People who travel between Tauranga and Rotorua are being reminder of a closure on State Highway 36 that will affect their travels.

Starting next Monday, August 5, the SH36 - also known as the Tauranga Direct Road - will be closed from 8am to 4pm each day until around August 16.

The full road closure is to allow contractors to carry out road repairs.

Underslip repairs starting soon on State Highway 36 between Tauranga and Rotorua, will require the highway to be fully closed during the day for two weeks between Mangorewa Gorge and Hamurana.

After heavy rain in 2023, an underslip developed about 500 metres south of the Mangorewa track carpark.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi advises that access during this time will be for residents only. Outside of these hours, one lane will be closed with stop/go traffic lights in place, says a spokesperson for the roading agency.

A 40m section of the verge has collapsed into the valley below on SH36 at Mangorewa Kaharoa Gorge.

The following four weeks of work will require permanent stop/go traffic management, says NZTA.

“Contractors will be cutting into the bank to realign the road. This work requires a large amount of heavy machinery, and the daytime closures are required to keep the travelling public and workers safe.”

Following the initial two-week closure, two more slips will be repaired about 200m south of Te Waerenga Rd.

NZTA says this will involve retaining and rehabilitating the existing road.

“During this work, there will be permanent stop/go traffic management in place.

“Crews will be undertaking maintenance works in addition to the slip repairs, to make the most of the traffic management in place.”

During the full closure, the detour for all vehicles travelling between Pyes Pā Road and Hamurana will be via SH29A, SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (or Te Puke Highway), continuing to SH33 through Paengaroa, then SH30 and SH30A through Rotorua, turning right onto SH5 and rejoining SH36 at Ngongotahā.

NTZA appreciates road users’ understanding while this vital work to repair the highway is being completed.

- SunLive