5.15pm update: A SunLive reader is reporting that as well as traffic backed up on State Highway 2 between Tauranga and Ōmokoroa, a school bus has broken down, adding to the traffic chaos.

"The school bus [has] overheated just past Wairoa bridge heading north," says the SunLive reader.

"Traffic is backed up to Ōmokoroa at 4.40pm."

The bus has stopped between the Wairoa River Bridge and Te Puna.

Earlier, school buses leaving Bethlehem College were held up for over an hour due to the traffic gridlock.

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.

Earlier, 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.

School buses leaving Bethlehem College are still waiting to go onto Moffat Road out of Elder Lane. Photo: Darren Gedye.

"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.

Traffic delays along SH2 between Te Puna and Bethlehem were also experienced by motorists on Friday morning.