While people across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty have been away for the first long weekend of the 2024/25 summer period, road workers have also laid down their tools to join them for a few well-deserved days of rest. 

Most sites on the state highway network were shut down from midday Friday, allowing people to reach their destination with as few delays as possible.

The State Highway 1 (SH1) Tīrau to Waiouru maintenance programme continues as normal with road closures and detours in place. 

Just like day-to-day travel, planning ahead for a safe return home this weekend was equally important, says Andrew Brosnan, Waikato Journey Manager at NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). 

“It’s important to consider how long your journey might take, and whether you are prepared should there be delays. Pack snacks and water, take regular breaks and prepare for the chance the trip may take longer than you think. 

“Contractors will have set up the roads to be as clear as possible, however, with a significant number of extra vehicles on the road, journeys will take longer than usual. 

“Key corridors such as SH1 north and south of Hamilton, SH25 to the Coromandel Peninsula and State Highway 2 north of Tauranga, will be busy at certain times. Leaving an hour earlier or later can make a big difference.”  

The NZTA’s holiday journeys planner is now active on the Journey Planner website, you can check it out here. 

Roadworks resume from the morning of Tuesday, October 29, and those extending their long week need to be mindful of the impact this could have on their journey. 

The NZTA Journey Planner is the best place for information on the status of the state highway network. With live updates on worksites and other road hazards, Journey Planner can help road users plot the best route to their destination.

Bay of Plenty 

Tauranga 

• SH2 Takitimu North Link Stage 1: Shoulder closures and stop/go traffic management on Minden Road continue until mid-December while utility works are completed and earthworks get underway. Between Monday 4 to Monday 11 November there will 24/7 traffic management on Minden Road. There will be lane deviations and lane switching. Please take direction from staff on the ground and slow down through the work site.   

• SH2/Fifteenth Ave: Major works to build the connection from Fifteenth Ave to SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Road are underway. Works involve the building of a 120m long retaining wall and earthworks, prior to the Fifteenth Ave bridge construction. One lane at SH2/Fifteenth Ave near Edgecumbe Road will be closed while this work takes place. This is likely to remain in place until mid-2026. Local residents 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: A reduced speed limit of 70km/h is in place while Takitimu North Link Stage 1 crews are working behind the barriers. More information 

• SH29 Tauriko West between Redwood Lane and Cambridge Road: Project construction is ongoing at multiple sites on SH29, with shoulder closures, reduced speed limits and mobile operations in place.  There is expected to be minimal disruption to traffic. More information. 

• SH29 Kaimai Range: A programme of night works started on Sunday night 20 October with a road rebuild near Hanga Lane, taking 2 weeks to complete. The nightworks are between 7pm and 6am Monday to Thursday to minimise impact to traffic. When work is underway there will be stop/go traffic management in place. Over the coming 6-8 months there will be several significant worksites to complete. More information 

• SH29 Gargan Road, Tauriko: From Sunday 3 November for 6 nights road resurfacing will take place near Gargan Road between 7pm and 5am. Stop/go traffic management will be in place at night with a reduced speed limit of 30km/h. During the day there will be a temporary speed limit of 50km/h until the work is completed. 

• Cambridge/Moffat roads: The major works in this area are now complete. There will be some upcoming shoulder closures and stop/go traffic management in place over the pending weeks as the remainder of the work is completed. More Information 

• SH2 Bay Link: Various lane closures will be in place across the Bay Link site for sign installation (no detours required). From Tuesday 29 October to Thursday 31 October (from approximately 8pm to 5am) Truman Lane will be closed in both directions between Baypark and the SH29A roundabout. For all vehicles heading eastbound, a signposted detour via SH2/SH29A Te Maunga interchange, SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link and SH2 Sandhurst interchange will apply. For all vehicles heading westbound, a signposted detour via SH2, SH2/SH29A Te Maunga interchange and SH29A Baypark roundabout will apply. For access to Baypark, please follow the eastbound detour. For more information and detour routes, visit nzta.govt.nz/baylink-traffic. 

• SH2/SH29A Bay Link: New permanent speed limits for the Baypark to Bayfair Link project took effect from Wednesday 23 October 2024. The new speed limits reflect the new infrastructure and ensure safety of all road users. These new permanent speed limits are in place on sections of SH2, SH29A, Maunganui Road, the various on- and off-ramps, and a small section of Truman Lane (former SH29A). Find out more about the new permanent speed limits. 

• 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. From Monday 4 to Wednesday 6 November lane closures are required to enable barriers to be removed and to repair the road surface. Night 1 will see a westbound closure with a detour starting at the Domain Road interchange continuing via Te Puke Highway through to the Paengaroa roundabout. Night 2 and if required night 3 will be an eastbound closure with the detour route starting at the Paengaroa roundabout joining Te Puke Highway, through to the Domain Road interchange. A temporary speed limit of 70km/h applies through the site. More information.

Western Bay of Plenty 

• SH2 Old Tauranga Road to Mathers Road: A road rebuild is underway on SH2 near Old Tauranga Road, from 6am to 6pm Monday to Saturday each week and a finish date of around 4 December, weather dependent. There will be lane diversions and stop/go traffic management in place with a 30km/h temporary speed limit 24 hours a day. Motorists are advised to expect delays. 

• SH2 Katikati North: Between Trig Road and Old Tauranga Road, Athenree Gorge and Cannon Road to Kauri Point Road new rumble strips are being laid along SH2. While this work is underway, lane shifts and speed restrictions will be in place. 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. Expect minor delays. Note that night time stop/go will be in place in the Athenree Gorge for this work. 

• SH2 Ōmokoroa Road: Road widening and service relocation 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. Expect minor delays especially during peak times. Note that Youngson Road is due to reopen tomorrow 26 October. Detours are in place and well sign posted. More information.  

• SH2 Wairoa Bridge to Bethlehem: A new permanent speed limit between the Wairoa River bridge and Bethlehem has been set at 50km/h and takes effect from Tuesday 29 October 2024. The new speed limit supports recent changes improving safety, access and cycling between Te Puna and Bethlehem including a cycleway alongside SH2. 

• 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. Expect minor delays. 

• SH2 Ōtamarākau: Road rehabilitation continues on SH2 near Ōtamarākau Valley Road with intended completion by Friday 1 November. Crews are on site from 6am to 6pm Monday to Saturday with stop/go traffic management in place, delays are to be expected. 

Rotorua 

• SH30 Te Ngae Road, Rotorua: On Tuesday 29 October between 8pm and 5am a road closure is required for line marking on SH30 Te Ngae Road between Iles Road and Ōwhata Roundabout. Detour for all traffic travelling north will be required to turn left at Vaughan Road and follow detours to the Ōwhata Roundabout. All traffic travelling south will turn right at the Ōwhata Roundabout and follow detours to Marino Road.  

• SH36 Hamurana Road, north of Ngongotahā: A road rebuild is underway on SH36 between Central Road and Gloucester Road between 8am and 5pm, due to be completed in early December. While the work is happening there will be a lane closure in place between Central Road and Gloucester Road each weekday. Temporary traffic management will remain in place until the road has been line marked. 

Eastern Bay of Plenty 

• SH34 Kawerau: Road rebuild work is nearing completion at Onepū near Kawerau, with aggregate overlays and stabilisation work nearing completion, and sealing works scheduled next week, weather permitting. SH34 is closed between Charteris Lane and the SH30 intersection between 8am and 4pm each day. There will be a detour in place via SH34 for all vehicles.  

• SH38 Rangitāiki Bridge: Work is underway on bridge repairs near Murupara and is expected to be completed in early December. At times during the work there will be short periods of stop/stop traffic management in place and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h.  

• SH2 Waioeka Road, near Ōpōtiki: A road rebuild is underway on SH2 between Warrington Road and Clark Ross Road, this work is expected to be completed early November.  On weekdays between 7.30am and 4.30pm there will be 4-way stop/go traffic management in place at the SH2 Matchitt Road and Apanui Road intersection. 

• SH2 Waioeka Gorge: Strengthening repairs continue on the Manganuku Bridge. The repairs, which include steel works, pad repairs and water blasting will take approximately 3 months with completion in early November. While the work is underway a temporary speed limit of 30km/h will be in place throughout the worksite. 

• SH35 Ōpape: Underslip repairs are underway and expected to be completed in late November. The work will take place between 7am and 5am Monday to Saturday. There will be stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h in place while work is underway. A temporary speed limit of 50km/h in place while the site is unattended. 

• SH35 Te Kaha: A road rebuild is underway near the Tūtaki Marae, between Copenhagen Road and Copenhagen Loop Road in Te Kaha between 7am and 5pm Monday to Friday. The work is expected to be complete in early December. While rebuild work is underway there will be stop/go, and at times stop/stop traffic management, in place with a temporary speed limit. There will be also be a detour available for light vehicles via Copenhagen Road in both directions. Heavy vehicles will be stacked and released intermittently. 

• SH35 Waikawa Bay: Repairs have started on the culvert at Waikawa Bay on SH35, work is expected to be completed in early November. Stop/go traffic management is in place with a temporary speed limit while the works are taking place. 

• SH35 Waihau Bay: Underslip repairs will get underway on Tuesday 29 October and will take 8 weeks to complete. The work will take place between 7am and 5pm Monday to Friday. There will be stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h in place while work takes place. 

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. More information. 

Waikato 

SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru 

• Overall programme: Check out the upcoming dates for closures at nzta.govt.nz/projects/sh1-tirau-to-waiouru-maintenance/. You can also keep up to date by signing up to the e-newsletter. 

• Piarere to Tīrau: Works were completed on 22 October 2024 and this section of SH1 is now open. 

• Tokoroa to upper Ātiamuri: Full closure is in place and will run until mid-November (weather permitting). This site is one of the larger and more complex ones, spanning 17km and encompassing 4 separate work areas, ranging from 2.9km to 5.7km in length. SH1 traffic heading to Taupō and further south is being detoured via SH32 and SH30 (light vehicles only) and vice versa (also known as Maraetai Road in Tokoroa, Whakamaru Road and Ongaroto Road in Ātiamuri). This will add approximately 16 minutes (23km) to journey times. The road between the SH1/SH32 (Maraetai Road) and the hard closure (near Campbell Road) will be accessible for residents. Heavy vehicles are detoured via SH5 and SH30. Those wanting to access the Tokoroa Golf Club should use Old Taupō and Kinleith roads and then will have access on SH1 to the Club. The Oji Fibre Solutions Kinleith Mill is accessible for people who have been permitted by Forestry to use their private roads or use the SH30/32 detour. Those wanting to access business in southern Tokoroa within the soft closure (such as Subway or Robert Harris) are able to do so.   

• Ātiamuri to Wairakei:  Work and traffic management will continue on this stretch of SH1, with sealing, stabilisation works and installation of the median safety barrier underway. Stop/go is in place, so please allow extra time. 

• Putāruru to Tokoroa: From mid to late November, for around 4 weeks, there will be closures along SH1 between the SH1/SH28 Putāruru intersection and the SH1/SH32 Tokoroa intersection. In the coming weeks we are expecting to finalise the full programme, the timing of the closures, and the detours that will be in place. As soon as we do, we will let you know. 

• Travelling from Hamilton to Waiouru or further south: An alternative route for those travelling longer distances, such as Hamilton to Waiōuru is to take SH49, SH4 and SH3 (or vice versa). SH4 is now suitable for HPMV for the duration of the SH1 Tīrau to Waiōuru renewal project. 

East Waikato 

SH25: Coromandel Peninsula: Repairs to slip damage is underway at 3 sites along SH25 between Tairua and Coromandel township and one at Te Kouma.  

At Pumpkin Hill, just north of Tairua, work is underway to repair a large underslip near Sailors Grave Road. Work at this site will take about 6 months to complete.  There are temporary speed restrictions and a shoulder closure through the worksite. Stop/stop traffic management will be    required at times.  

Work also underway between Wharekaho and Kuaotunu will take 2-3 months to complete, and near Matarangi and at Te Kouma, will continue through November. Stop/go traffic management   will be in place during the day at these sites, with a shoulder closure and temporary speed restrictions in place outside of working hours.  More information  

SH25 Waitakaruru: The eastbound single lane bridge at Waitakaruru is temporarily closed for a deck replacement. All traffic is using the other bridge for the duration of the project and temporary traffic lights are in place. 

Central Waikato 

• SH41 Tokaanu: Due to a washout, the road is down to 1 lane under temporary traffic lights, with a shoulder closure for the last week of October. Crew will be back in first week of November for finishing works, which will take a week before we open up to 2 lanes. 

• SH41 Tokaanu: Works to repair an underslip will begin upon completion of the other SH41 washout site. The road will be down to 1 lane under stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit. Works to repair the slip are expected to be completed by towards the end of 2024. 

West Waikato 

• SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia section: Safety improvements and remedial works required to get the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway up to 110km/h standard continue, with the aim of being completed by Christmas. Traffic is currently using the southbound lanes, to allow work to be completed faster on the northbound lanes. There is a reduced speed limit of 30km/h through the transitions. For the next several weeks a detour is underway where SH1C and SH1 merge. SH1C is closed to northbound traffic after the Lake Road off-ramp, with all northbound SH1C traffic from Te Rapa/Horotiu turning at the Northern interchange, heading south on SH1 to turn around at Resolution interchange and proceed north on SH1. The detour adds about 8 minutes to journeys. Detour map 

Closures and detours are coming for the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway to ensure the remedial works and safety improvements are complete by mid-December.  

This means weekday night closures and detours will be required throughout November, with the possibility of further full week 24/7 closures at the end of the month if required. 

The following schedule is listed at, www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/waikato-expressway/expressway-surface-works/ drivers are encouraged to check this page for the latest information on closures and detours. 

• SH26 Morrinsville Road: 2 weeks of enabling works has started between Platt Road and Tauwhare Road near Eureka from 9am to 5pm. There will be stop/go traffic management in place. Once the enabling works are finished the road rebuilding will begin, this is expected to take 8 weeks to complete with a finish date in early November. While the rebuild is underway, there will be a 1-way westbound detour in place 24/7 via Tauwhare Road and Platt Road. This will add approximately 4 minutes to journeys.  

• SH1/SH29 Piarere intersection: Traffic is now using the new roundabout at the intersection of SH1 and SH29 in Piarere. NZTA asks all road users to adhere to the signage and take extra care when travelling through the area as it’s still a work zone. This arrangement is expected to remain in place until late 2024. View a map here.   

• SH30 Bennydale: Work on road rebuilds starts Tuesday 29 October on Ellis Road in Bennydale near Ohirea Road, and is expected to take 6 weeks to complete. A second site near Kiwi Place will start in January 2025. Enabling works will be done first between 7am and 7pm each day with stop/go traffic management in place. Once the site has been prepared the road rebuild will start, with stop/stop traffic management in place and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h. Delays of up to 20 minutes can be expected. 

North Waikato 

• SH1 Mercer Interchange: There will be ramp closures and lane restrictions in place between 9pm and 5am on Monday 28 October for maintenance.  

 Taranaki 

• SH3 Waitara Road, Bell Block: A small section of Waitara Road is closed until late November to progress safety improvement work on SH3 in Taranaki, this work includes stormwater improvements, the relocation of underground services, and pavement works. During the closure a detour will be in place along Richmond Road, the detour will add an extra 5 minutes to journeys. SH3 through the intersection will remain open to traffic with a 50km/h temporary speed limit in place. More information 

• SH3 Ōnaero: Due to pavement repairs on SH3 between Waiau Road and Kapikari Road, there will be stop/go traffic management at 2 sites with a 30km/h speed restriction until Friday 22 November between 6am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday. Delays of 5-10 minutes are expected. 

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: https://www.facebook.com/nztawbop 

• Twitter: thttps://twitter.com/nztawbop 

• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz 

• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)