/Go traffic management will be in place on SH3 from approximately 140m south of the Princess Street intersection, through to 100m north of the intersection. A 30km/h temporary speed limit will be in place along this section of road. Delays of up to 10 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 (journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)).
Waka Kotahi thanks motorists for their patience while we complete this essential work to keep the state highway network safe, accessible and resilient.
