With rain events impacting the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region, roading crews responded to a number of events on the state highway network last week.

However, the Coromandel roading network remained largely unaffected, with the majority of the impact falling on the Bay of Plenty.

Flooding and slips caused road closures and delays on a number of state highways with crews spending the majority of Tuesday through to the end of the week out on the network clearing debris and assessing the damage caused by torrential rain.

News that the Taparahi slip on State Highway 25A will be repaired through the construction of a bridge was welcome news to the Coromandel community.

Plans are in place to manage traffic on SH25 while the bridge is constructed, says Cara Lauder, Waikato System Manager at Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

'We have seen an increased volume of traffic using the coastal route around the Peninsula, which was to be expected.

' We appreciate the weather events plus the additional traffic is putting stress on the roading network. We want to provide surety of travel to those living in and visiting the Coromandel, and over the coming months we will make adjustments to put this into effect.

'As we move closer to those dark wet weather months it's a good time to consider how the change of season can affect driving conditions, maintaining greater following distance between your vehicle and the one in front, slowing down and being prepared for unexpected hazards will all help ensure a safe journey.

'When driving long distances consider sharing time at the wheel, and ensure you take regular breaks. Finally, check the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner (www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz) before you leave home to ensure you have the latest information on 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. More information.

• SH2 Wairoa Cycleway: Motorists are being advised that the peak time congestion issues on State Highway 2 between Ōmokoroa and Bethlehem are set to continue for some time yet. Between the Wairoa Bridge and Bethlehem there are two pieces of work planned or underway.
  Currently Tauranga City Council are in the process of installing new kerb and channel at Taniwha Place as part of the Wairoa Cycleway project. This work will be finished by the weekend. The rest of the cycleway work will be completed at night and is not expected to cause significant impacts to traffic.
  Separately, road rehabilitation between Wairoa Bridge and Bethlehem, commenced Sunday 14 May, with work taking place until early June.

Due to the narrow width of the bridge approaches, the road is closed overnight, from 8pm through to 5am on Sunday 14, Thursday 18 and Wednesday 24 May. Light vehicles will be detoured, via Wairoa Road, Crawford Road and Poripori Road, through to State Highway 29. Heavy vehicles will be stacked either side of the bridge and piloted through at set intervals.
At all other times work will take place under Stop/Go traffic management with temporary speed limits past the site.

• SH2 Bay Link: The new Bayfair flyover is open, taking traffic over the Bayfair roundabout and making it safer for everyone by separating local and state highway traffic. Road reconstruction is underway on all ground level roads leading into, and away from, the Bayfair roundabout, with the following temporary traffic layouts in place: A single lane is available on Maunganui Road northbound from opposite Exeter Street, through the Bayfair roundabout to opposite Concord Avenue, on Maunganui Road southbound from Concord Avenue to Bayfair roundabout and around the Bayfair roundabout. Find out more about the new road layout at www.nzta.govt.nz/bayfairflyover.
• New work zones and a new road layout are in place on Matapihi Road at the intersection of Owens Place, and approaching the Bayfair roundabout to enable the completion of this intersection. The pedestrian crossing on Matapihi Road has moved between the two HomeZone shopping area entrances. The right turn from Matapihi Road onto Owens Place is now permanently closed. Road users wishing to turn right onto Owens Place from Matapihi Road use the Bayfair roundabout, complete a full turn at the roundabout before returning along Matapihi Road and turning left into Owens Place.
• SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road (TDTR): A reduced speed limit of 80km/h will be in place while contractor crews are working behind the barriers.
• SH29 Kaimai Range: Due to surface conditions on SH29 between Old Kaimai and Hanga Road, the road will be reduced to one lane in both directions with a 50km temporary speed limit in place. Caution is required.

• SH2 Fifteenth Avenue: Work continues on the upgrade of the intersection at SH2/Fifteenth Avenue and Cameron Road. Work is currently focused on the southeast corner of the Fifteenth Avenue intersection. Temporary traffic management is in place with a westbound lane closure on Fifteenth Avenue, with traffic able to turn left onto Cameron Road from the centre lane, and a southbound lane closure on Cameron Road, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth Avenue. Moderate traffic delays are expected.

• SH2 Hewletts Road: Work continues to upgrade the existing footpath on the northern side of SH2 Hewletts Road to a shared use path. Work is taking place in four consecutive stages to minimise disruption. Works in the last stage, between Maru St and Aerodrome Rd, are now underway. The northbound bus lane will be closed Monday to Friday between 5am and 3pm each day. Line marking of the new shared path is underway between Totara Street and Aerodrome Road, with works taking place at night only. 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 late June 2023 with reinstatement work planned for July 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.

Western Bay of Plenty

• SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Safety improvements continue at four active sites: between Tanners Point Road to Kauri Point Road, Rea Road /Tetley Road Roundabout, Lockington Road / Matahui Road intersection and Apata Station Road to Esdaile Road.

Roundabout construction is underway at Lockington Road/Matahui Road intersection, lane shifts and speed reduction are in place. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management, expect delays. Apata Station Road to Esdaile Road, speed restrictions are in place for road widening works. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays, but typically expect minor delays of one to two minutes. More information

Rotorua

• SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: Multiple worksites are active with temporary traffic management in place on SH30/Te Ngae Road between Iles Road and Ōwhata Road. The shoulder is closed on the westbound lane between Basley Road and 411 Te Ngae Road. The intersection of Basley Road and SH30/Te Ngae Road is now open to left in and left out turns. Work to complete the final section of new road surface at the intersection of Basley Road and Melrose Avenue is underway, and there will be an intermittent road closure at Melrose Avenue. The upgraded footpath on the lakeside of SH30/Te Ngae Road, between Iles Road and Tennyson Drive, is now closed for preparing for the new road surface. The footpath on the southern side of SH30/Te Ngae Road, between Iles Road and the mid-block opposite Puketāwhero Park, is open, with a temporary signalised crossing at the city end of Puketāwhero Park. Work is continuing on the new retaining wall opposite Brent Road on SH30/Te Ngae Road - temporary traffic management in place includes a contraflow lane shift and a shoulder closure on the eastbound lane of SH30/ Te Ngae Road between Puketāwhero Park and Brent Road, while the footpath through this section remains closed. There are two newly installed temporary pedestrian crossings in place at the airport end of Puketāwhero Park and outside Te Ngae Shopping Centre, allowing footpath users to safely cross SH30/Te Ngae Road. There is a temporary reduced speed limit of 50km/h and three sections of temporary pedestrian crossings with temporary reduced speed limit of 30km/h. Moderate traffic delays are expected. Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times. More information.

• SH30/SH33 Te Ngae Junction: Construction of safety improvements continue on the western side of the intersection, and earthworks continue on the southeast corner of the SH30/SH33 intersection, temporary traffic management will be in place including a reduced speed limit through the site during work hours. Moderate traffic delays are expected. From Thursday 18 May (weather dependent) there will be a three way stop/go in place at all times as work progresses on constructing the new roundabout. Traffic delays of up to 30 minutes are expected during peak times and up to 10 minutes off-peak. People driving light vehicles are encouraged to use Hamurana Road, SH36 and SH5 to travel to/from Rotorua. More information.

• SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Due to the impacts of heavy rain various work activities will resume on sections of road between Allport Road and Hamurana Road from today, Monday 15 May. 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.

• SH30 Lake Rotoiti: Reinstatement work is underway on an underslip at Lake Rotoiti, the estimated completion time is 12 days, crews will be on site 24/7 with manned lights, minor traffic delays ae expected.

• SH30 Rotoma: Due to an underslip between Matahi Road and SH34 Kawerau Road, a section of SH30 is reduced to one lane with stop/go traffic management in place. Geotech investigations are underway.
• SH36 Mangorewa Gorge: Investigations are underway after a slip has been identified following recent heavy weather with one lane closed and stop/go traffic management in place. Stop/go traffic management is also in place after recent floods between Jackson Road and Central Road. Surface repairs will take place where required, and the passing lane will remain closed for the immediate future. Drive with caution and expect some delays.

Eastern Bay of Plenty

• 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.
• SH2 Manganuku Bridge, Waioeka Gorge: After planned testing on the Manganuku Bridge, further investigations are required. The reduced speed limit of 30km/h for heavy vehicles will remain in place until results are determined. 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.
• SH38 Murupara: Due to an underslip north of Murupara township priority give way has been set up whilst geotechnical investigations are carried out.
• SH2 Wainui to Ōpōtiki: Safety improvements between Wainui Road and Woodlands Road, Opotiki commenced Monday 8 May. This work is expected to take around four months to complete (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.