With cooler weather on the way, our contractors wind up their summer maintenance programmes and start to focus on the approach for winter. 

During the wet winter months contractors focus on completing reactive repairs to maintain the integrity and safety of the state highway network, before more permanent repairs can be completed in the warmer months. 

Contractors will be continually monitoring the network and managing isolated issues as they appear, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Bay of Plenty regional manager, maintenance and operations, Roger Brady.

“We have a regular process to inspect the state highway network across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region, and this allows us to respond quickly to issues as they appear on the network. 

"We also encourage people to inform us of individual potholes, isolated flooding or slips. You can call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49) so a contractor can respond as quickly as possible," says Roger.

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. There will be stop/go in place and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h. The temporary haul road, separated from SH2 in the Te Mete Valley area, will be disestablished over the next couple of weeks.  The temporary speed limit in this area is 60km/h.  Watermain works will take place on Minden Road on Monday 6, Tuesday 7 and Thursday 9 May from 7.30am to 5pm, a temporary speed limit of 50km/h will be in place with lane switches. 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. More information

· Cambridge/Moffat roads: A section of Cambridge Road East from Moffat Road to St Andrews roundabout will be closed while the new intersection joining onto Moffat Road is constructed. Detours and temporary speed limits are in place for the closed section of Cambridge Road East. More Information 

· SH29 Tauriko/Redwood Lane: Vegetation clearance continues as part of the SH29 Tauriko Enabling Works project on Redwood Lane and on SH29 between Belk Road and north of Redwood Lane. From Tuesday 7 May to Friday 10 May, during off-peak hours between 9am and 4pm only, shoulder closures and a closure of the left-hand turning lane at Redwood Lane will be in place. Both lanes on SH29 will remain open at a reduced width and a temporary 30 km/h speed limit. Access to Redwood Lane will remain open for the duration of the works. Please plan ahead, allow extra time and move with caution through the project site. nzta.govt.nz/tauriko-enabling-works

· SH2 Hewletts Road, Mount Maunganui: Road rebuilding and resurfacing is underway on SH2 Hewletts Road until mid-May. This work is being carried out at night between 8.30pm and 5.30am from Sunday to Thursday each week. There will be detours or lane closures in place for different phases of this work. More information. 

· SH2 Bay Link: (from approximately 7pm to 5am each night), Maunganui Road northbound between SH2/SH29A Te Maunga interchange and Bayfair roundabout will be closed to allow for the construction of overhead signage. A detour via Sandhurst interchange, SH2, the Bayfair flyover and Golf Road roundabout will apply for all vehicles. nzta.govt.nz/baylink-traffic 

· SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR) Shared Path: The shared path alongside SH2 is diverted until September 2024. An alternative option for path users is available via Kaituna Road and Te Tumu Road. 
From Monday 13 May, a 2km section of the eastbound left lane, just ahead of the Kaituna River bridge, will be closed to allow construction of the Pāpāmoa East Interchange to progress. A temporary 70km/h speed limit will be in place. The Tauranga City Council project is scheduled to finish mid-2026. To set up the lane closure, the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road eastbound lanes will be closed over 3 nights. Between 8pm and 5am, from 13 May to 15 May 2024, traffic heading east to Rotorua and Whakatāne will be diverted via the Te Puke Highway. More information.

· 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 August 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 at Sharp Road is underway with significant activities including nighttime stop/go for asphalt works. There will also be daytime intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays. 3.8km of flexible median barrier in Athenree Gorge (north of Katikati) is being installed, due to be complete by the end of May. There will be lane shifts in place with speed restrictions and intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause some delays. Please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes. Service relocations are underway between Lund Road and Wright Road, shoulder closures are in place with daytime speed restrictions. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays. Please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes.

· SH2 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. 

· SH2 Ōmokoroa Road: Shoulder closures and speed reductions are in place near the SH2/Ōmokoroa Road intersection as early works take place ahead of the Ōmokoroa roundabout project. More information. 

Rotorua 

· Rotorua Marathon: The 60th Rotorua Marathon will take place on Saturday 4 May from 8am to 5pm. The course is around Lake Rotorua and follows SH5, SH36, SH33, SH30 and SH30A, as well as Hamurana Road. Traffic management and race marshalls will be in place along the course, motorists are asked to take care and be aware of runners and walkers taking part.

· SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: Overnight road closures are in place on SH30 Te Ngae Road, between Ōwhata Road and Basley Road, to allow safety improvements to be completed. The road will be closed Sunday to Thursday nights, between 7.30pm and 5am. This work is weather dependent. Outside these hours and days, the road will be open as normal. We expected this work to be completed by 17 May. While the road is closed, access for all local residents and businesses will be maintained. More information.  

· SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Approximately 6km north of Ōkere Falls on SH33, pavement construction is underway and minor traffic delays can be expected. Other work includes road widening, 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 Waioeka Gorge: Work to repair 2 underslips in the Waioeka Gorge is ongoing and will take 2 months to complete with an expected finish date of early June. Crews will be on site between 7am and 6pm each weekday. The worksites are at Oponae and near Goldsmiths Reserve (approximately 4 kms north of Oponae). 

· SH34 Kawerau – Tarawera River bridge walkway: Upgrades to the walkway over the Tarawera River in Kawerau continue until the end of June. The old walkway is being demolished and a new steel walkway will be built. During construction there will be stop/go in place between 6.30am and 5.30pm Monday to Saturday, when there is no work taking place on site traffic signals will be operating. Scaffolding will be in place under the bridge, so the waterway can be protected, and workers can be kept safe during construction. More information

· SH30 Otakiri: A daytime road closure is required on SH30 between Onepu Spring Road and Military Road in Otakiri on Monday 13 May from 6.30am to 6.30pm. This will allow KiwiRail to undertake resurfacing maintenance on railway tracks that cross the state highway. A detour will be in place for all traffic, which is expected to add up to 20 minutes to journey times. Light vehicles will detour via SH35 and Onepu Spring Road. Heavy vehicles will detour via SH34 to SH30. 

Tairāwhiti Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay:

· SH5 Napier to Taupō: Recovery alliance Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) continues to progress safety improvements, as well as repair, recovery and maintenance activities at multiple sites on SH5 between Eskdale and Waipunga. While this work takes place, there will be stop/go traffic management, traffic reduced to one lane, and temporary 30km/h and 50km/h speed limits from 7am to 6pm. Temporary speed restrictions will also remain in place at night in some areas. Overall, please expect cumulative delays of up to 40 minutes if travelling the whole of SH5 (Napier to Taupō). More information.

Manawatū-Whanganui

· SH1 Marton: Drainage improvement works are taking place on SH1 from Monday 29 April to Wednesday 8 May. Between 8am – 5pm weekdays (including Saturday if needed), the northbound lane will be closed and traffic detoured via: Wings Line, French Street, Matai Street, Main Street, Nga Tawa Road, Calico Line and back to SH1. The detour is HPMV approved and is expected to add 5 minutes to journey times. Southbound traffic will continue through site. The overall project is expected to be completed by late June, with much of the work occurring off the state highway. Temporary traffic management, including a reduced speed limit through the site will remain in place while the project is underway. More information.

· SH3 Whangaehu: Bridge strengthening and painting works are taking place on SH3 at Whangaehu River bridge, south of Whanganui. From Tuesday 7 May, between 7.30am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit will be in place for about 7 weeks. Delays of up to 10 minutes are expected. This bridge strengthening work requires traffic vibration to be minimised and it’s crucial all temporary speed limits are adhered to. More information. 

Waikato

· A variety of safety improvements across the Waikato have started, these will contribute towards making the roads safer. The programme of works includes a mixture of new and modified signage, new hazard warning signs, roadside safety/barrier guard rail, road widening, improved road lines and improved road markings. It is expected there will be minimal disruption for motorists while this work is completed. The works will take place until June 2024. More information.

East Waikato

· SH25 Coromandel: Ongoing recovery works to repair damage caused by last summer’s severe weather. The sites include Te Kouma and Pumpkin Hill and Whiritoa Hill. Stop/go traffic management will be in place at these locations. Work is also underway between Whangamatā and Waihī to repair and upgrade side drains. More information. 

· SH25A: New signage and hazard warning signs, improved road markings and audio tactile profiles (rumble strips) are being installed along SH25A to make the road safer. This work will be completed in May with stop/go traffic management in place.  

· SH25 Ruamahunga: Slip stabilisation continues. Equipment and supplies are being delivered to the top of the slope by helicopter on a regular basis with the next delivery on Tuesday 14 May. This will require a series of short road closures so the helicopter can safely operate over the road and will be done across the middle of the day.  

· SH2 Karangahake Gorge: Work is now underway to repair an underslip opposite Victoria Battery, road users should allow extra time as delays can be expected. The road will usually be reduced to a single lane with stop/go traffic management and a speed restriction in place while work is being done. Two-way traffic will be in place for this weekend, to allow for holiday traffic volumes. Work will take between 4 and 6 weeks, depending on the weather.

· SH27 Kaihere: Work to repair an underslip will start on Monday 6 May, taking between 4 and 6 weeks to complete, depending on weather. While this work is underway the road will be reduced to a single lane with stop/go traffic management and a speed restriction in place.   

Central Waikato

· SH1 Ātiamuri: Road widening is underway for safety barrier installation, from the Waikato River bridge south to Thorpe Road. Temporary barriers will be removed on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 May from the bridge to the bus bay at Hanui Road. The speed limit will then be raised to 70km/h from the river bridge to Ohakuri Road. Stop/go traffic management will be in place from Ohakuri Road to Thorpe Road, Monday 6 to Friday 10 May for surfacing work.

· SH1 Maroa Road: Finishing works are underway on the 4.8km site where safety barriers were installed last year. There is a daytime speed restriction of 70km/h Monday to Friday where work is being carried out.

· SH1 East Taupō Arterial: Road widening continues ahead of flexible safety barrier installation, between SH5/Napier Road and the airport roundabout. One lane is open in each direction with speed restrictions in place. Completion is expected mid-2024. More information.  

· SH41 Tokaanu: Due to a washout, the road is down to one lane under temporary traffic lights, with a 30km/h temporary speed restriction in place. Works to repair the washout are due to begin in June and will take 3-4 weeks to complete.

· SH41 Waihi Hill: Site investigation begins on Thursday 9 May as the first step to repair 2 underslips on Waihi Hill northwest of Turangi, on SH41. There will be stop-go traffic management on Waihi Hill for one day while investigations are carried out.

West Waikato

· SH1C Te Rapa Bypass: Due to resurfacing works SH1C through the Te Rapa section of the Waikato Expressway, from Wairere Drive overbridge to the Horotiu interchange, will be reduced to 1 lane in each direction with a 50km/h speed limit until Sunday 30 June. Night closures will occur Sunday to Thursday nights, between 8pm and 6am each night. Crews are also working tonight, Friday 3 May. 

· SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia section: Safety improvements and remedial works continue with traffic managed through the site with single lanes and 50km/h speed restriction. There will be night-time closures and a detour in place for northbound traffic 19-23 May, 7pm-5am. More information.

· SH1/SH21 Tamahere: Preparation for sign installation at the Tamahere interchange is scheduled for Monday 6 May from 8pm to 6am. During this time traffic will be detoured firstly via Devine and Newell Roads, and then via SH21 Airport Road and Tamahere Drive roundabout.

· SH1 Karāpiro (Hickey Road): Construction of the fifth turnaround bay in the SH1 Cambridge to Piarere safety improvements project, just north of Hickey Road, is underway. Along with constructing the turnaround bay, we’re widening the road at the weigh station on SH1, between Hickey and Hydro Roads, and installing median and side safety barriers. Temporary traffic management is in place, including lane shifts. More information 

· SH1 Karāpiro (Tunakawa Road - Keeleys Reserve): The finishing touches are being applied to a stretch of road improvements between Gorton Road and Keeley’s Reserve. Lighting has been installed at the intersection of SH1 and Fergusson Gully Road and will be operational by early May. As of Friday 3 May, lighting has also been installed at the Keeley’s Reserve turnaround. More information.

· SH1 Karāpiro: Work continues on a section of SH1 between Keeley’s Reserve and Moana Roa Road, in preparation for median barrier installation. The crew is currently carrying out line marking work at night, to minimise the impact to motorists. Night shifts will occur from 7pm to 6am, from Sunday to Thursday, with stop/go traffic management in place until mid to late May. Day works will continue from Monday to Friday, with a temporary speed limit of 50km/h in place. We are on track to complete work in this area in late June 2024. More information.

· SH1/SH29 Piarere intersection: A key focus at present is the construction of the southern (Tīrau side) approach road. To safely accommodate this work, traffic south of the roundabout has been moved onto a newly constructed section of road adjacent to SH1. This is a short bypass road which rejoins SH1 before the intersection and continues to operate as normal. This arrangement is expected to remain in place until September 2024. Motorists are asked to drive with extra care through the site, while people adjust to the new road layout. A temporary speed limit of 60km/h will be in place around the project site to protect road workers and ensure the safety of everyone travelling through the area. More information. 

· SH23 Raglan: Daytime stop/go traffic management is in place just outside Raglan, at the corner of Greenslade Road and SH23This is to allow an embankment adjacent to the road to be stabilised, and is expected to be completed by 20 May. The weekday stop/go traffic management will be in place between 9am and 3pm, with delays of up to 10 minutes expected. Outside of these times and over weekends the road will be fully open, with shoulder closures and speed restrictions in place. 

· SH3 Te Kūiti: Drivers on SH3 are advised to expect delays, with work taking place to build a retaining wall and culvert on a stretch of highway between Te Kūiti and the SH3/SH4 junction. Stop/go traffic management will be in place at night, with lane shifts in place during the day. Traffic management will be in place until the end of May 2024.  

North Waikato

· SH1 Pioneer Road (North): The Pioneer Road northbound off-ramp remains closed. Motorists should continue on SH1 and exit at Pōkeno northbound off-ramp, turn around at McDonald Road and head south using Pōkeno southbound on-ramp on SH1 to get off at Pioneer Road (South). Slip repairs will be ongoing until 31 May.

· SH1 Hampton Downs: The northbound on-ramp will be closed for maintenance on Monday 6 and Wednesday 8 May between 8pm and 5am. The recommended detour is via Whangamarino Road, Paddy Road, Summertime Lane, Hall Road, Rodda Road to Te Kauwhata northbound on-ramp. 

· Dragway Road to Island Block Road: There will be a full northbound closure on Wednesday 8 May between 10pm and 5am for maintenance work. Traffic will still be able to travel north using one of the southbound lanes. 

· Nikau Road: There will be a full northbound closure to undertake barrier work between Nikau Road northbound off-ramp and on-ramp but the ramps are still open from Sunday 5 to Thursday 9 May between 9pm and 5am. A recommended detour is available via Ridge Road. There will also be southbound lane restrictions, but traffic will still be able to travel south under traffic management supervision. Work will be ongoing until 16 May.

· SH2 Monument Road to Dimmock Road: Stop/go traffic management will be in place on Sunday 5 and Monday 6 May between 9pm and 5am for resurfacing. 

· SH2 Kopuku Road to Coalfields Road: Stop/go traffic management will be in place on Tuesday 7 and Thursday 9 May between 9pm and 5am for line marking. 

· SH2 Oleary Road to Baird Road: There will be lane restrictions in both directions on Thursday 9 May between 9pm and 5am. Traffic will still be able to travel in both directions under traffic management supervision. 

Taranaki

· SH3 Te Ara Tutohu Waitara to Bell Block: Until mid-June, Princess Street will be closed between SH3 and Armstrong Avenue to everyone except residents while roadworks continue. Crews are now ready to start on the final pieces of work for the roundabout and pedestrian underpass. This will include completing the roundabout itself, installing streetlights on SH3, and laying down asphalt. To allow this work to take place safely and efficiently, the temporary roundabout at the SH3/Princess Street intersection will be removed and the road reduced to one lane from the evening of Sunday 21 April until mid-June 2024. During this stop/go traffic management, road users are advised to expect delays of up to 5 minutes. Alongside the stop/go traffic management, a temporary 30km/h speed limit will remain in place. The roundabout is expected to be complete by mid-2024. More information. 

· SH4 Paroparowhero Culvert Replacement: Work to repair damage from heavy rainfall on SH4 north of Taumarunui, between the intersection of SH43 and Okahukura Bridge Road will continue until June 2024. The repair work involves a temporary road to maintain traffic flow under 24/7 e-light stop/go controls, while crews install a 3.5 x 4 metre box culvert. Please drive carefully and follow all temporary speed restrictions in place. Oversize loads are asked to take alternative routes where possible. Road users are asked to plan ahead for delays of up to 15 minutes in this area.

For up to 48 hours following completion of chipseal sites, a 50km/h temporary speed limit will be in place until the road is swept and line marking reinstated.

The above information is accurate at the time of release. Many of the above works are dependent on a number of factors, particularly weather, and may be postponed at short notice. For up-to-date information on road works, traffic, detours and delays, motorists are encouraged to visit the NZTA Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz).

NZTA thanks motorists for their patience while we complete this essential work to keep the state highway network safe, accessible and resilient.

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

· Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic

Facebook: facebook.com/TransportAgency

Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahi_news

Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz

Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)