With only one month until Christmas, the summer renewals programme is steaming ahead with bells on. 

Great progress is being made across the region, and although there have been a few rain delays, generally contractors are making good headway into what is a huge summer programme overall, says Roger Brady, Acting Regional Manager Maintenance and Operations at Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. 

“Work will continue to build momentum up until the Christmas/New Year break. We have put a real emphasis on planning our work, with the aim to reduce overall disruption by collaborating across the regions. This will help road users reach their destination on time.”

There are still emergency works across the region. One example is State Highway 5 Waimangu, south of Rotorua, where an underslip occurred in September.  

“It has taken time to understand why the slip happened, and determine the method for repair. A contract has now been awarded to repair the slip with works starting early next week.

“The repairs involve backfilling with material recycled from another project, installation of a geotextile layer and a rock-armoured face to stabilise the bank. With weather on our side the work should be finished mid-December. 

“As always, the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner journeys.nzta.govt.nz is the best tool to use on the day of travel, as this provides real-time updates on the network.”

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 3 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 Thursday 30 November. During the closure period eastbound vehicles will be detoured via Bethlehem Road, Carmichael Road, Millers Road, Bellevue Road and Waihī Road. 

· SH2/15th Ave:  Work on the Tauranga City Council-led Cameron Road upgrade continues, with resurfacing of the Fifteenth Avenue intersection at night, between 6pm and 6am each night between Sunday 26 November and Thursday 30 November. More information 

· Hewletts Road /Maunganui Road: Construction continues on two pedestrian maze crossings at the railway crossing. Work is expected to be complete by early December 2023 During construction there will be lane closures for periods of time.

· SH2 Bay Link: People travelling between Baypark and Bayfair will continue to see several road and lane closures. 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. 

· 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. More information. 

Western Bay of Plenty 

· SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Lane shifts and speed reductions are in place at 2 intersections (Sharp Road and Lockington Road / Matahui 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.  
The second chipseal coat on the Rea/Tetley, Morton Road and Lockington/Matahui roundabouts will take place overnight with stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays. This work is weather dependent so may be postponed at short notice. 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/h 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.   

· SH2 Wairoa Cycleway: The Tauranga City Council cycleway construction continues with the finalising of traffic lights and line marking. The cycleway is due to be completed in early December 2023. 

· SH33 Paengaroa: Road rebuilding is ongoing 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 26 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. Nighttime road closures will be in place from 8pm Sunday 3 December to 5am Friday 8 December (5 nights) for road resurfacing. Closures will take place between 8pm and 5am each night, during this time through traffic will be diverted via Vaughan Road. Minor traffic delays are expected. Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times.  More information. 

· SH33 Ōkere Falls: Road rebuilding continues at an 800m section of road north of  Ōkere 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. 

· SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Work on SH33 safety improvements are underway with contractors working on widening the corridor, installing safety barriers and improving draining. There are also rehabilitation works underway are various locations on the corridor. 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.

· SH5 Waimangu: Work will start next week to repair a slip south of Tumunui, backfilling and stabilising the bank. Minor delays are expected, work is expected to be complete by mid-December. 

· SH38 Murupara: Resealing will be taking place between Waimangu and Murupara until Tuesday 5 December with stop/go traffic management is in place. Delays of up to 30 minutes can be expected. 

Eastern Bay of Plenty 

· 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 December 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.