Fine weather has been a blessing for road workers across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region, and contractors are hoping for a continuation of blue sky as road works continue to ramp up. 

Road rebuilding is getting underway at multiple sites across the Bay of Plenty, while resurfacing and resealing programmes are also commencing throughout the wider region in coming weeks. 

It’s great to see work underway already, says Cara Lauder, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Waikato and Bay of Plenty Acting Regional Manager. 

“We have started earlier than usual this year because we have a massive programme of work to deliver. The more we do now, the easier it makes coordination and resource allocation across the full season, ensuring we can deliver as much as possible while the conditions are right.” 

A number of road closures will be in place over the summer, due to a variety of reasons. 

“We want to keep everyone moving throughout the region.

“However, we also need to undertake work in a safe and effective manner. At times this means closing roads due to working in narrow or constricted areas, or where we can be more effective by bringing in multiple contractors at the same time to minimise disruption outside closure periods. 

“A great example of this is the recent closure of the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR), where four different contractors worked across two project sites (Pāpāmoa East Interchange and Rangiuru Interchange), undertook bridge maintenance as well as our routine maintenance in this area. This collaborative approach is great for our contractors and for road users.” 

To stay updated on all road works and the associated impacts to journeys, the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner (www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz) is the place to go. 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: Earthworks will commence in September 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. Construction has begun on a temporary haul road into the Te Mete Valley to support the summer earthworks season. The single-lane haul road will be separated from SH2 with a temporary concrete barrier, which has been installed along with new road markings. 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. On Wednesday 20 September between 7am and 7pm Powerco will be upgrading existing powerlines on Cambridge Road East, the road between St Andrews Drive roundabout and 269 Cambridge Road will be closed for this work, and a detour will be signposted. There will be a large number of workers and vehicles on site, this will be completed in one day, weather permitting. 

 ·       Cambridge Road (East): Tauranga City Council will begin slip repair work at Cambridge Road East near the St Andrews Drive roundabout. This will involve removing slip material, repairing the foundation, and building a retaining wall to help prevent future slips. Cambridge Road East will be one-lane only during this time, with a detour for all city-bound traffic via St Andrews Drive, Castlewold Drive and Wakefield Drive. Traffic coming from the city can continue on Cambridge Road East, with a 30km/h speed limit past the work site. It is expected the repair will take around 14 weeks to complete, weather dependent. 

 ·       Totara Street: Tauranga City Council will be completing the road construction process on Totara St, between Maui Street and Triton Avenue on Friday 22 September through until Wednesday 27 September. Traffic will be reduced to one lane for travel between Hewletts Road and Mount Maunganui. A detour will be in place via Hull Rd and Maunganui Road for those travelling from Mount Maunganui to Hewletts Road. Due to the work involving concrete continuous fine weather is required for this work to be successful, and it may be postponed or delayed as required. More information. 

 ·       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. 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. 

 ·       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. 

 ·       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. Both eastbound lanes are open and normal speed limits apply. 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-September 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 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: 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 commences Monday 18 September. Initial works will take place on the road shoulder, followed by six weeks of stop/go traffic management with a westbound detour option via Pukehina Road, Old Coach Road and Pongakawa Station Road. Delays and additional travel time are expected. 

Rotorua 

·       SH5 Utuhina Bridge: Resilience work on the Utuhina bridge commences 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. 

 ·       SH5 Old Taupō Road: Road resurfacing work takes place on SH5 south of the SH30A intersection from Sunday 17 September, between 7pm and 5am each night for one week. During work hours southbound traffic will be detoured via SH30A, light vehicles can use Fenton Street, while HPMV must use SH30. 

 ·       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.  

·       SH30/SH33 Te Ngae Junction: The majority of the construction activity is now complete on the new roundabout. Temporary traffic management will be in place as needed including speed restrictions, and shoulder closures along Rangiteorere Road while this is underway. Final surfacing will be completed 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 

 ·       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 commences Monday 18 September near the Omeheu Canal. Traffic management will be in place, including single direction closures from 18 September 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 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 Wainui to Ōpōtiki: Safety improvements between Wainui 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.  

·       SH35 Chipseal: Road resealing commences on Monday 18 September, 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.