The year is flying by, and this means the upcoming maintenance season will be upon us before we know it - officially starting in October, but with significant early works on the cards.

For now, NZTA contractors are making great progress finishing up winter work requirements. 

On Bay of Plenty’s State Highway 36, in the Mangorewa Gorge, a large-scale operation started this week to repair an underslip that occurred earlier this year.

Contractors are cutting into the bank to realign the road; to safely and efficiently do this work the road is closed for 2 weeks.

"We’re also making the most of the closure and undertaking general maintenance activity along SH36, such as vegetation clearing, drainage work and barrier repair," says an NZTA spokesperson. 

For the remainder of August, people can expect delays on SH29 through the Tauriko Enabling Works site between Gargan Road and Belk Road.

There will be reduced speed limits and at times stop/go in place to allow for powerline relocation.

Although the works will be carried out outside of peak hours, delay times will vary across the week depending on the activity taking place.   

Remember to always check NZTA Journey planner for up to date information on road conditions. 
journeys.nzta.govt.nz 

Note: Over the winter months this traffic bulletin will be issued fortnightly. 

Bay of Plenty 

Tauranga 

·       SH2 Takitimu North Link Stage 1: On Minden Road from Thursday 8 August through to Sunday 25 August drilling, utility and drainage works will be taking place on multiple sites from the Minden Road shops to Perkins Drive. There will be a temporary speed limit of 30km/h in place with stop/go traffic management. More information 

·       SH2 Takitimu North Link – Loop Road: An overnight concrete pour will take place near Loop Road on SH2, Te Puna, on a weekend in August. While a specific date is to be confirmed, work will take place between 11pm Friday and 6pm Saturday. Daytime shoulder closures and stop/go traffic management on Minden Road continue until early October; this is to enable utility works to take place. 

·       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: Resurfacing will take place on Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 August between Tauranga Adventist School and the Cambridge Road overbridge, stop/go traffic management will be in place and one lane will be closed. This work will take place between 9am and 3pm each day.  

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 

·       SH2 Bay Link: In the coming weeks, daytime lane closures during off-peak hours will be required across the project site for landscaping, fencing and guardrail repairs. Works will be happening on the pedestrian crossings, including tactile paver installation at the Bayfair roundabout and the Owens Place/Matapihi intersection. These works will be completed with minor impact to road users however, pedestrians will be asked to follow detours. All works are weather dependent. More Information 

·       SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road: 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 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): The Quayside Properties Ltd-led Rangiuru Business Park Interchange project continues. Temporary barriers are in place until mid-August 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 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Median barrier and sign installation continues between Matahui/Lockington Roundabout and Morton Road. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management which may cause longer delays. Please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes. Between Sharp Road and Lund Road there is a shoulder and lane closure in place. More information 

·       SH2 Apata Curves: Road widening works underway. 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 Ōmokoroa Road: Shoulder and lane closures with speed restrictions are in place for roundabout construction. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays on Ōmokoroa Road. Please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes. More information.  

·       SH29 Tauriko/Redwood Lane: SH29 Tauriko/Redwood Lane: As part of the SH29 Tauriko Enabling Works project construction continues on Redwood Lane and SH29 between south of Belk Road and Gargan Road with stop/go on Redwood Lane, and shoulder closures and mobile operations on SH29 in place. People are asked to drive and cycle with extra care through the SH29/Redwood Lane and Belk Road area and adhere to the reduced speed limit of 70km/h. From Monday 12 August to Friday 16 August, between 9am and 3pm, a temporary 50km/h speed limit and a centre lane delineation will be in place on SH29 between south of Redwood lane to south of Belk Road to safely carry out earthworks at the corner of Belk Road adjacent to SH29. On Thursday 22 August and on Monday 26 August 2024, between 9am and 3pm, a two-way stop/go will be in place on SH29 between Redwood Lane and Gargan Road for the planned power cut over and removal of overhead powerlines and power poles. A temporary speed limit of 30 km/h will be in place and significant delays are expected.  More information. 

·       SH2 Pongakawa: From Monday 19 August for 8 weeks road rehabilitation will be taking place near Pongakawa School Road on SH2.  Initial works involves minor earthworks and drainage.  Contractors will be on site from 6am to 6pm Monday to Saturday with stop/go traffic management in place, delays are to be expected.

Rotorua 

·       SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: Work is underway on the culvert at the end of the Motion car park north of the Iles Road intersection. The temporary bridge has been removed allowing a box culvert to be installed, a rock wall to be constructed, a new footpath and a handrail. A lane is closed between the Iles Road intersection and Basley Road intersection, and the far north exit out of the Motion car park is closed. The footpath along the worksite is closed with detours in place. We expect this work to finish by late August, weather permitting. A temporary speed limit of 50km/h remains in place between Tumene Drive and the Ōwhata roundabout until resurfacing is completed in the warmer summer months. From 19 August for 3 days a shoulder closure will be in place near Puketāwhero Park to replace an airport light and pole. More information 

·       SH36 Mangorewa Gorge: Underslip and wall repairs are progressing well between Mangorewa Gorge and Hamurana. The first 2 weeks of work (ongoing) require daytime closures between 8am and 4pm each weekday, between Pyes Pā roundabout and Hamurana. Outside of these hours, 1 lane will be closed with stop/go traffic lights in place from the Mangorewa track to just south of the worksite. Access for residents will be maintained at all times and for users of TECT park from the Tauranga side North of Te Matai Road. The following 4 weeks of work will require permanent stop/go traffic management. During the full closure the detour for all vehicles travelling between Pyes Pā Road and Hamurana will be via SH29A, SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Roll Road (or Te Puke Highway), continuing to SH33 through Paengaroa, then SH30, and SH30A through Rotorua, turning right onto SH5 and rejoining SH5 Ngongotahā. More information 

·       SH30 and SH5 Rotorua: The Nduro Run the Forest 2024 will take place on Saturday 10 August from 8am to 5pm in the Forest trails near the Redwoods. Due to the event, there will be more traffic around SH30 near Puarenga Park and SH5 near the Hemo roundabout.

Eastern Bay of Plenty 

·       SH35 Opape: Slip repair work continues near Opape Beach Road, and is expected to finish in late September. The work will take place between 6am and 6pm each day with a lane closure in place with stop/go traffic management. Motorists can expect delays of up to 10 minutes. 

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. Overall, please expect cumulative delays of up to 40 minutes if travelling the whole of SH5 (Napier to Taupō). More information.  

Waikato 

East Waikato 

·       SH25 Tairua Road:  Slip repairs are underway, with stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h temporary speed limit in place 24/7 - this is to ensure safety for both the crew on site and people driving through.  This work is expected to be finished in September. More information. 

Central Waikato 

·       SH1 East Taupō Arterial: Flexible safety barrier installation is wrapping up between SH5 Napier Road and the airport roundabout. Speed restrictions have been lifted for most of the 5km worksite. 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 has begun and will be completed in mid September. 

·       SH1 Ātiamuri: Road widening work is complete, and all speed restrictions removed ahead of pavement works and safety barrier installation in spring. This covers a 6km stretch of road from the Waikato River bridge south to Thorpe Road.  

West Waikato 

·       SH1C Waikato Expressway - Te Rapa Bypass: Final resurfacing of SH1C Te Rapa, from the Te Wetini Dr/Wairere Dr overbridge near Wintec through to the Horotiu Interchange, is almost complete. Work on the dual-laned southbound section is expected to be complete next week, with the Koura Drive southbound ramps reopening. The crews will then move to completing resealing on a section of road near the rail overbridge, where traffic had been switched from one side of the Expressway to the other. The final stage of this project is to complete resurfacing in the single-laned section of SH1C, which will require a full road closure and detours. Further details of this work are expected to be available soon. More information.  

·       SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia section: Safety improvements and remedial works continue with traffic managed through the site. Within the current work site there is a temporary speed limit of 80km/h for 2 lane sections, and speeds are further reduced to 70km/h and 50km/h for one lane sections. More information. 

·       SH1/SH29 Piarere intersection: Construction is underway on the southern side of the roundabout, with the Tīrau approach road being built. To safely accommodate this work, traffic south of the roundabout has been moved onto a recently 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, when construction will start on the next approach road and another temporary layout change will be put in place. More information will be provided to road users ahead of each change in layout. Motorists are reminded to drive with care through the site. A temporary speed limit of 60km/h is in place around the project site to protect road workers and ensure the safety of everyone travelling through the area. More information 

·       SH1/Hydro Road, Karāpiro: Safety improvements on SH1, near Cambridge, are almost complete, bringing some changes for road users. As part of the finishing works, the right-turn out of Hydro Road onto SH1 will be permanently closed. Contractors will be on site from Monday 19 August to begin this work for an expected period of 3 weeks. During this work road users should expect periods of stop/go traffic management on Hydro Road and temporary traffic management with a reduced speed limit on SH1. Contractors will be on site from 7am – 5pm, Monday to Friday, with the possibility of work from 7am – 2pm on Saturdays if needed. Following the right-turn closure, road users wanting to travel south will make use of the new turnaround bay north of Hickey Road to safely change direction. All work in the area is expected to be completed by mid-September. 

North Waikato 

·       SH1 Hampton Downs: The northbound off-ramp will be closed on Thursday 15 August between 9pm and 5am for resurfacing. Please use alternative off-ramps at Springhill Road or Te Kauwhata Road.  

·       SH2 Monument Road to Dimmock Road:  Stop/go traffic management will be in place on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 August between 9pm and 5am for line marking to take place.  

Taranaki 

·       SH3 Waitara Road, Bell Block: Until further notice there are various temporary speed restrictions and temporary traffic management in place on SH3 at the intersection with Waitara Road.  There is also no right turn into Raleigh Street. This will allow workers to complete necessary work on the road in preparation for it connecting with the roundabout. All properties on SH3, Raleigh Street and Tate Road will be accessible for residents during these works. More information 

·       SH4 Paroparowhero Culvert Replacement: The site has been reinstated to two lanes under a temporary speed limit of 30km/h. The site will be held by a temporary seal over the winter months, until it can be fully rebuilt during the summer construction season.  

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
• X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/nztawbop
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)