Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway works for September 2023

As time marches on towards October, a greater number of road renewal crews are setting out on their quest to complete the significant programme to be completed across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region this summer. 

Chipsealing work has now commenced, and with this work making up the majority of the renewal programme, it is important that conditions are right, says Roger Brady, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Bay of Plenty System Manager.

“Chipseal needs to be applied in warm, dry conditions to ensure the stones adhere to the bitumen, creating a nice uniform surface over the existing road. This acts as a waterproof layer over the underlying layers of the road, which are susceptible to damage when water enters into cavities or cracks. 

“This treatment type accounts for over 85% of our work this summer, so it’s a critical component of the renewal programme. Well applied chipseal will last about a decade, give or take a few years either side.” 

With a great number of worksites across the region it’s important road users stay on top of the best route to their destination. Otherwise, they will experience delays or in some cases may not be able to reach their destination due to either planned or unplanned closures of sections of the network. 

The Waka Kotahi Journey Planner(external link) is the place to go for this information. With live updates on worksites and other road hazards, the Journey Planner can help road users plot the best route to their destination. 

Bay of Plenty 

Tauranga 

• Takitimu North Link Stage One: On Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 October stop/stop traffic management will be in place on SH2, on the southern shoulder near Loop Road, Te Puna while tree-felling takes place. Traffic will only be held when cutting, with 5-10 minute delays anticipated. This work cannot be completed at night due to safety reasons. Earthworks have commenced across a number of sites. On Wairoa Road stop/go traffic management will be in place while trucks are crossing Wairoa Road, and 30km/h speed limits will be in place at all times within the construction area. Minden Road has a 30km/h speed limit throughout the construction zone. A temporary haul road into the Te Mete Valley is being constructed to support the summer earthworks season. The single-lane haul road will be separated from SH2. Road users should be aware of the new road layout and temporary speed limit of 60km/h on SH2 alongside the haul road. More information. 

• Cambridge Road: Construction work to complete the new Cambridge Road overbridge, between Bethlehem and Tauriko, ramps up from September. Works to connect the bridge with Cambridge and Moffat roads and utilities services, will be completed in three phases. Phase 1 involves building a diversion road allowing traffic to flow during these works. While these works take place there will be slower speed limits in place on Cambridge Road, shoulder closures and when necessary, stop/go traffic management. 

• Cambridge Road (East): Tauranga City Council has commenced slip repair work at Cambridge Road East near the St Andrews Drive roundabout. Cambridge Road will be one-lane only while the work is underway and drivers heading into the city will detour via St Andrews Drive, Castlewold Drive and Wakefield Drive. Drivers coming from the city can use Cambridge Road as usual, however there will be a 30km/h speed restriction past the work site. The slip was caused by recent weather and the repair work will involve removing the slip material and building a retaining wall to help prevent future slips. The repair is expected to be completed in mid-December, weather-dependent.  

• Totara Street: Tauranga City Council will be completing road construction on Totara Street, between Maui Street and Triton Avenue. Due to bad weather forecast for this weekend the works have been put on hold. Weather permitting work will now start on Friday 29 September. Traffic will be reduced to one lane (open for travel between Mount Maunganui and Hewletts Road). Totara St will be closed to ALL traffic heading to Mount Maunganui from Hewletts Road, with a detour via Newton Road. More information(external link).

• SH2 Bay Link: People travelling between Baypark and Bayfair will continue to see changes to the road layout as well as overnight road and lane closures. To minimise impact, works are undertaken at night where possible. From Sunday 24 September to Thursday 28 September, 7pm to 6am, SH29A eastbound will be fully closed between the SH29A roundabout and Te Maunga interchange. A detour via Truman Lane, Mangatawa Link Road and Sandhurst interchange will be in place. From Sunday 24 September to Wednesday 27 September, 7pm to 6am, Maunganui Road northbound will be closed at ground level from opposite the end of Exeter Street to Bayfair roundabout. A detour via the Bayfair flyover, SH2 north, the Golf Road roundabout and SH2/Maunganui Road south will be in place. On Thursday 28 September, 7pm to 6am, Maunganui Road northbound will be closed at ground level from Bayfair roundabout to opposite end of Concord Avenue. A detour via Girven Road, Oceanbeach Road and Golf Road will be in place. More information. 

• SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road (TDTR): A reduced speed limit of 80km/h is in place while contractor crews are working behind the barriers. There will be a speed reduction to 30km/h with short periods of stop/stop traffic management to allow for drilling between 9am and 3pm on both Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 October. 

• SH2 Fifteenth Avenue: Work continues on the upgrade of the Fifteenth Avenue / SH2 / Cameron Road intersection. Work is currently underway at the east and west (SH2 and Fifteenth Avenue) centre islands for contractors to complete the signalised traffic pole ducting and new kerbs. Temporary traffic management is in place, with turning lane closures. Traffic can still turn into SH2 and Fifteenth Avenue using other lanes. More information(external link). 

• 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 until today, Friday 22 September. Traffic management will be removed until construction of the interchange itself commences in early 2024. More detail will be shared closer to the time. More information(external link).
  
  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 June 2024, with one lane available in either direction. A temporary speed limit of 70km/h applies through the site. More information(external link).

• SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR) Shared Path: Pouring of the concrete bridge deck at the Rangiuru Business Park Interchange takes place between 8pm Tuesday 3 and 2pm Wednesday 4 October. The shared path alongside SH2 will be closed during this time, users will be able to detour via Kaituna Road and Te Tumu Road.  

Western Bay of Plenty 

• SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Sharp Road and Lockington Road / Matahui Road Intersections: Lane shifts and speed reductions are in place at both intersections while roundabout construction takes place. Road layout changes will occur as works progress. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management which may cause longer delays, however typically there will be minor delays of one to two minutes. More information. 

• SH2 Wairoa Cycleway:  The Tauranga City Council cycleway construction continues with work taking place both under the Wairoa bridge and in the on-road shoulder at night. The cycleway is due to be completed by late-2023. 

• SH2 Pongakawa: Road rebuilding continues. Work is expected to be complete by late October, during this time stop/go traffic management and a westbound detour option via Pukehina Road, Old Coach Road and Pongakawa Station Road will be in place. Delays and additional travel time are expected.

Rotorua 

• SH5 Utuhina Bridge: Resilience work on the Utuhina bridge commences 7am, Monday 25 September. A road closure between Sunset Road and Pukuatua Street will be in place for approximately three weeks. Local detours will be in place, however HPMV will need to use SH5, SH1 and SH30 via Ātiamuri. More information. 

• SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: There are multiple active worksites on SH30/Te Ngae Road between Iles Road and Ōwhata Road. In places there is stop/go, lane shifts and shoulder closures, temporary pedestrian crossings, footpath closures, and/or reduced speed limits. Moderate traffic delays are expected. Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times. More information. 

• SH30 Rotorua Airport: Road rebuilding between Rotorua Airport and 875 Te Ngae Road continues through to mid-October. Temporary traffic management will be in place, and there will be one lane available in each direction at all times to minimise disruption. These works are weather dependent, so may need to be postponed, delayed, and/or extended beyond the expected completion date. Significant disruption is expected at peak travel times.

• SH30/SH33 Te Ngae Junction: The majority of the construction activity is now complete on the new roundabout. Temporary speed limits remain in place until final surfacing in October. More information. 

• SH30 Te Ngae Junction to Whakatāne: Contractors are installing new speed limit signs along this state highway corridor. This work is expected to be complete late September. While this work is underway there may be shoulder closures and temporary speed limits in place. More information 

• SH30 Rotoiti: The Ngati Pikiao ahurei takes place at Te Waiiti Marae between Friday 22 and Sunday 24 September. The celebration takes place between 10am and 4pm each day, during this time there will an increase in traffic through the area, and a temporary speed limit of 50km/h will be in place. More information(external link). 

• SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Work on the SH33 safety improvements project continues with work between Allport Road and Mourea. 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 

• SH2 Edgecumbe: Road rehabilitation continues near the Omeheu Canal. Traffic management will be in place, including single direction closures until mid-October, followed by a full road closure from mid-October until mid-November, 9am to 3:30pm each day. Work is expected to be complete by late November. 

• SH2 Wainui to Ōpōtiki: Safety improvements between Parkinsons Road and Woodlands Road near Ōpōtiki continue. This work is expected to be complete in late-2023 (weather dependent). Works consists of shoulder widening and the installation of safety barriers. During this time road users can expect to see shoulder closures and/or stop/go operations in place, as required. Works will take place between 7am and 5pm each weekday. Please allow extra time for your journey as delays up to 10 minutes may be experienced.  

• SH2 Waimana Gorge Chipseal: Road resealing takes place between Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki, with work taking place under stop/go traffic management between the hours of 6am and 8pm each weekday. This work is weather dependent. Minor delays are expected when sealing is taking place.

• SH2 Manganuku Bridge, Waioeka Gorge: Investigations are ongoing for the most effective way of repairing the bridge. The 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. 

• SH2 Waioeka Gorge Chipseal: Road resealing takes place between Ōpōtiki and Matawai from Monday 9 October, for approximately two weeks, Monday to Friday each week. For the first two weeks road closures will be in place between 7am and 5pm, with 20-minute opening periods at 9am, midday and 2pm. Following the closures there will be approximately a week where stop/go and/or stop/stop traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place while work continues. 

Tairāwhiti Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay 

• SH2 Waioeka Gorge: The asphalt resurfacing programmes continues, with road closures taking place between the hours of 7pm and 5am, when the weather is fine. Work is now moving to Otoko and this means from Tuesday next week, weather permitting, there will be hard closures either side of Otoko on SH2 at Makeretu and Whatatutu.
  
  Foam bitumen stabilisation work is also ongoing. This work takes place during the day with stop/go traffic management in place. 

• SH5 Napier – Taupō: Progress continues at a number of slip sites at the Hawke’s Bay end of SH5. Stop/go traffic management is in place at various sites, along with temporary speed limits.  

Manawatū-Whanganui 

• SH1 Taihape north: Road rebuild commences at a section of State Highway 1 / Mataroa Road just north of Taihape on Monday 2 October. Night works will be in place between 6pm - 6am daily for seven weeks (weather permitting) between Goldfinch Street to just past Abattoir Road. Works are expected to be complete by mid-November. During works, SH1 will be reduced to one lane under stop/go, with a reduced speed limit in place. Delays of up to 10 minutes are expected. 

• SH1 Utiku: A ‘slow slip’ has resulted in cracking between Micklesons Road and Utiku South Road. A 30km/h temporary speed limit is in place through the area, along with a temporary re-alignment and narrowing of traffic lanes. 

• 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. Construction of three new retaining walls north of the main slip area are ongoing. 

• SH4 Auraki Streat road retreat: A 30km/h temporary speed restriction remains in place at Auraki Stream road retreat project site. Vehicles are now able to utilise the new section of road, the project is expected to be completed in October.  

Waikato 

East Waikato 

• SH25: Recovery works are underway at a number of sites, with temporary traffic management and reduced speed limits in place where required. More information. 

• SH25A Kōpū-Hikuai: A section of road near the summit has collapsed, and the road is impassable. Detour via SH26, SH2, SH25 via the Karangahake Gorge, or SH25 via Coromandel Town. Work to construct a bridge over the slip area is underway, and the bridge is expected to be open in March 2024. Additional works are taking place across SH25A while the road is closed. More information.  

• SH26 Morrinsville: Road repair work continues at multiple locations over several weeks. Work will take place Sunday to Thursday nights, between 8pm and 5am each night. This work will require road users to use short detours.

• SH26 Chipseal: Road resealing continues between Motumaoho and Morrinsville, with work taking place under stop/go traffic management between the hours of 6am and 8pm each weekday. This work is weather dependent. Minor delays are expected when sealing is taking place. 

Central Waikato 

• SH1 Ātiamuri: Side and median barriers have been installed on a 4.5km stretch of highway south of Ātiamuri. Some speed restrictions will be in place until finishing works and final surfacing are completed in warmer weather. More information. 

• 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.

• SH1 Lichfield: The northbound slow lane near Puriri Road is closed until further notice, while investigations take place into repair options.

• SH1 Ātiamuri to Wairakei: Enabling works for road rebuilding will commence on Monday 2 October, at the first of three sites on this corridor. The rebuild of the first site will commence on Monday 9 October, taking approximately two weeks to complete. Stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place at all active worksites. Delays are to be expected.

West Waikato 

• SH1B Taupiri: Road resurfacing work will take place at the SH1/SH1B interchange at Taupiri, from Sunday 17 September for 5 nights, between 6pm and 6am each night. Access to SH1B and the service centre via the Taupiri interchange will be restricted during this time.  Detours are available via Horotiu and Ngāruawāhia or Huntly and Taupiri. This work is weather dependent. More information(external link). 

• SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia Section: Safety improvements and remedial works require the closure of a single lane in each direction with a 50km/h temporary speed limit, until completion in May 2024. Night-time closures and detours are required northbound between Sunday 8 and Thursday 12 October. More information. 

• SH1 Waikato Expressway – Rangiriri Section: Remedial works requiring various interchange ramp closures are underway. This work is expected to take a month with completion early October. SH1 traffic will be managed through the site with a temporary speed restriction of 50km/h. More information. 

• SH1B: Chipsealing takes place between Taupiri and Hautapu this week. Work will take place Monday to Friday, weather permitting, between the hours of 7am and 6pm. Stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place at each worksite. 

• SH1C Hillcrest: Work at the SH1C/Cambridge Road roundabout continues with at least 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. Please use the SH1C/Wairere Drive interchange to access Cambridge Road and the Hillcrest shops. This work sees the intersection changed to traffic light controls, and is expected to be completed in September 2023. More information. 

• SH1 Karāpiro (Gorton Road): Road rebuilding continues with drainage work being completed at night under stop/go traffic management. Following this pavement repair work will be undertaken. This will require a day-time detour for southbound traffic via Karāpiro Road, Taotaoroa Road and SH29. Northbound traffic will remain on SH1. Overnight the detour will not be required as all traffic will remain on SH1, travelling through stop/go at the site to manage safety. Southbound heavy vehicles will be given the option of being held at the site and let through at regular intervals, or they can use the detour. Emergency services will be provided with access through the site at all times. While this closure is in place, crews are taking the opportunity to do as much other work as possible within the section, including the below work at Keeley’s Reserve and work for PowerCo.  

• SH1 Karāpiro (Keeley’s Reserve): Construction of a turnaround bay at Keeley’s Reserve continues. The reserve will be closed for the construction period, which is expected to take up to 9 weeks, weather permitting. The speed limit near the reserve will reduce from 100km/h to 50km/h northbound and 70km/h southbound, Monday to Saturday from 7am to 6pm each day. Motorists are advised to prepare for minor delays. Once completed, the right turn out of Keeley’s Reserve onto SH1 will remain open until the turnaround at Tunakawa Road is built early next year and more flexible safety median barriers are installed, at which point the right turn out of Keeley’s Reserve will be permanently closed. 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.

• SH30 Kōpaki: Due to a drop out between Kōpaki Road and Ohirea Road intersection there is stop/go traffic management in place with a temporary speed limit of 30km/h. Remedial works have started and are expected to be completed by the end of September. Caution is advised when travelling through this area. 

North Waikato 

• SH1 Mercer: There will be a full southbound closure between Pioneer Road and Mercer on Monday 25 September between 11pm and 5am. Traffic will still be able to travel south using one of the northbound lanes. 

• SH2 Maramarua: Stop/go traffic management will be in place from Monday 25 to Thursday 28 September between 9pm and 5am each night. 

Taranaki 

• SH3 Tongapōrutu: Pavement repairs continue north of Hutiwai Road. Work is expected to be complete by mid-October (weather permitting), and the site will be managed under traffic-light stop/go controls, with delays of approximately 5-10 minutes. 

• SH3 Te Ara Tutohu Waitara to Bell Block: Due to safety improvement works, there will be stop/go traffic management with a 30km/h speed limit in place 24/7 Delays of up to 15 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.

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