With some renewal activities wrapping up at the end of the month, contractors are on a final push to complete as much work as weather and time allows.

Night-time temperatures have started to drop considerably, and this can affect the quality of any chipseal application, says Cara Lauder, Waikato System Manager at Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency.

'Warm temperatures are critical in ensuring the bitumen stays warm and in a liquid state while the chip is applied over the top. This ensures the different materials can bind together and provide the seal over the layers underneath.

'We now complete significant volumes of chipsealing at night, especially on corridors with high traffic volumes, to minimise disruption. Temperatures have started dropping below 10 degrees overnight, which is an indicator that any seal we lay down will not succeed. If we can't complete everything this week we will add the remaining sites to next summer's programme.”

Other activities such as asphalt resurfacing will continue into April, including a number of significant sites across the region.

'Asphalt work can still take place in slightly colder temperatures, and this allows us to keep working away through April,” says Ms Lauder. 'We will be resurfacing at the Massey/Greenwood intersection on State Highway 1C in Hamilton, following the rebuild of the traffic lights there. There is also work on SH29 Takitimu Drive in Tauranga and SH30 through Rotorua.

'This work all helps to prepare our roads for the winter ahead. The more we can do to waterproof our roads the better they perform during periods of wet weather.”

Road users are reminded to check the Journey Planner (www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz) for the latest road conditions across the state highway network.

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. The new Harrison Road alignment will open with new seal and line marking scheduled in the coming weeks, when there is consistent fine 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 Wairoa Cycleway: Construction commences in the near future the last 800m section of the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway, between the Wairoa Bridge and Bethlehem. While most of the works will be undertaken at night, there will be traffic management in place for on-road works. Work is expected to take about eight weeks to complete. This project is a partnership project between Tauranga City Council, Waka Kotahi and Western Bay of Plenty District Council. More information.
• SH2 Bay Link: Works continue across the worksite. Two lanes between Matapihi Road and Girven Road have been restored and will be available until the Bayfair flyover is available for use. Truman Lane remains closed to eastbound traffic from SH29A, with a detour via the Sandhurst interchange. 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 Fifteenth Avenue: Work continues on the upgrade of the intersection at SH2/Fifteenth Avenue and Cameron Road. Traffic management will be in place at the intersection, and there will be a reduced number of lanes on Cameron Road. Minor delays are expected. Cameron Road, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth Avenue, has a southbound lane closure through to mid-2023.
• SH2 Hewletts Road: Works to upgrade the footpath on the northern side of SH2 Hewletts Road to a shared path continues. Work is taking place in four consecutive stages to minimise disruption. Stage two works, between Waimarie St and Hocking St, continue. 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.

• 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 fine weather. Stop/go traffic management will be in place overnight at the Morton Road roundabout site, which also has an unsealed section northbound of the roundabout awaiting sealing. Slip repairs are continuing opposite Sargent Drive. A power pole will be replaced near Westbank Drive on Saturday 25 March. Minor delays are expected. More information.
• SH29 Lower Kaimai: Chipsealing will take place during the week from Monday 27 March. Work will take place between 9am and 4pm. During this time stop/go and/or lane shift traffic management will be in place, along with temporary speed limits. Minor delays are expected.

Rotorua

• SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: Multiple worksites are active on SH30/Te Ngae Road between Iles Road and Brent Road. Temporary traffic management will be in place including, a shoulder closure on the westbound lane between Basley Road and 411 Te Ngae Road, a full closure at the Basley Road and SH30/Te Ngae Road intersection – detours are in place. There is a temporary reduced speed limit through site of 50km/per hr. The upgraded footpath on the lakeside of SH30/Te Ngae Road, between Iles Road and Tennyson Drive is now open. The footpath on the southern side of SH30/Te Ngae Road, between Basley Road and 411 Te Ngae Road is closed with a temporary signalised pedestrian crossing at the city end of Puketāwhero park to cross SH30/Te Ngae Road. In the coming week excavation of the central median between Tumene Drive and Ōwhata Road on SH30/Te Ngae Road will begin which will require stop/go traffic management during hours of work, with a contraflow lane shift in place once the excavations have been completed. There is a shoulder closure on the eastbound lane of SH30/ Te Ngae Road between Puketāwhero park and Brent Road. Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times. Asphalt resurfacing takes place at the intersection of SH30 and Iles Road on the nights of Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 March, a detour via Vaughan Road will be in place between 6pm and 6am each night. More information.
• SH30 Holdens Bay: Asphalt resurfacing takes place between Robinson Avenue and Hannah Road from Sunday 19 March to Tuesday 21 March, between the hours of 6pm and 6am each night. Stop/go and stop/stop traffic management will be in place during this time.
• SH30 Rotorua Airport: Road reconstruction commences Monday 27 March north of the entrance to Rotorua Airport. Work will take place over five weeks, between the hours of 7am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. Lane shifts and a temporary speed limit will be in place. Prior to school holidays work will be paused before and after school hours to assist with vehicle movement in and out of Rotokawa Road. Stop/go traffic management will be in place during the school holidays, significant delays are expected when this occurs.
• SH30/SH33 Te Ngae Junction: Construction of safety improvements continue on the western side of the intersection, with a shoulder closure in place. From Tuesday 21 March, excavation work will continue on the south east corner of the SH30/SH33 junction, temporary traffic management will be in place including a reduced speed limit through site and a 3-way stop/go during work hours. Moderate traffic delays are expected. More information.
• SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Temporary reduced speed limits are in place while maintenance teams work on slip areas and fallen trees. More information.

Eastern Bay of Plenty

• SH5 Tumunui: Asphalt resurfacing takes place at Tumunui Road from Monday 27 March. Work will take place between 6pm and 6am and is expected to take four nights to complete. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place.
• 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.
• SH30 Te Teko: A road closure will be in place between Te Teko Road and Western Drain Road from Monday 27 to Wednesday 29 March, between 8am and 5pm each day, to allow multiple maintenance activities to take place. During work hours the detour will be via SH34 Military Road and SH2.
• SH2 Awakeri: Asphalt resurfacing takes place at the western intersection of SH2 and SH30 in Awakeri, from Monday 27 March. Work will take place between 7pm and 6am each night. During this time access to or from the southern section of SH30 (towards Te Teko) will be closed, vehicles will be detoured via SH34 and SH2. Light vehicles can use Western Drain Road. Work is expected to take one week to complete.
• 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.

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 routes are impassable for the time being. Other routes are experiencing significant delays due to high traffic volumes, please check the Journey Planner for the most up to date information, and only travel if it is essential. More information.

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. There are several sites along SH4 that received damage from the cyclone, including a number that require further investigation and designs completed prior to remedial action taking place.
• 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.
• 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 Beach Hop: Beach Hop takes place until Sunday 26 March. Higher than usual traffic volumes can be expected on SH25, especially in and around Whangamatā.
• 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.
• SH25 Thames: Asphalt resurfacing takes place on SH25 Queen Street from Sunday 26 March. Work will take place between 6pm and 6am each night, and is expected to take approximately a week to complete. During this time stop/stop traffic management will be in place. Minor delays are expected.
• 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.
• SH29/SH24 Te Poi: Asphalt surfacing continues at the SH29/SH24 intersection until Monday 27 March. Stop/stop traffic management will be in place between 7pm and 5am each night, delays are expected as a result.

• SH5 Napier – Taupō: SH5 towards Napier is open to all traffic between 7am and 7pm. There are 32 damaged sites along the route, travel will take longer than it used to. Daytime road closures are being planned for road renewals in the coming weeks. More information.
• SH1 Lichfield: Road rebuilding continues at a site near Puriri Road. This work is expected to take four weeks to complete. Between the hours of 7am – 7pm, Monday to Friday all northbound light vehicles will detour via Rollett Road, Paraonui Road and Wiltsdown Road. Northbound heavy vehicles and residents living within the worksite will be stacked at the site and let through at set intervals.
• 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 in place at active work sites. Pavement works and barrier construction will finish in April 2023. 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 Chipsealing: Multiple chipseal sites will be completed during the week between Tokoroa and Waiouru. Stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place.

West Waikato

• SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia Section: Safety and remedial works have restarted with temporary safety barriers reinstalled over recent weeks. Traffic will be managed through the work sites which are single lane and 50km/h until completion in March 2024. More information.
• SH1C Hillcrest: Work at the SH1C/Cambridge Road roundabout continue 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. This work sees the intersection changed to traffic light controls, and is expected to be completed by mid-2023. More information.
• 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.

Road resurfacing takes place between the Dinsdale Roundabout and Newcastle Road on Sunday 26 and Monday 27 March, between the hours of 7pm and 6am each night. During this time access to SH23 from affected side roads will be closed, please follow local road detours. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place on SH23.

• 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 take several months to complete. More information.
• SH1C Normandy Avenue: Asphalt resurfacing takes place between Lorne Street and Cobham Drive on Thursday 30 March, between the hours of 8pm and 6am. During this time stop/go traffic management will be in place.
• SH3 Melville: Asphalt resurfacing takes place on Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 March, between the hours of 8pm and 6am each night. During this time SH3 will be closed between SH1C Lorne Street and the SH3 Normandy Avenue roundabout. A detour via these two roads is available.
• 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.
• 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.
• SH39 Pirongia: Road rehabilitation and bridge repairs continues at the northern entry to Pirongia, continues. A road closure will be in place until Friday 31 March, detours will be in place with heavy vehicles advised to use SH3.
• SH31 Kawhia Road: An underslip has appeared at a location on the Kawhia side of the lookout. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit is in place while investigations take place.

North Waikato

• SH2 Maramarua: Stop/go traffic management will be in place between Monument Road and Dimmock Road on Monday 27March, between the hours of 9pm and 5am.
• SH2 Waitakaruru: Stop/go traffic management will be in place at the intersection with Okaeria Road on Monday 27 March, between the hours of 9pm and 5am.
• SH2: Chipseal surfacing will be applied between Coalfields Road and Steen Road from Tuesday 28 March until Monday 3 April. Work will take place under stop/go traffic management between the hours of 9pm and 5am.

Taranaki

• SH43 Aukopae: Due to a wash out, there is 30km/h speed restriction in place.
• SH3 Awakino Gorge: Asphalt resurfacing takes place at the northern end of the Awakino Gorge from Thursday 30 March until Tuesday 4 April. Stop/go traffic management will be in place between 7am and 7pm, with delays of 10-15 minutes expected. There will be no work on Saturday or Sunday.
• SH3 Awakino Bypass: Work is expected to be complete late-March. Stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit will be present when work is taking 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. Temporary traffic management measures will still be in place occasionally as required. More information.
• SH3 Uruti: Due to maintenance works, there are temporary traffic lights and a 30km/h temporary speed restriction in place near Uruti Road. Minor delays are expected.
• SH3 Te Ara Tutohu Waitara to Bell Block: Work to construct the Princess Street Roundabout and underpass has commenced. From Monday 27 March, for approximately two weeks, the intersection of Princess Street and SH3 will be controlled by four sets of traffic lights so crews can undertake tree clearing works. 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 (journeys.nzta.govt.nz).

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