Here’s to smoother travelling over the holiday season with people driving on a number of newly sealed roads!

Contractors across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty are continuing to make steady progress as the holiday season approaches. 

We’re nearly halfway through the maintenance season and a lot of work has already been completed. This includes road rebuild sites on SH29 Kaimai Range, SH26 Eureka (near Morrinsville), SH27 at the Matamata roundabout, and 2 sites on SH2 near Paengaroa in the Bay of Plenty. 

Now is also the time to start planning for your trip, says Andrew Oakley, Waikato System Manager at NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).   

“As with other years, we expect traffic to be busy from the weekend before Christmas, right through until early in the New Year. It’s been a long year, and everyone deserves to relax and unwind. Consider planning ahead so you know what to expect when travelling. Key routes will be busier than usual, and ensuring you have everything you need for a longer journey can make things much more enjoyable. 

“We encourage people to use the NZTA Journey Planner, it’s the best tool to use on the day of travel, as this provides real-time updates on worksites and other road hazards on the network.”  (journeys.nzta.govt.nz)  

This work forms part of the government’s $2.07 billion investment into road and drainage renewal and maintenance across 2024-27 via the State Highway Pothole Prevention fund. 

Bay of Plenty 

Tauranga 

·       SH2 Takitimu North Link Stage 1: Shoulder closures and stop/go traffic management on Minden Road continue until Friday 20 December while utility works and construction of the 2 roundabouts are underway.  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. Planning is underway for a 2 night closure of SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Road between 8pm and 5am, this is currently scheduled for Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 January 2025 but subject to change. When this work is completed there will be a new road layout including lane switches. Please take care in this area and look out for further updates. 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. A shoulder closure and lane deviation are in place on Cambridge Road for the installation of sheet piles. A temporary 60km/h speed limit is in place on Cambridge Road and SH29 on all approaches to the SH29/Cambridge Road intersection for the duration of these works. On Wednesday 11 December, from 9am to 4pm, stop/go will be in place on Cambridge Road for the relocation of a power pole. People are advised to expect delays. More information  

·       SH29 Kaimai Range: A programme of night works continues, with crews moving on to a new site from Sunday 8 December through to the morning of Wednesday 18 December, near the Tauranga end of Old Kaimai Road. The nightworks are between 8pm and 6am Monday to Thursday to minimise impact to traffic. When work is underway there will be stop/go traffic management in place which may continue during the day. Over the coming 6 months there will be several significant worksites to complete. More information 

·       SH29A Maungatapu Bridge: From Monday 2 December for up to 10 nights contractors will be undertaking investigations at the Maungatapu Bridge abutments. This work will take place between 8pm and 6am Sunday to Thursday nights. There will be stop/go traffic management in place. Some of the equipment used may create loud noises, measures will be in place to monitor this. 

·       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.  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 Friday 13 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 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 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. More information 

·       SH2 near Snodgrass Road: On Saturday 7 December between 4am and 11am there will be stop/go traffic management in place and a reduce speed limit while tree felling takes place.  

·       SH2 Tauranga between Loop Road and Ainsworth Road: Saturday 18 January intermittent stop/go will be in place from 7am to 7pm to allow barriers to be installed for construction activity traffic management. Once the barriers are installed there will be a 60km/h speed limit between the Te Puna roundabout to Ainsworth Road while construction is underway. 

·       SH33 Paengaroa: Resurfacing work on SH33 between Allport Road and Maungarangi Road is underway and expected to be completed by Friday 13 December. Hours of work are between 6am and 6pm each day. While the work is taking place there will be lane diversions and stop/go traffic management in place with a temporary speed limit of 30km/h. Outside of these hours there will be a temporary speed limit in place while the new chipseal is trafficked. 

Rotorua 

·       SH36 Hamurana Road, north of Ngongotahā: A road rebuild is nearing completion on SH36 between Central Road and Gloucester Road, this is due to be completed next week. While the work is underway a lane closure will be in place between Central Road and Gloucester Road each weekday. Temporary traffic management will remain in place until the road has been line marked. 

·       SH30 Rotomā: The first stage of the resurfacing repairs through Rotomā Glade on SH30 have been completed. The resurfacing of Rotomā Glade is taking place on Friday 6 December. During this time there will be stop/go in place with temporary speed limits.  Motorists are urged to follow the temporary speed limits at all times to help bed-in the repairs. 

·       SH30 Te Ngae Road:  New bus shelters are being installed on Thursday 12 December. To ensure the safety of the installation crew and public there will be a 1-way westbound lane closure in place between 7am and 3pm. A detour will be available via Vaughan Road.

Eastern Bay of Plenty 

·       SH35 Ōpape: Underslip repairs have started and expected to be completed in mid-December. The work will take place between 7am and 5pm Monday to Saturday. There will be stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h in place while work is underway. While the site is unattended there will be temporary speed limit of 50km/h in place. 

·       SH35 Te Kaha: A road rebuild is underway near Tūtaki Marae and the Te Kaha Hotel, between Copenhagen Road and Copenhagen Loop Road. Work hours are between 7am and 5pm Monday to Friday and is expected to be completed Tuesday 10 December. While rebuild work is underway there will be stop/go, and at times stop/stop, traffic management in place and a temporary speed limit.  

·       SH35 Waikawa Bay: Repairs have started on the culvert at Waikawa Bay on SH35, work is expected to be completed by Thursday 19 December. Stop/go traffic management is in place with a temporary speed limit while the works are taking place. 

·       SH35 Whanarua Bay: Repairs to an underslip started on Monday 2 December, work involves construction of a pile wall to reinstate the road shoulder. Stop/go traffic management will be in place during working hours.  This work will take about 6 weeks either side of the Christmas. 

Waikato 

·       SH1 Ātiamuri to Wairakei: Work and traffic management will continue on this stretch of SH1, with sealing works and installation of the median safety barrier underway.  

                    SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru overall programme:  

     Check out upcoming closure dates nzta.govt.nz/projects/T2W    

      Keep up to date - sign up to the e-newsletter 

·       Putāruru to Tokoroa:  SH1 between SH1/Princes Street Putāruru and the SH1/SH32 Tokoroa intersection is closed until on Friday 20 December.   

Detour:  For light vehicles and local HPMV: all north and south bound SH1 vehicles will be detoured – starting in Princes Street, Arapuni Street, Arapuni Road, Old Taupō Road, SH32 - Tokoroa and vice versa. This will add approx. 20 mins and 18km to journey times. There is temporary speed limit along the detour route of 70km/h and temporary speed limit of 30km/h over some of the structures for the local heavy detour route. 

HPMV Detour: heavy vehicles travelling beyond Tokoroa must use SH5 and SH30.There is a soft closure in Putāruru, between SH1/Princes Street intersection and Vospers Road, Lichfield. There is also a soft closure at the southern end, up to Rollett Road.  These soft closures still allow access but are in place in order to send those on longer journeys down appropriate detours. Businesses within soft closure are still open.  

The "hard closure" (the worksite) is approximately 13km long, from Vospers Road to Rollett Road. Within the hard closure, there are strict requirements before anyone can go into that area as there will be a multitude of machines and people working on the road at all times of the day and night. Pilot vehicles will be used and there may be delays going through the work site. 

·       South of Tīrau to north of Putāruru: Final asphalt surfacing was meant to have been completed under night-time road closures starting on Sunday 24 November. This has been postponed for further road testing which is needed before we can determine when it’s ready for the final surface. The date for the final surfacing isn’t confirmed, however it will be scheduled in early 2025. Once the date is confirmed, we will share this information. More information. 

·       Tūrangi to Waiouru: Tūrangi to Waiouru – including the Desert Road – will be closed for vital road rebuilding and repairs from Monday 13 January. 

East Waikato 

·       Various chipseal sites on SH25, SH29 and SH2 in the Waikato will start on Monday 9 December until Friday 20 December, then recommence on 6 January in 2025. The work will take place between 6am and 6pm each day Monday to Friday. While the work is taking place there will be traffic management and speed restrictions in place. 

·       SH2 Ngatea Christmas Parade: The Ngatea Christmas parade will take place on Thursday 12 December, between 6pm and 7pm. The road will be closed from 3pm to allow the parade to start at 6pm. There will be a road closure on SH2 between Darlington Road to Kaihere Road with a detour via Kaihere Road, Hayward Road and Darlington Street. 

·       SH2 Waihī: Road resurfacing in Waihī at the Seddon Street Roundabout will take place from Monday 9 December to Thursday 12 December, and then again on Sunday 15 and Monday 16 December, between 8pm and 6am. The road will be closed from Kenny Street to Martha Street and from Haszard Street to Silverton Street, the detour back to SH2 is available via Kenny Street. 

·       SH2 Karangahake Gorge: Work is underway to remove unstable slip material and vegetation above SH2 in the Karangahake Gorge at Crown Hill Road. The road will be reduced to a single lane with stop/go traffic management in place during the day, Monday to Friday, while the work is done.  The work is expected to take about 2 weeks to complete. 

·       SH25 Te Rerenga (Whangapoua):  Road rebuilding works are underway between Quarry Road and Te Rerenga School. This work is weather dependent and an expected completion date of Sunday 8 December. The road will be reduced to a single lane with stop/go traffic management in place between 7am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. Temporary speed restrictions will be in place outside of these hours.

·       SH25 Tairua: Repairs to a large underslip at Pumpkin Hill near Sailors Grave Road, just north of Tairua, are underway. 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. More information   

Central Waikato

·       Taupō Ironman World Champs:  On SH5 between Wairakei and Golden Springs from Friday 13 December to midnight Sunday 15 December between 6am and 2.30pm each day the road will be closed to all traffic, this is due to the Ironman World Champs taking place in and around Taupō. People should expect an increase in traffic volumes heading toward Taupō on the network for the event.  The will be an increase in cyclists riding SH5 and Broadlands from this weekend in preparation for the Ironman World Champs next weekend.   

·       SH41 Tokaanu: Rock face stabilisation work in the area will take 1 week to complete, there is temporary traffic management in place while this work is taking place.  

·       SH5 Iwatahi: Road resurfacing is taking place on SH5 near High Level Road until 6pm Sunday 8 December. While this work is taking place there is temporary traffic management in place with reduced speed limits.  

West Waikato 

·       SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia section: Full closures ended at 4pm on Friday 6 December, with traffic again sharing the northbound lanes as the remedial works and safety improvements head to a pre-Christmas conclusion. To complete asphalting, final surfacing, barrier installation and line-marking there will be night-time closures, 7pm-5am, running from Sunday 8 December to Friday morning 13 December.  And from Sunday 15 December to Friday 20 December. Meanwhile, outside these closures all traffic remains on the northbound lanes with 3 detours in place until completion in mid-December. 

 
-  The southbound onramp at the Taupiri/Gordonton Road interchange is closed 
-  The southbound offramp to SH1C is closed 
-  Northbound SH1C traffic is required to exit at Lake Road, head south on SH1 to turn around at Resolution Interchange and proceed north.  More information 

·       SH1 Greenhill Road off-ramp, Hamilton: For 1 night, Sunday 8 December between 8pm and midnight, the Greenhill Road southbound off-ramp will be closed for wire rope barrier repairs. While the work is taking place there will be a detour for southbound vehicles, continue south and exit at the Ruakura Road Interchange and return northbound, and then exit at the Northbound Pardoa Boulevard off-ramp. 

·       SH31 near Raglan Road: Road resurfacing is underway west of Raglan Road and is due to be completed by Friday 13 December. There will be stop/go traffic management in place while the work is underway. 

·       SH21 Narrows Bridge: 2 nights of road resurfacing will take place on Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 December, between 8pm and 6am, on the SH21 Narrows Road Bridge near Tamahere. SH21 Airport Road between Ōhaupō Road and SH1 Tamahere interchange will be closed to through traffic in both directions. There will be a detour available via SH3 and SH1C. 

·       SH1 Karāpiro: From Sunday 8 December to Thursday 12 December and again on Sunday 15 December stop/go will be in place at night from Keelys Reserve to Gorton Road for resurfacing. Delays are to be expected. 

·       SH1/SH29 Piarere intersection: Recent poor weather has caused surface deterioration on the temporary approaches, which we continue to monitor and repair as required. We expect to open the SH1 permanent approach from Tīrau in mid-December, followed closely by the SH29 approach and then the SH1 Cambridge approach. Please adhere to the signage and take extra care when travelling through the area as it’s still a work zone. View a map here.   

·       SH30 Bennydale: Road rebuilding is underway on Ellis Road in Bennydale near Ohirea Road and is expected to be finished mid-December. 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. 

·       SH39 Tihiroa: From Monday 9 December for 2 weeks enabling and drainage works will begin on Ormsby Road on SH39 near Cannon Road. The work will take place during the day from 7am to 7pm with stop/go traffic management in place and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h. Early in 2025 the second phase of this work, a road rebuild, will begin.   

North Waikato 

·       SH1 Rangiriri interchange to Hampton Downs: There will be a full northbound closure on Thursday 12 December between 8pm and 5am to carry out road maintenance. Please use the recommended via Te Wharepu Road, Rodda Road, Hall Road, Summertime Lane, Paddy Road and Whangamarino Road.   

·       SH2 Mangatawhiri Road to Rawiri Road/Golf Course Road: Stop/go traffic management will be in place between 9pm and 5am on Monday 9 December to carry out road maintenance. 

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 

·       SH51 and SH50: Various road closures are taking place in Napier for road resurfacing between Monday 2 December and Wednesday 11 December from 8pm to 5am each night. More information 

Taranaki 

·       SH3 Awakino Gorge: Maintenance will be carried out between Mōkau and Piopio in the Awakino Gorge, there will be stop/go traffic management in place and a 30km/h temporary speed limit until Friday 13 December between 7am and 7pm. Delays of up to 30 minutes can be expected. More information. 

·       SH3 Waitara Road: Final touches are being applied to the road surface between Nelson Street and Bayly Street from 8 December to 12 December, crews will be working between 8pm and 6am Sunday to Thursday. During the work, the road will either be completely closed to traffic or down to one lane. More Information 

·       SH4 North of Taumaranui: Road rebuilding started Monday 11 November at the Paroparowhero Stream, north of Taumaranui, taking 5 weeks to complete. The road has been held with a temporary seal over the winter months, but now we’re heading into the warmer summer months, crews are returning to site to complete a permanent rebuild of the road. During this time there will be traffic light stop/go in place 24/7 with a temporary speed limit of 30km/h. Expect delays of up to 15 minutes. More information 

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)