Update, 4.05pm: Traffic through Bethlehem and Te Puna is gridlocked on Friday afternoon.

A SunLive reader who experienced long traffic hold-ups travelling in to Tauranga on State Highway 2 earlier today is expressing frustration at the delays now happening on the return trip.

"Traffic at gridlock trying to get out of the city on state highway 2 today," says the SunLive reader.

"Hopeless. [It's] taken an hour from Mount Maunganui to Bethlehem from 3 - 4pm."

School buses and parents picking up children from Bethlehem College are also caught up in the traffic jam.

There are a number of locations on SH2 between Bethlehem and Waihī being resealed, which are causing traffic delays. Motorists are advised to plan their journeys to suit. Photo: Supplied.

"Stationary traffic has been backed up from the Bethlehem [Moffat Road/SH2] roundabout to Bethlehem College for 45 minutes," says Darren Gedye, who is still waiting in the college driveway.

"The school buses still haven't made it to the road."

Darren who has driven from via Miller Road and Bethlehem Road could see the traffic backing up from the Moffat Rd/SH2 intersection towards Te Puna.

"I came from Brookfield past the Bethlehem Town Centre to pick up my child from Bethlehem College.

"As I approached the roundabout I could see the traffic was stationary northbound from the roundabout.

"We are still in Elder Lane, which is the school driveway, one-and-a-quarter hours after school finished."

Traffic backed up on Elder Lane waiting to get out onto Moffat Road. Photo:Darren Gedye.

A Sunlive reader who lives in Te Puna says traffic there is "bumper to bumper" on SH2, and that there is a roadside sign informing motorists that resealing is being undertaken from February 8-11.

NZTA Waka Kotahi have previously announced that for the week beginning February 5, their maintenance and operations works programme includes resealing at a number of locations on SH2 between Bethlehem and Waihī.

Reseals between Te Puna and Ōmokoroa will result in some line-marking changes with wide centrelines installed, and passing lanes removed near Barrett/Plummers Point roads and Ainsworth Road.  

Motorists are advised to plan ahead and check Journey Planner before travelling: https://journeys.nzta.govt.nz

There are a number of locations on SH2 between Bethlehem and Waihī being resealed, which are causing traffic delays. Motorists are advised to plan their journeys to suit. Photo: Supplied.

12pm Update: Roadworks are continuing to cause a build up in traffic along State Highway 2 near Te Puna on Friday morning.

At 11.37am a Sunlive reader reported that traffic was backed up from Bethlehem to Ōmokoroa on SH2.

"It's been backed up for the last two hours at least," says a SunLive reader.

Earlier, motorists had reported that the traffic delay was adding an extra hour to travel times, and expressed frustration at the cause.

"The only reason we found for the delays was the roadworks at the base of the northern end of the Wairoa Bridge," says a SunLive reader. "Amazing all this causes an hour's delay at least."

NZTA Waka Kotahi have previously announced that for the week beginning February 5, their maintenance and operations works programme includes resealing at a number of locations on SH2 between Bethlehem and Waihī.

Reseals between Te Puna and Ōmokoroa will result in some line-marking changes with wide centrelines installed, and passing lanes removed near Barrett/Plummers Point roads and Ainsworth Road.  

Motorists are advised to plan ahead and check Journey Planner before travelling: https://journeys.nzta.govt.nz

Earlier, 9.45am: Traffic is reported to be heavily congested on Friday morning on State Highway 2 between Te Puna and Bethlehem.

A SunLive reader reports long delays in travel between Ōmokoroa and Bethlehem.

"It's built up so much, people need to know they need to allow more travel time if they're trying to get anywhere."

NZTA Waka Kotahi have previously announced that for the week beginning February 5, their maintenance and operations works programme includes resealing at a number of locations on SH2 between Bethlehem and Waihī.

Night works started at Wairoa Bridge and then continue through to Katikati, and delays are expected.

Night works will then start on the Athenree rest area and work back towards Woodland Road.

Reseals between Te Puna and Ōmokoroa will result in some line-marking changes with wide centrelines installed, and passing lanes removed near Barrett/Plummers Point roads and Ainsworth Road.  

WAIHĪ TO ŌMOKOROA SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAMME

• Kauri Point Road to Stokes Road – Service relocation. Contra flow and shoulder closures in place with speed restrictions.
• Sharp Road Intersection - Roundabout construction underway with significant activities on the southbound lanes. Contra flow in place with speed restrictions. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays, but typically expect minor delays of one to 2 minutes.
• Apata Curves – Road widening works underway. Contra flow in place with speed restrictions. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays, but typically expect minor delays of one to 2 minutes. 

Works planned week beginning February 11 (Sunday night):

• Rea/Tetley Roundabout, Lockington/Matahui Roundabout & Morton Road Roundabouts – Nightwork with daytime traffic management. Resurfacing commencing February 11. There will be stop/go traffic management in place overnight which may cause longer delays. Speed restrictions will be in place during the day. Please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team.
• Sharp Road Intersection - Roundabout construction underway with significant activities significant activities on the southbound lanes. Contra flow in place with speed restrictions. There will be stop/go in place with speed restrictions overnight. During the day 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.

Motorists are advised to plan ahead and check Journey Planner before travelling: https://journeys.nzta.govt.nz