Road contractors continue to progress significant maintenance programmes across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway network.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and its contractors are completing an ambitious programme to improve safety and resilience of the network and it is important that contractors continue to make the most of the summer months in which they are able to reseal and re-construct roads, says Roger Brady, Bay of Plenty System Manager, Maintenance and Operations.
“Even though next week is another short week due to Waitangi Day Weekend contractors will be continuing to progress works across the region.
“Contractors will be working through until the end of March across the majority of the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, to ensure we make the most of the great weather we have been having. There are a number of key pieces of work to still be delivered, along with regular maintenance activities, which combined together ensure the network meets the needs of the travelling public.
“We are continuing to work under the requirements of the red traffic light setting, and our contractors are doing well to deliver their programmes of work during a period of relative uncertainty. As always our key focus is to keep road users and contractor crews safe at all times,” says Mr Brady.
Check the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)) before you travel for up-to-date information. For predicted traffic flows over Waitangi Day Weekend, check out the Holiday Journey tool (journeys.nzta.govt.nz/holiday-journeys/waitangi-day-weekend-2022(external link)).
Bay of Plenty
Western BOP
- SH2 Takitimu Drive/Waihī Road overbridge: The completion of the 500m section of SH2 Takitimu Drive under the Waihī Road overbridge will be completed by early-February. Works have been allowed to continue into Waitangi Weekend to complete the work as quickly as possible. Delays of 10-15 minutes can be expected during peak times. More information(external link).
- SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Safety improvement works continue at four active sites: between Athenree Road and Tanners Point Road, Rea Road / Tetley Road intersection, Lund Road to Sargent Drive and Apata Station Road to Esdaile Road. More information(external link).
- Takitimu North Link Stage One: Enabling works are taking place on Wairoa Road, with service relocations taking place until mid-March.
Some houses will be relocated from the project site during the week commencing 8 February. Removals will take place between 10pm and 5am and will be escorted by pilot vehicles. No road closures will be in place while this takes place. More information(external link).
- SH2 Pongakawa: Night-time chipsealing will take place on a short section of State Highway 2 in Pongakawa, near the BP petrol station, on February 9. Expect minor delays during sealing, and delays of up to 20 minutes for 48 hours afterwards as the new seal beds in.
Rotorua
- SH5 Tarukenga to Ngongotahā: Remaining road widening and further barrier installation, landscaping and road rehabilitation are underway. These works are expected to be complete late-February 2022. More information(external link).
- SH36 & SH5 Ngongotahā: From Tuesday 8 February four chipseal sites will be undertaken on SH36 between Dalbeth Road and Waikaraka Street. Following this six chipseal sites will be undertaken on SH5 between Henderson Road and Barnard Road.
- SH5 Rotorua: Surface repairs will be completed between the SH5/Corlett Street and SH5/Malfroy Road intersections. Works will take place between 7pm and 6am, until early-February.
- SH30A Rotorua: Resurfacing night works will take place on SH30A, between Fenton Street and Maguerita Street, until mid-February. One lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained, with a temporary speed limit.
- SH30 Te Ngae Road, Iles Road to Basley Road: Service location for the SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two is expected to start mid-February 2022. Traffic management will be in place. More information(external link).
- SH30 Horohoro: Road rehabilitation works continue on a 500m section of road between Collier Road and Apirana Road. Works will take place between 6:30am and 6:30pm until mid-February. At times temporary traffic lights will be utilised overnight, with 5-10 minute delays expected when these are active.
- SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Work has recommenced at the Pareteriro Sun Valley Curves, either side of the passing lane. Traffic management will be in place. More information(external link).
Eastern Bay of Plenty
- SH2 Waioeka Gorge: HPMV strengthening work on four bridges in the Waioeka Gorge started 17 January 2022 and will continue through to April 2022. The bridges are Owhiritoa Stream Bridge, Omaukora Bridge, Gibson Bridge and Sandys Bridge.
Road rehabilitation works commence February 8 on a 750m section of road north of Oponae. Work is expected to be complete by late-February 2022.
Waikato
East Waikato
- SH29 and SH24, western (Waikato) side of Kaimai Range: Recent road rehabilitation and resurfacing works progressed well, though some resurfacing on SH29 has been postponed due to wet weather. Contractors will return from Sunday 13 February for up to two weeks to complete resurfacing of two separate sections. The road will be fully closed between 8pm and 5am on both Sunday 13 and Monday 14 February. From Tuesday 15 February, when works are taking place, there will be alternating one-way closures. During the alternating closures, westbound traffic may travel across the Kaimai Range between 9pm and 12pm, and Eastbound traffic between 12.30am and 4.30am. More information(external link).
- SH2 Karangahake Gorge: Night works planned for late-February, details to follow. Peak traffic periods will be avoided.
- SH27 Mangawhero Stream Bridge: A detour is now in place on SH27 until 14 April to allow for the completion of new stretches of road either side of the new bridge being built over the Mangawhero Stream. Traffic is being detoured along SH29, Hopkins Road and Hinuera Road, adding around 3.7 kilometres to a journey between Tirau and Matamata. More information(external link).
Central Waikato
- SH28 Whites Road (Te Waihou walkway access): Road rehabilitation work continues on SH28 (Whites Road), between SH1 and SH5, and the road is closed to through traffic until early-March. The closure will be in effect on weekdays between 6am and 6pm. All vehicles will be detoured via the SH1/SH5 roundabout at the southern end of Tirau. The car park on SH28 that provides access to the Te Waihou (Blue Springs) walk will be closed during the works. Stage one is now complete, and crews are now underway on stage two (south of the bridge). More information(external link).
- Resurfacing SH1 Wairakei Roundabout: Resurfacing night works will take place on SH1 between Kauri Drive and the Wairakei River bridge south of the SH1/SH5 roundabout from 13 to 15 February, between 6pm and 6am. During this time four-way stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h will be place.
- SH1 Desert Road: Road rehabilitation work continues on a 1.2km section of road located between the Rangipo Intake Road and the Tukino Access Road. Stop/go traffic management will be active between 6am and 6pm, with a reduced speed limit in place until late-February.
- Resurfacing SH5 Napier Road: Resurfacing night works will take place on the SH5 Napier Road, adjacent to the SH1/SH5 roundabout, on Friday 16 February, from 7pm to 5am. Due to the location of the worksite SH1 will be closed between Broadlands Road and SH5 Napier Road during this time. Detour via Crown Road, Ashwood Avenue, Clarent Ash Drive, Mahoe Street, Manuka Street, Miro Street and Broadlands Road. More information(external link)
- SH5 Tirau: Road rehabilitation work commences mid-February on a 250m section of road located immediately east of the Waihou River Bridge on SH5, south of Tirau. Stop/go traffic management will be active from 6am to 6pm, and a reduced speed limit will be in place until mid-March.
West Waikato
- SH1 Tamahere: A full road closure will take place to move traffic on to a new bridge at the Southern Interchange of the Hamilton section of the Waikato Expressway. The closure will take place from 6pm Friday 11 February until 6am the following morning. More information(external link).
- SH31 Chipsealing: Chipsealing will take place on SH31 (between Te Rauamoa and Kawhia), from Tuesday 8 February. Please drive to the posted temporary speed limit and maintain a safe distance behind other vehicles.
North Waikato
- SH2 Maramarua: A full road closure will be in place from 9pm Sunday 27 February until 5am Thursday 3 March between the SH1/SH2 interchange at Pokeno, and SH2/SH25 roundabout. This will allow various maintenance activities to be completed at the same time, including resurfacing at a number of sites.
- SH1 Ohinewai: Work commenced on Wednesday 19 January to install roadside barriers and re-position street lights. Lane restrictions and temporary speed limits will be in place between 7am and 7pm each day. Work is expected to be complete in March. More information(external link).
For 24 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.
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 (journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)).
Waka Kotahi thanks motorists for their patience while we complete this essential work to keep the state highways safe and resilient.
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