Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway works for February 2024 

The first of a series of closures on the State Highway 29 Kaimai Range will take place from Sunday 25 February to Thursday 29 February. Closing the road will ensure essential maintenance can be done in a safe and efficient manner.

SH29 is a critical route, providing the key link between the country’s largest port and the ‘Golden Triangle’, explains Roger Brady, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Regional Manager Maintenance and Operations.    

“Around 14,000 vehicles use this road every day, including several thousand heavy vehicles. It is critical that we are able to maintain SH29 to ensure the route is safe and accessible for all road users.  

“We’ve collaborated with freight operators and roading contractors to confirm days and times that work best for everybody. By locking in a schedule, regular road users, including freight operators, can make plans in advance to minimise the disruption to themselves and their customers.” 

Further multi-night closures will take place in March, May and July. 

“Road renewals on SH2 north of Tauranga continue to make great strides, over half the reseal programme is now complete, with 12 out of the 20 sites between Katikati and Tauranga ticked off the list. Most of this work is carried out at night, although temporary speed limits will be in place the following day to allow the chip to bed in, so delays are to be expected,” Mr Brady says.

For all roadworks, please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management teams.

Plan ahead and check Journey Planner before you travel: https://journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link) 

Bay of Plenty

Tauranga 

• Takitimu North Link Stage One: Earthworks are underway across a number of sites. On Wairoa Road, stop/go traffic management is in place while trucks are crossing Wairoa Road, and 30km/h speed limits is in place at all times within the construction area. Work in this area will become more evident as the Wairoa Road bridge is completed in preparation for its opening. Minden Road has a 30km/h speed limit throughout the construction zone. A temporary haul road, separated from SH2, into the Te Mete Valley is operational to support the summer earthworks season. Temporary speed limit of 60km/h on SH2 alongside the haul road. More information
• Cambridge/Moffat roads: Construction work to complete the new Cambridge Road Overbridge, between Bethlehem and Tauriko continues. Until April 2024, there is a full closure of a section of Moffat Road between Tauranga Adventist School and Cambridge Road (East). This is disruptive, there are local alternative routes for light vehicles, and all heavy vehicles can use SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Road. More information
• Waihī Road, Tauranga: Tauranga City Council will be undertaking asphalt resurfacing work working on Waihi Road from Sunday 25 February to Sunday 10 March, the SH2 on-ramp to SH2 Takitimu Drive will be closed during this time.  
• SH2 Bay Link: People travelling between Baypark and Bayfair will continue to see road and lane closures at night. This week these are from Sunday 25 February to Friday 1 March (approximately 7pm to 6am each night) around Bayfair roundabout and across SH2/SH29A Te Maunga interchange. Closures will vary night to night, depending on site requirements and progress, and people are asked to allow extra time, follow signposted detours and drive with caution through the project site. To minimise impact, works are undertaken at night where possible. More information
• SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road (TDTR): A reduced speed limit of 80km/h is in place while Takitimu North Link crews are working behind the barriers.  
• SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR) Shared Path: The shared path alongside SH2 is diverted until May 2024. An alternative option for path users is available via Kaituna Road and Te Tumu Road. 
• SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): The Quayside Properties Ltd-led Rangiuru Business Park Interchange project continues. Temporary barriers will be in place until approximately June 2024, with one lane available in either direction. A temporary speed limit of 70km/h applies through the site. More information 

Western Bay of Plenty 

• SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: At Sharp Road, roundabout construction is underway with significant activity on the southbound lanes. There will be intermittent stop/go in place which may cause longer delays, however, typically there will be minor delays of one to two minutes. In the Athenree Gorge, lane shifts and speed restrictions are in place while line markings are changed. 
• SH2 Apata Curves: Road widening works are underway with lane shifts and speed restrictions in place. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays, however typically delays will be between one to two minutes. Please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team. 
• SH2 Tahawai: Lane shifts, shoulder closures and speed restrictions are in place between Kauri Point Road and Stokes Road as services are relocated. These works are expected to be completed by the end of February. 
• SH2/near Loop Road, Te Puna: Construction continues at the western tie-in of the Takitimu North Link project, where utilities need to be moved. 
• SH2 Bethlehem to Athenree: Resealing is underway at a number of locations on SH2 between Bethlehem and Waihī. Reseals between Te Puna and Ōmokoroa will result in some line-marking changes with wide centrelines installed (providing greater separation for opposing traffic). 
• SH29 Kaimai Range: The Kaimai Range will be closed from Sunday 25 February to Thursday 29 February, from 8pm to 4.30am to allow road resurfacing to take place. The closure points on the western side of the Kaimai Range is at the SH29/24 and SH29/28 intersections and on the eastern side of the Kaimai Range at the SH29/Cambridge Road intersection. Detours are available for all vehicles southbound via Rotorua and northbound via the Karangahake Gorge.   

Rotorua 

• SH30 Ātiamuri: Road rehabilitation continues between 7am and 5pm each day until Thursday 29 February. Temporary traffic management will be in place with stop/go temporary traffic management in place during work hours and will remain in place for 48 hours after works are complete until the road has been swept and line marked. 
• SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage One and Two: Line marking continues on Stage One between Tarawera Road and Iles Road. This work will be done at night (7pm to 6am) and includes limit lines, fire hydrant/valve markings along the road and through the intersection. Temporary traffic management will be in place including short term lane closures, road closures, shoulder closures and temporary speed restrictions in place while the line marking is underway and to allow for drying. We expect this work to be completed by Friday 1 March, weather dependent.  
  Work begins Monday 26 February on the remaining section of road between Ōwhata Roundabout and Tumene Drive, including surface milling, asphalting and stormwater connections in the westbound lane. This work will require the entrance to Brent Road to be closed Monday 26 February and Tuesday 27 February. Multiple active worksites may include stop/go, lane shifts and shoulder closures, temporary pedestrian crossings, footpath closures, and/or reduced speed limits. Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times. More information
• SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Safety improvement work continues about 6km north of Okere Falls Café. Work includes widening of the road corridor, installing safety barriers and improving drainage. Temporary traffic management is in place including stop/go, lane shifts, shoulder closures and reduced speed limits. Temporary traffic lights will be in place 24/7 from Monday 26 February for approximately two weeks while pavement construction is underway. Minor traffic delays are expected. More information
• SH30/33 Te Ngae Junction: Safety barriers will be installed at the roundabout, with night works from 6pm Monday 4 March 2024. Work will occur between 6pm and 7am - for five nights (weather permitting). Temporary traffic management will be in place including stop/go, lane shifts, and reduced speed limits. Minor traffic delays are expected. More information

Eastern Bay of Plenty 

• SH2 Manganuku Bridge, Waioeka Gorge: A reduced speed limit of 30km/h for heavy vehicles will remain in place until further notice. 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. Repairs will start on the bridge towards the end of March and take 2 weeks to complete. 
• SH2 Wainui: Excavation works will take place at the intersection of SH2 and Wainui Road (Matakerepu) on Wednesday 28 February to identify existing services and record the location and depth of these. There will be a 3-way stop/go in place from 8.30am to 4.30pm.   

Tairāwhiti Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay

• SH5 Napier to Taupō: Work is underway at multiple sites on SH5 to improve safety at high-risk curves. In addition, contractors are undertaking repair, recovery and routine maintenance work at various SH5 sites. Overall, please plan for delays of up to 30 minutes across the whole SH5 Napier to Taupō corridor. While this work takes place, stop/go traffic management is in place in certain areas, and there are temporary reduced speed limits of 30km/h and/or 50km/h. Current worksites on SH5 include: the intersection of SH5 and Marshall’s Bridge (north of Eskdale), SH5 north of Te Pōhue (south of the passing lane), and the site near the underslip at SH5 Captain’s Culvert. 

Manawatū-Whanganui

• SH1 Utiku: Road repairs are in progress with a view to restoring the road back to 100km/h by the end of March. Currently 2 lanes are open through the site at 30km/h, from time to time there will be stop/go traffic management in place. 
• SH1/3 Bulls to Sanson: Full nighttime closures continue to allow for roundabout tie-in works. The section of SH1/3 outside Base Ohakea is closed at night between 7.30pm and 6am Sunday nights to Friday mornings. The southbound detour for motorists (light vehicles) is via Tangimoana Road, Taylor Road and onto SH1. The southbound detour for freight (heavy vehicles) is via Tangimoana Road, Campion Road and onto SH1. The detour for all northbound traffic is via Fagan Road, Speedy Road, Tangimoana Road and back onto SH1/3. From Monday 19 February, the new roundabout will be open with a 30km/h speed restriction in place and uneven surfaces at times. During daytime hours (and on Friday and Saturday nights), all motorists will be travelling on the new road alignment. More information

Waikato

• A variety of safety improvements across the Waikato are about to commence, these will contribute towards making the roads safer. A programme of work about to start includes a mixture of new and modified signage, new hazard warning signs, roadside safety/barrier guard rail, road widening, improved road lines and improved road markings. It is expected there will be minimal disruption for motorists while this work is completed. The works will take place over the next three months. More Information(external link). 

East Waikato 

• SH25 Coromandel: Recovery work is underway along SH25 to repair damage caused by last summer’s severe weather. The sites include Wharekaho and Pumpkin Hill. Stop/go traffic management will be in place at these locations. More information(external link). 
• SH25 Ruamahunga: Our team working to stabilise the large slip site at Ruamahunga is making great progress and needs equipment and supplies delivered to the top of the slope by helicopter on a regular basis.  Moving forwards, from this Friday 23 February, these deliveries will be made every second Friday until further notice.  This will usually be done between 12 noon and 2.00pm and means SH25 will be closed at the site for short periods so the helicopter can safely operate over the road to deliver those important supplies. The road will be closed in both directions for up to 20 minutes at a time and then reopened to allow traffic to clear before the next closure.  
• SH27 Waharoa: Safety upgrade work continues on SH27 between Walker Street and McGowan Street and is expected to take up to 4 weeks to complete. SH27 is open to traffic, under lane diversions and stop/go traffic management when needed. Car parks on SH27 will be inaccessible during this period, however the rest area and car park across the road from the Pitt Street intersection will remain open and a safe crossing will be provided at all times. Minor delays are to be expected. 
• SH27 Mangatarata: Stop/go traffic management will be in place until early March, while a southbound side barrier, new signs and line marking (including rumble strips) are installed. At times, there will be nightworks between 7pm and 6am, and a reduced speed limit. Minor delays are expected. 
• SH29 Hinuera: A full road closure of SH29 at Hinuera is in place weekdays, between 6am and 6pm, until Wednesday 28 February. A detour is available westbound via SH27, then left onto Puketutu Road, then left onto Hinuera Road, Hopkins Road and back on to SH29 and vice versa travelling eastbound. Minor delays are expected. 

Central Waikato 

• SH1 Lichfield:  Road rehabilitation continues until Tuesday 5 March. There will be stop/go in place from 6am-6pm Monday to Saturday along with a temporary speed limit. 
• SH1 Ātiamuri: Road widening is under way for safety barrier installation along a 6.9km section of SH1, from the Waikato River Bridge south to Thorpe Road. Work is behind temporary safety barriers and there is a 50km/h speed restriction. Stop/go is in place between 8amand 5pm on Monday and Wednesday, 26 and 28 February, at a narrow section where safety barriers cannot be used. Expect delays of up to 5 minutes.  
• SH1 Maroa Road: The 4.8km site is currently operating at 100km/h until finishing works for the safety barrier installation resume.   
• SH1 East Taupō Arterial: Road widening and flexible safety barrier installation continues between Napier Road and the airport roundabout. Speed restrictions will be in place, with completion expected to be mid-2024. More information
• SH5 Wairakei: Stage two of road rehabilitation near Palmer Mill Road continues until mid-March. Work will take place from Monday to Saturday between 6am and 6pm with stop/go traffic management in place with temporary speed limits. Outside of these hours both lanes will be open with reduced speed limits. 
• 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. Works to repair the washout are due to begin Early April and will take 3-4 weeks to complete. 
• SH1 Desert Road – night closures: Pavement rehabilitation night work at multiple locations along SH1 Desert Road require road closures. Work continues until mid-March, between 6pm and 6am, Sunday to Thursday nights, SH1 will be closed between Waiouru and Rangipo. There will be a detour in place via SH46, SH47, SH4 and SH49, back to SH1 and vice versa. This detour adds approximately 35 minutes to travel time. Outside these hours (including all day on Friday and Saturday) both lanes will be open with reduced speed limits. 

West Waikato 

• SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia section: Safety improvements and remedial works continue with another block of current night-time closures now underway. Southbound closures are from Sunday 25 February to Thursday 7 March, 7pm-5am. The southbound detour uses SH1B, with light traffic rejoining SH1 via Lake Road. Heavy vehicles (50 tonnes and above) must continue on SH1B, including the local road detour around Telephone Road, and connect to SH1 again at Cambridge or via SH26 into Hamilton. More information 
• SH1 Waikato Expressway – Rangiriri Section: While remedial work has been completed the repairs need to bed in before final surfacing starts in Early March. A temporary speed limit of 70km/h remains in place until the final surfacing is completed. 
• SH1/SH29 Piarere Intersection: Work is underway constructing the access road, drainage works and installing environmental controls. Temporary traffic management is in place, including shoulder closures and lane shifts, please follow the instructions of the team on site and any temporary traffic signage. Traffic delays are expected during construction in this area and an increase of vehicle movements including truck and trailers carting material to site. More information 
• SH1 Karāpiro: Work is underway on a section of SH1 between Keeley’s Reserve and Moana Roa Road in preparation for median barrier being installed mid-2024. The main construction work involves 1.5km of shoulder widening, temporary barrier installation, earthworks and pavement construction, followed by surfacing, lighting and permanent barrier installation. During the majority of the construction the slow (left-hand) lane of the southbound passing lane between Keeley’s Reserve and Moana Roa Road will be closed, and the worksite will be under a temporary speed limit of 50km/h. Access in and out of Kentucky Road will remain open. Construction is expected to be finished by late June.  
• SH1 Karāpiro (Gorton Road): The construction of a turnaround bay at Gorton Road continues and will be followed by another at Tunakawa Road. While construction crews are onsite, there is no right turn onto Gorton Road. This means southbound traffic wanting to access Gorton Road will need to travel to the new turnaround bay at Keeley’s Reserve to change direction. This adds around 4-6 minutes to your journey. Previously the right turn onto Gorton was reopening on weekends/outside of work hours, however this is no longer occurring due to safety concerns and confusion to motorists. The left turn onto Gorton Road, and left and right turn onto SH1, will remain for the duration of construction, with a stop sign rule applied. More information
• SH3 Ōhaupō: The Waipā District Council led Ōhaupō Village pedestrian safety improvements are underway and are expected to be complete by late February. During this time lane shifts and stop/go traffic management will be in place, along with temporary speed limits. 
• SH23 Raglan: Preparation works including kerb, channel and drainage continue, with work taking place between 7am and 5pm each day until Saturday 24 February. From Tuesday 27 February, SH23 will be closed overnight between 9pm and 5am between houses #4095 and #4180, this is to enable crews to remove existing road layers and replace them. Vehicles will be allowed through the worksite at 9.45pm, 11pm, 1am and 3am. The work is expected to be completed in early March. More information 
• SH30 Te Kūiti: Due to a slip, priority give-way is in place near Mangaokewa Road, motorists are advised to proceed with caution. 
• SH3 Te Kūiti: Drivers on SH3 are advised to expect delays from 29 Feb, with work beginning to build a retaining wall and culvert on a stretch of highway between Te Kūiti and the SH3/SH4 junction. For the first few days of construction traffic will be down to one lane with stop/go traffic control while the highway is temporarily widened on the southbound shoulder. Drivers should expect short delays at this site. Once this is done the road will be reopened to two lanes under speed restrictions for up to three months while the retaining wall and culvert are being built, with a few days of stop/go expected at the end of the project.  

North Waikato 

• SH2 Pokeno: Slip repairs are being carried out until Tuesday 12 March between 7am and 7pm outside Max Birt Sawmills, Pokeno (1.5km from the SH1 Southern Motorway onramp). During this time there will be speed reductions in place and road layout changes. More information 
• SH2 Mangatāwhiri: From Sunday 25 February until Monday 11 March there will be stop/go from 9pm to 5am at the east bound Mangatāwhiri off-ramp for maintenance. 
• SH1 Pokeno interchange to Mercer interchange: There will be a full southbound closure on Thursday 29 February between 10pm and 5am to carry out multiple maintenance activities. Traffic will still be able to travel south using one of the northbound lanes.  
• SH1 Orams Road to Mercer interchange: There will be a full northbound closure on Wednesday 28 February between 9pm and 5am for barrier maintenance. Traffic will still be able to travel north using one of the southbound lanes.  
• SH1 Dragway Road to Island Block Road: There will be a full northbound closure on Sunday 25 and Monday 26 February between 10pm and 5am for resurfacing. Traffic will still be able to travel north using one of the southbound lanes.  
• SH1 Hampton Downs Overbridge: There will be a full closure of the overbridge at Hampton Downs from Foster Road to Harness Road (local roads) on Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 February between 8pm and 5am. The northbound on-ramp and off-ramp will also be closed. There will be no access to the Gull Petrol Station. Please use alternative ramps at Dragway Road or Rodda Road.  

Taranaki

• SH3 Uruti: Slip repairs continue at SH3 Uruti, north of Mangamaio Road. The work includes the installation of rock mesh protection to improve the safety and resilience of this slip-prone area of the network. The site will be run under stop/go traffic controls 24/7 with delays of approximately 10-15 minutes for the duration of construction and is expected to be completed by the end of March. 
• SH3 Mt Messenger: From 7pm on Friday 5 April to 4am on Monday 8 April SH3 Mt Messenger will be closed for resurfacing. There will be scheduled openings to clear traffic queues. Outside this time, road users can expect stop/go traffic management at night between 6pm and 6am between Tuesday 2 April and Friday 19 April, with delays expected of up to 15 minutes. Road users are encouraged to plan ahead. 
• SH3 Te Ara Tutohu Waitara to Bell Block: Until mid-June, Princess Street will be closed between SH3 and Armstrong Avenue to everyone except residents while roadworks continue. People travelling to or from Waitara via Princess Street will need to use Nelson Street or Bayly Street. Those wanting to access Princess Street west from Princess Street east (Tikorangi side) will need to use Bayly Street. Both lanes of SH3 are open, and a temporary roundabout will be in place at the Princess Street and SH3 intersection, with the current traffic lights removed. The roundabout is expected to be complete by mid-2024. More information   
• SH4 Paroparowhero Culvert Replacement: Work to repair damage from heavy rainfall on SH4 north of Taumarunui, between the intersection of SH43 and Okahukura Bridge Road will continue until June 2024. The repair work involves a temporary lane to maintain traffic flow under 24/7 e-light stop/go controls, while crews install a 3.5 x 4 metre box culvert. The work is scheduled to take approximately six months, weather permitting. Road users are asked to plan ahead for delays of up to 15 minutes in this area. 

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 NZTA Journey Planner website journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)). 

NZTA thanks motorists for their patience while we complete this essential work to keep the state highway network safe, accessible and resilient.