While many are wrapping their final presents, road workers throughout the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region are putting the finishing touches on a number of new road surfaces.

A spell of fine, warm weather graced the region this week, however a spell of inclement weather has had significant ramifications for a number of sites says Cara Lauder, Waikato System Manager at Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

'Crews made great progress earlier this week on a number of sites, with a couple of fine days in a row a welcome site for everyone. However, the heavy rain that followed on Wednesday night has damaged a number of road reconstruction sites, where the road has been open for several weeks while work takes place.

'We're working urgently to get these sites either finished or temporarily surfaced prior to the holiday break. Crews are keen to ensure every road user has a safe and enjoyable journey, and they are doing their utmost to achieve this.

'Unfortunately, a lot will depend on the weather over the next week. If we don't have dry weather for a significant period the road structure may not dry out, which means we are unable to apply the final layer of chipseal. If this is the case, we will work up to Christmas to ensure the road is ready for use. Crews will then return in early January to complete the construction process.

'Now is the time to make plans for your summer journeys, with Waka Kotahi about to release its annual holiday travel information.

'Getting to your destination safely is the priority”, says Ms Lauder. 'Traffic volumes are higher than usual for the next few weeks. Watch out for the Waka Kotahi holiday journeys web page, which will let you know the best time to travel on key routes.”

As for Christmas presents, Ms Lauder says 'right now, I'd really just like three months of fine weather so our crews can complete their programmes!”

Bay of Plenty

Tauranga

• Takitimu North Link Stage One: A range of construction activities are taking place between Te Puna, Bethlehem and Tauriko including Cambridge Road, Harrison Road, Wairoa Road and Minden Road, there are a number of shoulder closures and reduced speed limits. The new Harrison Road alignment will open with new seal and line marking scheduled in coming weeks, when there is consistent weather. People may notice an increase in truck movements along Moffat Road over the summer months as earthworks ramp up in the Tauriko/Bethlehem area. More information.
• SH2 Bay Link: A short section of Truman Lane has been temporarily reduced to one westbound only lane for the next stage of road reconstruction. While this work takes place, access to Truman Lane is via State Highway 2 Sandhurst interchange only. Access to Truman Lane from the State Highway 29A roundabout is closed. Follow detours and allow extra time. This temporary change to the traffic layout on Truman Lane will be in place until autumn 2023. All Truman Lane businesses, including Baypark Stadium and Te Maunga transfer station, will remain accessible throughout the duration of the work. More information.
• SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road: A reduced speed limit of 80km/h will be in place while contractor crews are working behind the barriers. More information.
• SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): For the Tauranga City Council led Pāpāmoa East Interchange project, traffic on the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road just north of the Kaituna River Bridge is back to three lanes. Whilst earthworks continue on the south side of the road, both eastbound lanes are open and normal speed applies. One westbound lane is open whilst work continues in the outer westbound lane, speed past the worksite is set at 70km/h. This layout will remain in place until April 2023, including over the holiday period, due to the time and cost involved in removing and then reinstating the concrete barriers. More information.

The Quayside Properties Ltd led Rangiuru Business Park Interchange Project has commenced, with investigation work taking place alongside the TELTR. Shoulder closures will be in place. More information.

Western Bay of Plenty

• SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Safety improvement works continue at five active sites: between Tanners Point Road to Kauri Point Road, Rea Road / Tetley Road intersection, Lockington Road / Matahui Road intersection, Morton Road intersection and Apata Station Road to Esdaile Road. Pavement work to complete the Rea Road / Tetley Road roundabout will take place as soon as there is consistent weather. Minor delays are expected. Traffic management will remain in place over the holiday period between Cannon Road and Kauri Point Road, Morton Road roundabout, and a section of SH2 north of Esdaile Road, this is due to narrow lanes and hazards that cannot be removed. More information.

Rotorua

• SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: Multiple worksites are active between Iles Road and Brent Road to excavate the shared service trench for the relocation of underground services and installation of the new watermain. The footpath on the lake side between Iles Road and Tennyson Drive, and east of Tennyson Drive to the mid-block between Tumene Drive and Brent Road heading east on SH30/Te Ngae Road, is closed while these works are under way. Minor delays are expected. People walking and cycling are asked to take extra care and follow the marked detours, using the temporary signalised pedestrian crossing and at the western end of Puketāwhero Park to cross SH30/ Te Ngae Road safely. Temporary traffic management will be in place with no left turn lane out of Basley Road to SH30/Te Ngae Road, and no left turn from the SH30/Te Ngae Road westbound lane into Tennyson Drive; minor delays are expected. More information.
• SH30/SH33 Te Ngae Junction: Construction of a retaining wall is ongoing. This work is not impacting road users. More information.
• SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Safety improvement upgrade work continues near Pareteiro - Sun Valley Curves passing lane. Temporary traffic management is in place with a contra flow or stop/go and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h during work hours. When the site is unattended, the worksite will have a shoulder closure and a temporary speed limit of 50km/h. There are also ongoing shared path works between Mourea Bridge and Ōkere Falls. Temporary traffic management sees a combination of shoulder closures and stop/go as required. This may cause minor traffic delays. More information.

Eastern Bay of Plenty

• SH2 Waioeka Gorge: Chipsealing in the Waioeka Gorge continues. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, along with a temporary speed limit.
• SH2 Nukuhou: Road rehabilitation continues near Nukuhou. Prior to Christmas a temporary surface will be applied, with work stopping on Thursday 22 December, before recommencing on Wednesday 4 January. Stop/go and stop/stop traffic management will be in place. Delays are expected when works are taking place.

Tairāwhiti Gisborne/Hawke's Bay

• SH35 Kopuaroa: The site remains under stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h at all times. Main improvement works to realign the highway onto more stable ground are underway. Delays are to be expected. More information.
• SH35 Turihaua: A temporary speed limit of 60km/h will be in place in and around the freedom camping areas between Tuihaua to Pouawa. This will be in effect between 20 December 2033 and 1 February 2023.
• SH2 Esk River Bridge: The bridge over the Esk River on SH2, north of Napier, has been reduced to a 30km/h temporary speed limit due to recent assessments identifying the bridge does not have capacity for sustained increased travel demands. Overweight vehicles are required to reduce their speed to 10km/h within their own lane, or to follow the restriction on their permit if it is lower. More information.

Manawatū-Whanganui

• SH4 Auraki Stream Road Retreat: Work to retreat the road away from a slip adjacent to the Mangawhero River is currently underway and will continue into 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.
• 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.
• SH4 Upokongaro to Raetihi: Crews continue to clear material from numerous slip sites. Traffic is generally reduced down to one lane past these slip sites during working hours. At sites 150m north of Burrell Road and 3km north of Burrell Road, SH4 is reduced down to one lane due to underslips with priority give way and 30km/h speed limits in place. At Aberfeldy, 1km north of Parihauhau Road, speed is reduced to 50km/h due to an underslip compromising the edge line of the northbound lane.

Waikato

East Waikato

• SH25 Coromandel: Multiple slips are being cleared following recent rain. Sections of road may be under stop/go traffic management while this work takes place.

Central Waikato

• SH28 Okoroire: Road rehabilitation work at the intersection of Okoroire Road continues. The site is awaiting a fine weather window to allow final sealing to take place. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place.
• SH1 Lichfield: Road reconstruction work continues near Baldwin Road in Lichfield. The site is currently controlled by portable traffic lights, and crews are working to ensure the site has a suitable surface for the holiday period. Rehabilitation works will recommence in early 2023.
• SH1 Ātiamuri: Safety improvements on a 4.5km stretch of SH1 between Maroa Road and Tram Road, south of Ātiamuri, are continuing. A 50km/h temporary speed limit is in place through the site with occasional stop/go traffic management. Over the summer holiday period the site will have a short section of 50km/h, with the remainder 100km/h until work resumed from Friday 6 January. More information.
• SH1 Waitahanui: Road reconstruction work continues south of Waitahanui. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit are in place. Crews are hoping to be able to complete final sealing prior to Christmas, however this is weather dependent.
• SH1 Desert Road: The road is down a single lane near Tree Trunk Gorge Road, due to washouts. Temporary traffic signals are in place along with a temporary speed limit; road users are reminded to comply with the traffic management on site. Repair work is underway; there will be short periods of stop/stop traffic management to move machinery to/from site. More information.

West Waikato

• SH1B Puketaha: SH1B east of Hamilton is closed at the southern end of Telephone Road while options for its long-term future are investigated. Detour via Holland Road, Waverley Road and Seddon Road. More information.
• SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia Section: Safety and remedial works are taking a break over the holidays and temporary safety barriers continue to be moved to open the expressway to four lanes. This requires overnight closures and detours from Sunday. South-bound has been completed and north-bound is on Sunday 18, Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 December, between 7pm and 5am. Detours will be in place. More information.
• SH30 Kōpaki: Due to safety concerns Kopaki Bridge is only open to cars. The detour for all other vehicles is via Kopaki Road and SH4. More information.

A localised drop out between Kōpaki Road and Ohirea Road means temporary traffic signals are in place to control traffic, along with a temporary speed restriction of 30 km/h.

Repairs are complete at a slump near Kōpaki Bridge; however, this site remains under a temporary speed restriction.

• SH4 Taumarunui: Following storm damage, a section of road north of Taumarunui, between the State Highway 43 intersection and Okahukura Bridge Road is under stop/go traffic management, controlled by traffic signals. Enabling works have commenced, and plans for the long-term repair of this road are currently being designed.

North Waikato

• SH1 Hampton Downs: Overnight ramp closures continue from Sunday 18 to Wednesday 21 December. The closures are needed so the team can safely install barriers on the ramps. The recommended detour when both southbound ramps and the northbound onramp are closed is to use the Te Kauwhata Interchange, travelling along Rodda Road and Whangamarino Road. For the northbound offramp closures the recommended detour is to head north past the interchange to Dragway Road, use the turnaround and then access the interchange using the southbound offramp. From Thursday 22 December, the ramp work will be completed, site cleared and SH1 Waikato Expressway will return to the permanent speed limit of 110km/h. More information.