The first shoots of new growth are a sign it’s the start of spring, and it also sees road construction crews preparing for the annual road renewal season.   

Crews will be out completing pre-seal repairs ahead of chipsealing, as well as undertaking the first road rebuilding and asphalt resurfacing works, said Sandra King, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Bay of Plenty System Manager.   

“This summer is going to be a significant one for our roading crews, which are focused on completing a large programme of work, and it will impact people’s journeys for the next six months or more.      

“The sheer volume of work they need to get through means road users are likely to come across multiple worksites on their journey. It’s critical everyone plans ahead and understands how their journey will be impacted so they can reach their destination on time.”   

 People are encouraged to use the NZTA Journey Planner (journeys.nzta.govt.nz) to view all disruptive activity and potential hazards on the network. Other channels such as social media and this weekly traffic bulletin highlight key worksites that will cause significant disruption.  

  “Our road workers will be completing work as quickly as possible, and a lot of planning is taking place to minimise disruption as much as possible.  

  “When you do come up to a worksite remember to give our crews a wave and a smile, they’ll appreciate the recognition of their hard work for improving the regions roading network.” 

Bay of Plenty 

Tauranga 

·       Zespri AIMS Games: The Zespri AIMS Games, Australasia’s largest junior sporting event, kicks off in Tauranga on Saturday 7 September with over 20,000 people descending on the city, The opening ceremonies are at Mercury Arena on Sunday 8 September at 3pm and 7pm. Athletes are encouraged to use free park and ride buses to get to the opening ceremonies. An influx of people to the region will also bring higher traffic volumes to popular venues and is likely to cause potential delays on the main arterial routes in, through and around the city. More information 

·       SH2 Takitimu North Link Stage 1: Daytime shoulder closures and stop/go traffic management on Minden Road continue until early October while utility works are underway.  

·       SH2/Fifteenth Ave: Major works to build the connection from Fifteenth Ave to SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Road will be underway from mid-September. Works involve the building of a 120m large retaining wall and earthworks, prior to the Fifteenth Ave bridge construction. One lane at SH2/Fifteenth Ave near Edgcumbe Road will be closed while this work takes place. This is likely to remain in place until mid-2026. Local people and those passing through this area should be prepared for disruption over the construction season; there will be delays and changes to the road layout as we complete this work. 

·       SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road (TDTR): A reduced speed limit of 70km/h is in place while Takitimu North Link Stage 1 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. This work is on track to be completed late September. Detours and temporary speed limits are in place for the closed section of Cambridge Road East. More Information 

·       SH2 Bay Link: Work on directional signage means overnight closures are needed on Monday 9 September and Tuesday 10 September at night (from approximately 7pm to 5am), affecting Maunganui Road southbound lane, between Concord Avenue and Bayfair roundabout. A signposted detour via Concord Avenue, Paterson Street, and Girven Road will apply. A further overnight closure on Wednesday 11 September and Thursday 12 September (from approximately 7pm to 5am) will affect the Maunganui Road northbound lane, between Bayfair roundabout and Concord Avenue. A signposted detour via Girven Road, Paterson Street, Concord Avenue, Oceanbeach Road and Golf Road will apply. All work is weather dependent. Please note other works are underway in the area, including Tauranga City Council’s works at the Oceanbeach Road, Maranui Street and Girven Road intersection. For more information and detour routes visit.  nzta.govt.nz/baylink-traffic.

·       SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): The Tauranga City Council led project continues. A 2km section of SH2, just past the Kaituna River bridge continues to be reduced to a single lane in each direction to allow construction of the Pāpāmoa East interchange to progress. This closure will remain in place for the duration of construction, with a temporary 70km/h speed limit in place. More information. 

·       SH2 TELTR: The Quayside Properties Ltd-led Rangiuru Business Park Interchange project continues. Temporary barriers remain in place until late September 2024, with 1 lane available in either direction. A temporary speed limit of 70km/h applies through the site. More information. 

Western Bay of Plenty 

·       SH2 Ōmokoroa Road: The Western Bay of Plenty led project continues with road widening and service relocation work underway in preparation for the new roundabout. Lane shifts are in place along with speed restrictions. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays, especially during peak times. Follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes.  More information.  

·       SH2 Apata Station Road: Road widening works are underway in preparation for the new roundabout. Lane shifts are in place along with speed restrictions. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays. Follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes. 

·       SH2 Te Puna: Night works will take place near the Te Puna roundabout from Sunday 8 September for 9 weeknights. Between 7pm and 5am, Sunday to Thursday morning the first week and Sunday to Friday morning the second week, there will be stop/go in place. During the day, a reduced speed limit will be in place due to changes in the road's surface levels. Ramps will help traffic transition through the site. The northbound lane (towards Katikati) will be rebuilt first to minimise disruption for city bound traffic during the AIMS Games. More information 

·       SH29 Tauriko/Redwood Lane: SH29 Tauriko/Redwood Lane: Project construction continues on multiple worksites on SH29, with shoulder closures and mobile operations in place. People are asked to drive and cycle with extra care on SH29, particularly between Redwood Lane and Belk Road, and between Gargan Road and Cambridge Road. Through the Tauriko Village/Cambridge Road section people can expect to see site establishment works including vegetation clearance, surveying, power line removal and ecology works taking place in the coming week, with shoulder closures and intermittent mobile traffic operations. Planned night works from 8pm Monday 16 September and 8pm Tuesday 17 September north of Redwood Lane will see stop/go and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h in place between 8pm and 5am each night to extend safety barriers on SH29. Moderate traffic delays are expected.  More information. 

·       SH29 Kaimai Range: The Kaimai Range will be closed overnight from Sunday 15 September to Thursday 19 September – inclusive (5 nights), from 8pm to 3.30am each night, to allow road resurfacing and maintenance to take place. The closure points on the western side of the Kaimai Range are 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 SH2 Karangahake Gorge. Emergency services will have access at all times, residents can access their property from the relevant side of the closure. More information 

·       SH2 Pongakawa: Road rehabilitation continues on SH2 near Pongakawa School Road. This work is expected to be completed late September, with contractors on site from 6am to 6pm Monday to Saturday with stop/go traffic management in place, delays are to be expected. 

·       SH2 Ōtamarākau: Road rehabilitation will start mid-September on SH2 near Ōtamarākau Valley Road. This work is expected to take 6 weeks to complete with crews on site from 6am to 6pm Monday to Saturday with stop/go traffic management in place, delays are to be expected.