Five overnight closures begin on SH29, Kaimai

SH29, Kaimai Range will be closed from 8pm - 4.30am from Sunday, February 25 - Thursday, February 29. Photo: NZTA Waka Kotahi.

 
Motorists are reminded that State Highway 29, Kaimai Range will be closed tonight, Sunday, February 25, from 8pm and will reopen again at 4.30am Monday morning.
 
The closure tonight is the first of five overnight closures from Sunday, February 25 to Thursday February 29.
 
"Plan ahead for night work closures of State Highway 29 Kaimai Ranges, between SH28 and SH24 intersections at Te Poi (Waikato) and Cambridge Rd in Tauriko (Tauranga), over five nights, Sunday 25 February - Thursday 29 February, from 8pm to 4.30am each night," says an NZTA Waka Kotahi spokesperson.
 
The detours for full closures are significant.
 
Road users are advised to plan their travel for daytime hours or use alternative routes and allow considerable extra time.
 
 
Detour options are to the south - via Rotorua - using SH5 and SH36 for light vehicles, or using SH5, SH30 & SH2 for other vehicles;  or to the north - via SH2 Karangahake Gorge for all vehicles.
 
"Resident access will be maintained at all times during the works, however residents will need to liaise with the traffic control teams onsite," says an NZTA spokesperson.
 
Please note there are currently three further sets of night closures planned on this section of SH29, in March, May and July.

The timetable of works and closures below may be re-scheduled in the event of bad weather:

Month 

Dates 

Time 

February 

Sunday 25 – Thursday 29 (5 nights) 

8pm – 4:30am 

March 

Sunday 17 – Thursday 21 (5 nights) 

8pm – 3:30am 

May 

Sunday 19 – Wednesday 22 (4 nights) 

8pm – 3:30am 

July 

Sunday 14 – Wednesday 17 (4 nights) 

8pm – 3:30am 

Alternative routes:

  • South: all vehicles: SH28, SH5, SH30, SH33, SH2 via Rotorua 
  • South: light vehicles: SH28, SH5, SH36 via Rotorua 
  • North: SH24, SH27, SH26, SH2 via Karangahake Gorge 

Regular closures of State Highway 29 Kaimai Range over coming months will ensure essential maintenance can be done in a safe and efficient manner, says an NZTA spokesperson.

Previously, NZTA has implemented single-direction closures to allow traffic to flow, primarily based on freight industry movements to and from the Port of Tauranga.

However, following engagement with the Port, freight operators and emergency service providers, NZTA has confirmed that a series of full road closures will be utilised to deliver maintenance in a more effective manner. 

SH29 is a critical route, providing the key link between the country’s largest port and the ‘Golden Triangle’, says Roger Brady, NZTA’s Acting Regional Manager Maintenance and Operations. 

“Around 14,000 vehicles use this road every day, including several thousand heavy vehicles. It is critical that we are able to maintain SH29 to ensure the route is safe and accessible for all road users. 

“We’ve collaborated with freight operators and roading contractors to confirm days and times that work best for everybody. By locking in a schedule, regular road users including freight operators, can make plans in advance to minimise the disruption to themselves and their customers.” 

The detours for this closure are significant and will add considerable time to journeys. People are encouraged to check the NZTA Journey Planner and allow extra time for their journey, or if possible, delay travel over SH29 on these nights.  

“This is a new way of working for preventative maintenance and road renewals across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region. If successful we will look to use this approach in other areas across our network,” says Roger.

“We’d like to thank our stakeholders and partners for working with us on this. While disruptive in the short term, everyone will enjoy the benefits of having a more reliable and safer route over the Kaimai Range.” 

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