With most renewal activities wrapping up at the end of the month, contractors are on a final push to complete as much work as weather and time allows. 

Nighttime temperatures have started to drop, and this can affect the quality of any chipseal application, says Andu Oakley, Waikato System Manager at NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

“Warm temperatures are critical in ensuring the bitumen stays in a liquid state while the chip is applied over the top. This means the different materials can bind together and provide the seal over the layers underneath.

“To minimise disruption we complete significant volumes of chipsealing at night, especially on corridors with high traffic volumes.

“Temperatures have started dropping below 10 degrees overnight, which is an indicator that any seal we lay down will not succeed.

“Sites which we’re unable to complete this week may need to be completed during the day, when ground temperatures are warmer.

“Other activities such as asphalt resurfacing will continue into April, including several significant sites across the region. 

“Asphalt work can still take place in slightly colder temperatures, and this allows us to keep working away through April.  

This work all helps to prepare our roads for the winter ahead. The more we can do to waterproof our roads the better they perform during periods of wet weather.”
 
For up-to-date travel information please check the Journey Planner. 

Bay of Plenty 

Tauranga 

• Takitimu North Link Stage One: Earthworks are underway across a number of sites. On Wairoa Road, traffic has been shifted onto the Wairoa Bridge. Traffic on the bridge is down to one lane with traffic management still in place. The road layout will change frequently while drainage and utilities are installed along with tying in works to connect to the existing road. Pavement work for this will start next week. On Thursday 14 and Friday 15 of March from 7.30am work will be undertaken on Minden Road to install utilities along the shoulder. Traffic management will be in place with a 30km/h speed limit, lanes will be narrowed, with minimal disruption expected. A temporary haul road, separated from SH2, into the Te Mete Valley is operational with a temporary speed limit of 60km/h alongside the haul road. More information. 

• SH2 Te Puna: Tree removal between Loop Road and Ainsworth Road will take place on Saturday 16 March, both lanes will be held at a stop-stop while the cut and fell process is undertaken. Delays are to be expected. 

• Cambridge/Moffat roads: Construction work to complete the new Cambridge Road Overbridge, between Bethlehem and Tauriko continues. Until April 2024, there is a full closure of a section of Moffat Road between Tauranga Adventist School and Cambridge Road (East). This is disruptive, there are local alternative routes for light vehicles, and all heavy vehicles can use SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road. More information.  

• Waihī Road, Tauranga: Tauranga City Council has commenced asphalt resurfacing work on Waihī Road, this will continue until Sunday 10 March, the SH2 on-ramp to SH2 Takitimu Drive will be closed while works take place.  

• SH2 Bay Link: On Thursday 14 and Friday 15 March (from approximately 9pm to 5am), road closures will apply on Matapihi Road that will change access to and from Owens Place and Matapihi. During these hours, access in and out of Matapihi Road and Owens Place for light vehicles will only be available via a signposted detour temporarily connecting Maunganui Road with the end of Titoki Place. This temporary access point on Titoki Place will provide for a left in from SH2/SH29A Te Maunga interchange, and a right out, also towards SH2/SH29A Te Maunga interchange. Traffic controllers will be stationed across the Bay Link project site controlling traffic with stop/go signals while this temporary arrangement is in place. Businesses on Owens Place and Matapihi Road will remain accessible during their normal trading hours. 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.  

• SH29A Maungatapu to Baypark: From Sunday 10 to Thursday 14 March, 7pm to 5am SH29A between the Maungatapu roundabout and SH2/SH29A Te Maunga interchange will be fully closed in both directions to apply final surfacing around the SH29A roundabout at Baypark. Truman Lane will be closed to through traffic. Access to Baypark and Truman Lane businesses will be available via Sandhurst interchange and a staffed access point on Truman Lane. All light vehicles travelling on SH2 from Tauranga Eastern Link/Pāpāmoa to SH29A/Maungatapu/Welcome Bay, detour via SH2 Bayfair flyover or Maunganui Road north, SH2, Elizabeth Street, Cameron Road, Fifteenth Avenue, Turret Road/Hairini bridge and Welcome Bay Link Road. All light vehicles travelling from SH29A/Maungatapu to Arataki/Matapihi/Mount Maunganui or SH2/Tauranga Eastern Link/Pāpāmoa detour via Welcome Bay Link Road, Turret Road/Hairini bridge, Fifteenth Avenue, Cameron Road, Elizabeth Street and SH2. All heavy and HPMV vehicles travelling to/from SH2/Tauranga Eastern Link/Pāpāmoa and SH29A/Maungatapu/Welcome Bay detour via SH2 Bayfair flyover or Maunganui Road north, SH2, SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road and SH29A.  

• SH2/Fifteenth Ave: Early works are underway at SH2/Fifteenth Ave where an on-ramp bridge connection will be built as part of the Takitimu North Link project. Tree felling will take place from Thursday 21 to Saturday 23 March (7.30am – 6pm each day) with a shoulder closure in place from the Cameron Road intersection onto SH2. Stop/go will be in place Saturday 23 March on Fifteenth Ave.   

• SH2 Takitimu Drive, Tauranga: Night works will start on Sunday 17 March and run for 8 nights from 8pm to 4.30 am on Takitimu Drive near the Kopurererua Stream. The SH2 City Centre/Mt Maunganui off-ramps will be closed to traffic travelling east from Bethlehem and travelling north from Tauriko. During the day there will be temporary speed limits in place. Light vehicles will detour on SH2 to 15th Avenue off-ramp then to Cameron Road, Elizabeth Street and then re-join SH2 at the Elizabeth Street roundabout. Heavy vehicles travelling north will be required to take SH29A and SH2 via Baypark and Bayfair, heavy vehicles travelling east will detour SH2 to 15th Avenue off-ramp then through to Turret Road, onto SH29A and SH2 via Baypark and Bayfair.   

• SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR) Shared Path: The shared path alongside SH2 is diverted until May 2024. An alternative option for path users is available via Kaituna Road and Te Tumu Road. 

• SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): The Quayside Properties Ltd-led Rangiuru Business Park Interchange project continues. Temporary barriers are 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: Roundabout construction is underway at Sharp Road with significant activities on the southbound lanes. 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. Please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team.  In the Athenree Gorge, lane shifts and speed restrictions are in place while line markings are changed. 

• SH2 Apata Curves: Road widening works are underway with lane shifts and speed restrictions in place. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays, however typically delays will be between one to 2 minutes. Please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team. 

• SH2 Tahawai: Lane shifts, shoulder closures and speed restrictions are in place between Kauri Point Road and Stokes Road as services are relocated. These works are expected to be completed by the middle of March. 

• SH2 Bethlehem to Athenree: Resealing is underway 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 (providing greater separation for opposing traffic). 

• SH2 between Te Karaka Drive and Barrett Road: Road rehabilitation night works near Whakamārama will continue until Thursday 14 March. Stop/stop will be needed between Barrett Road and Te Karaka Drive on Sunday 10 March. During this time there will be a one-hour traffic hold with a 10-minute release to allow 60m sections to be milled and resurfaced. From Monday 11 March traffic control will revert to stop/go. No work will take place on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 March. More information  

• SH29 Kaimai Range: The Kaimai Range will be closed from Sunday 17 March to Thursday 21 March, from 8pm to 3.30am to allow road resurfacing and maintenance to take place. The closure points on the western side of the Kaimai Range is at the SH29/24 and SH29/28 intersections and on the eastern side of the Kaimai Range at the SH29/Cambridge Road intersection. Detours are available for all vehicles southbound via Rotorua and northbound via the Karangahake Gorge. Emergency services will have access at all times, residents can access their property from the relevant side of the closure. More information.  

Rotorua 

• The 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua starts on Friday 15 March and continues for 10 days. From Wednesday 20 March until Sunday 24 March competition will move from Whakarewarewa Forest to Skyline Rotorua on SH5.  There may be more traffic in the area due to people attending the event during this time.  

• SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage One: Nightworks continue from Monday 11 March with line marking on Stage One between Tarawera Road and Iles Road. This night work (7pm to 6am) includes limit lines, fire hydrant/valve markings along the road and through the intersection. We expect to have completed this work by the end of the week, weather dependent. More information. 

• SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: Work underway between Tumene Drive and Ōwhata Road includes surface milling, asphalting and stormwater connections in the westbound lane. Multiple active worksites may include stop/go, lane shifts and shoulder closures, temporary pedestrian crossings, footpath closures, and/or reduced speed limits. The bus stops outside 473 and 429 SH30 Te Ngae Road are currently closed while construction is underway on new bus stop foundations. The nearest operational bus stop is located 50-metres west on SH30 / Te Ngae Road (towards Basley Road). Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times. More information. 
   
  SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Pavement construction is underway and minor traffic delays are expected for this work about 6km north of Ōkere Falls. Other work includes widening of the road corridor, installing safety barriers and improving drainage. Temporary traffic management is in place including stop/go, lane shifts, shoulder closures and reduced speed limits. More information. 

Eastern Bay of Plenty

• 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 adhere to the speed limit as those travelling at higher speeds will exert greater loads on the structure, which currently poses a significant risk. Repairs will start on the bridge Monday 18 March and will take 3-4 weeks to complete.