While the sun continues to shine, road workers across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty have been able to make significant progress across a number of worksites. 

This is good news for road users, with a number of road rebuilds finishing earlier than expected, and good progress made on chipseal and asphalt programmes. 

However, the run into Christmas is going to be busy, notes Roger Brady, Acting Waikato and Bay of Plenty Regional Manager, Maintenance and Operations for Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. 

“We have just over a month left before the holiday period, and contractors are looking to make the most of this. This will mean worksites will continue to pop up across the region, and members of the public may need to factor in additional travel time to ensure they reach their destination on time. 

“An example of this is State Highway 3 between Hamilton and New Plymouth. With a combination of road rebuilds, long-term project sites and resilience work taking place, we expect the journey between these two locations could take an hour longer than expected. 

“It’s crucial to plan ahead and understand what worksites you will encounter on your journey. This work is important as it ensures the state highway network continues to be safe and accessible at all times, particularly during winter when we are unable to do this type of work.” 

The Waka Kotahi Journey Planner (journeys.nzta.govt.nz) is the best place for information on the status of the state highway network. With live updates on worksites and other road hazards, Journey Planner can help road users plot the best route to their destination. 

Crews will take a break from midday Friday 22 December. Some crews may return straight after the statutory holidays, and work will ramp up from Monday 8 January. 

“By Christmas our crews will have deserved a well-earned break,” says Mr Brady. “When you arrive at a worksite, remember the team is working for you, making your journeys safer and more enjoyable. Give them a toot or a wave, it will make their day.” 

Bay of Plenty 

Tauranga 

· Takitimu North Link Stage One: Earthworks are underway 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. Work in this area will become more evident as we work towards completing the Wairoa Road bridge in preparation of its opening. Minden Road has a 30km/h speed limit throughout the construction zone. A temporary haul road into the Te Mete Valley is operational to support the summer earthworks season. The single-lane haul road is 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 continues. Work to connect the bridge with Cambridge and Moffat Roads and utility 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. Traffic will be diverted onto the temporary diversion road from this week. A 3-month closure of a section of Moffat Road near Tauranga Adventist School starts in January 2024. More information. 

· Cambridge Road (East): Tauranga City Council continues slip repair work at Cambridge Road East near the St Andrews Drive roundabout. Cambridge Road is now one-lane only while the work is underway, drivers heading into the city detour via St Andrews Drive, Castlewold Drive and Wakefield Drive. Drivers coming from the city are to use Cambridge Road as usual. There is a 30km/h speed restriction past the work site. The slip was caused by recent weather and the repair team is progressing well with the construction of a retaining wall to help prevent future slips. During November, drainage works and road repair will be undertaken to restore the kerb and channel on Cambridge Road. The repair is expected to be completed in mid-December, weather dependent.  

· SH2 Bethlehem: Tauranga City Council is replacing the concrete barrier on the eastbound shoulder between Bethlehem Road and Waihī Road with guardrail, as part of the Beaumaris Boulevard flood mitigation works. The road shoulder will be closed for approximately 3 weeks, before a further single night closure to remove the temporary barriers on Friday 1 December. During the closure period eastbound vehicles will be detoured via Bethlehem Road, Carmichael Road, Millers Road, Bellevue Road and Waihī Road. 

· SH2 / Elizabeth Street: Work on the Tauranga City Council led Cameron Road upgrade continues, with resurfacing planned for the Elizabeth Street intersection. Resurfacing will begin on the western side of the Elizabeth Street intersection, which will be fully closed at night (6pm to 6am) on Sunday 19 November and Monday 20 November. Eastbound traffic from SH2 will be detoured via Glasgow Street and Third Avenue to Cameron Road. Moderate traffic delays are expected. 

· SH2 Maunganui Road: Construction continues on two pedestrian maze crossings at the rail crossing. Work is expected to be complete by late January 2024, during this time there will be lane closures for periods of time, more information on these will be provided in due course. 

· SH2 Bay Link: People travelling between Baypark and Bayfair will continue to see several road layout changes over the next few months with the project nearing completion. Closures will vary night to night, depending on site requirements and progress, and people are asked to allow extra time, follow signposted detours and drive with caution through the project site. To minimise impact, works are undertaken at night where possible with the aim to minimise disruption to people travelling through the area. More information. 

· SH29A Welcome Bay to Baypark: SH29A will be fully closed between the Maungatapu roundabout and the Baypark roundabout, from Sunday 19 to Friday 24 November, between 7pm and 5am each night, for road resurfacing and resealing. Light vehicles will be detoured via SH2, local roads and the Hairini bridge. Heavy vehicles will detour via SH2, SH29 and SH29A. Waka Kotahi is waiving the toll for heavy vehicles on the SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road between 7pm and 5am each night between Monday 19 November and Friday 24 November. Baypark and Truman Lane access will be available from the Sandhurst interchange only. This work is weather dependent. If it is delayed because of weather or other unforeseen issues, it will be carried out on the next suitable night/s. More information. 

· SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road (TDTR): A reduced speed limit of 80km/h is in place while Takitimu North Link crews are working behind the barriers.  

· SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): Traffic management for the Tauranga City Council led Pāpāmoa East Interchange construction project has been removed until construction of the interchange itself starts in early 2024. More detail will be shared closer to the time. 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. Road users travelling on the morning of Tuesday 21 November will see the final concrete bridge deck pour taking place above the road, this will not affect road users. More information. 

Western Bay of Plenty 

· SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Lane shifts and speed reductions are in place at four intersections (Sharp Road, Lockington Road / Matahui Road, Pahoia Road, Omokoroa Road) while testing activity and 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, although typically there will be minor delays of one to two minutes. More information. 

· Western Tie-in (near Loop Road): Construction continues at the western tie-in of the Takitimu North Link project where Utilities need to be moved. SH2 will be reduced to 50km/hr in the area during this work, and the passing lane heading west will be removed to allow the crews to work on the side of the road.  

· SH33 Paengaroa: Road rebuilding starts Monday 20 November on a northbound uphill slow lane south of Paengaroa. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place until late December, with work taking place between 6am and 6pm. Delays are expected.  

Rotorua 

· SH30A Amohau Street: Road resurfacing takes place between Ranolf Street and Fenton Street from Sunday 19 November. Work will take place between 8pm and 5am each night, for approximately one week. During work hours the road will be closed, HPMV are required to detour via SH5 and SH30, light vehicles can use Ranolf Street, Malfroy Road and Fenton Street. 

· 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. Minor traffic delays are expected. Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times. More information. 

· SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Work on the SH33 safety improvements project continues with contractors working on a 5km section of road between Sun Valley Curves and Maniatutu Road. Work includes widening of the road corridor, installing safety barriers, improving drainage and road rebuilding. Temporary traffic management will be in place including stop/go, lights, 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. A full road closure will be in place on Monday 20 November between 7.30am and 4:30pm to complete the final seal. HPMV vehicles to detour via SH30 and SH34, all other vehicles can use Main Street, Otakiri Road and SH34. Following sweeping and line marking all traffic management and temporary speed limits will be lifted. 

· SH33 Okere Falls: Road rebuilding continues at an 800m section of road north of Okere Falls. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place until late December, with work taking place between 6am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Delays are expected. 

· SH30 Ruato Bay: Road rebuilding continues until early December. During this time stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place between 7am and 6pm each weekday. Delays are expected, particularly when machinery is being moved across the road. 

· SH2 Waimana Gorge: Road rebuilding continues. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place during this time. Work will be complete by midday Friday 22 December. 

· 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 Manganuku Bridge, Waioeka Gorge: A reduced speed limit of 30km/h for heavy vehicles will remain in place until further notice. Heavy vehicles must stick to the speed limit as those travelling at higher speeds will exert greater loads on the structure, which currently poses a significant risk. 

· SH5 Waimangu: Temporary traffic lights are in place at a slip site south of Tumunui. Drive with care and expect minor delays. 

· SH5 and SH30 (south of Rotorua): Road resealing is taking place from Monday 13 November, with stop/go traffic management between 7am and 7pm each weekday. This work is weather dependent. Minor delays are expected when sealing is taking place. 

Waikato 

East Waikato 

 · SH2 Mangatarata: Road rebuilding begins Monday 20 November near Coxhead Road. Stop/go traffic management will be in place between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday. A temporary speed limit will be in place, minor delays are expected. Work is expected to be complete by mid-December. 

· SH25: Recovery works are underway at a number of sites, with temporary traffic management such as lane closures and stop/go along with reduced speed limits in place where required. This currently includes Wharekaho, Coroglen and Ruamahunga. More information. 

· SH25 Thames: Road resurfacing continues outside of the Goldfields shopping centre and at a second site near the intersection with Grey Street. Work will take place between 8pm and 5am, Sunday to Thursday nights. During this time stop/go traffic management will be in place, and from time-to-time side roads will be closed to help finish the work as quickly as possible.  

· 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 open by Wednesday 20 December. Additional works are taking place across SH25A while the road is closed and some traffic management may stay in place where maintenance activity is ongoing. More information.  

· SH27 Tahuna: Road resurfacing of the SH27 / Paeroa-Tahuna Road roundabout commences Sunday 19 November. Four-way stop/go traffic management will be in place between 8pm and 5am each night, for approximately one week. 

· SH26 Morrinsville: Work to resurface the road between Thames Street and Allen Street intersections will commence from 6pm Sunday 3 December until 6am Friday 8 December. The repair work will require a full closure of the road day and night between these times. Detours are available. Access for residents and businesses will be maintained, as will access for emergency services.  

Central Waikato 

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

· SH1 Ātiamuri: Temporary steel barriers have been installed nearby from Ātiamuri village to Ohakuri Road and a temporary speed restriction of 50km/h applies ahead of construction starting on safety barrier installation. More information. 

· SH1 Tuahu: Road rehabilitation continues and is expected to be complete by early December. During this time there are intermittent daytime road closures, alternating with stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits. When the road is closed light vehicles and buses can detour via Tirohanga Road, Forest Road and Oruanui Road. Heavy vehicles need to detour via SH30 and SH5. All vehicles can use SH32 as an alternative route south. Other maintenance and renewals activities will take place when the road is closed. More information. 

· SH1 Maroa Road: Daytime stop/go traffic management is in place on weekdays along with a temporary speed restriction, while finishing works and final surfacing are completed by Christmas. 

· SH1 Hatepe: Road rebuilding re-starts Monday 27 November at a site north of Hatepe. Stop/go traffic management will be in place between 6am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Work is expected to be complete by mid-December. 

· 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. 

· SH5 Iwitahi (Napier/Taupo Road): Road rehabilitation continues and is expected to be complete by mid-December. Stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place at all active worksites. Delays are to be expected. 

West Waikato 

· 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. Major southbound surfacing works in November and December will need a block of night closures and detours for approximately 5 weeks. The closures will take place from Sunday to Thursday each week, running from Sunday 19 November to Thursday 21 December, 7pm to 5am each night. The detour is via SH1B Gordonton Road. Light traffic can turn off at Lake Road to re-join SH1 at the Northern Interchange. Heavy vehicles must use SH1B, including the local road detour at Telephone Road, and connect to SH1 again at Cambridge or via SH26 into Hillcrest. More information. 

· SH26 Hillcrest: Road resurfacing takes place from Tuesday 21 November for three nights. SH26 will be closed each night between 8pm and 5am, with a detour via Wairere Drive and Ruakura Road for all vehicles. 

· SH1 Karāpiro (Keeley’s Reserve): The bulk of the work has wrapped up on the turnaround bay at Keeley’s Reserve in Karāpiro. The reserve has reopened to the public and the turnaround bay can be used. Due to a nation-wide shortage, the streetlighting system is yet to be installed and this will be completed just prior to Christmas or in early 2024. More information. 

· SH3 Ōhaupō: The Waipā District Council led Ōhaupō village pedestrian safety improvements are underway and are expected to take 6 months to complete. During this time lane shifts and stop/go traffic management will be in place, along with temporary speed limits. 

· SH3 Waitomo: Road rebuilding continues at a site near the Big Apple, north of the SH37 Waitomo Caves roundabout. Stop/go traffic management will be in place between 6am and 8pm, and from Monday 27 November this will switch to 24-hour stop/go for approximately two weeks. A temporary speed limit will be in place, work is expected to be complete by mid-December. 

· SH31 Kāwhia: Road resealing is taking place, with stop/go traffic management between 6am and 8pm each weekday. This work is weather dependent. Minor delays are expected when sealing is taking place. 

· SH30 Te Kūiti: Due to a slip, priority give-way is in place near Mangaokewa Road, motorists are advised to proceed with caution. 

North Waikato 

· SH1 Waikato Expressway – Rangiriri section: Remedial works requiring various interchange ramp closures continue until late November. SH1 traffic is being managed through the site with a temporary speed restriction of 50km/h. Current work in the southbound lanes means both the Te Kauwhata and Rangiriri southbound off-ramps are closed. The detours are via the Ōhinewai interchange to Rangiriri/Te Kauwhata or on local roads from Hampton Downs. Efforts are being made to open the Te Kauwhata interchange southbound off-ramp as soon as possible. 

· SH1 Hampton Downs: The southbound on-ramp will be closed on Monday 20 November between 9pm and 5am. Please use alternative on-ramps at Springhill Road or Te Kauwhata Road. 

· SH1 Pōkeno: There will be a full northbound closure between Pōkeno (Great South Road/Dean Road) and Nikau Road on Wednesday 22 November between 9.30pm and 5am. Traffic will still be able to travel north using one of the southbound lanes.  

· SH1 Bombay: There will be a full northbound closure between Nikau Road and Mill Road on Tuesday 21 November, between 9pm and 5am. Traffic will still be able to travel north using one of the southbound lanes. 

· SH2 Maramarua: Chipsealing continues until early December. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place between 9pm and 5am at each worksite. More information. 

Taranaki 

· SH3 Awakino: Final surfacing commences on Monday 20 November. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, with delays of up to 15 minutes expected. Work is expected to be complete by the end of March 2024. 

· SH3 Mt Messenger: Slip debris removal work takes place between Monday 20 and Wednesday 22 November, between 5pm and 5am each night. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place during this time. Delays of up to 15 minutes are expected. 

 · SH3 Uruti: Rock mesh slip protection work north of Mangamaio Road continues. Stop/go and stop/stop traffic management will be in place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, along with a 30km/h temporary speed restriction until Christmas. Delays of up to 30 minutes are expected. 

· SH3 Te Ara Tutohu Waitara to Bell Block: Due to safety improvement works, there is stop/go traffic management with a 30km/h speed limit in place 24/7. Allow for delays of up to 15 minutes. 

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. 

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

· COVID-19 services update: nzta.govt.nz/COVID19 

· Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic 

· Facebook: facebook.com/NZTAWaikatoBoP 

· Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahiWaiBP 

· Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz 

· Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)