The new year has kicked off with several active worksites throughout the region.

With good weather forecast for the next few weeks it’s perfect timing for crews to get stuck back into the huge chip-sealing programme, says Andy Oakley, Waikato system manager for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

“Our programme for the remainder of the summer is ambitious. It means a lot of roadworks and disruption, however, planning ahead will ease the frustration.

“Using the NZTA Journey Planner, which provides real-time updates of network conditions including traffic delays, will help road users plan their way around the most disruptive worksites. Our Summer Journeys page will also be available in the lead-up to long weekends, helping holidaymakers choose the best time to travel to their destination,” says Oakley.

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/Fifteenth Ave: Major works to build the connection from Fifteenth Ave to SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Road are under way. 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 Rd is closed while the construction of the 120m retaining wall takes place prior to the construction of the Fifteenth Ave Bridge. This is likely to remain in place until mid-2026.

· SH29 Kaimai Range: A programme of night work continues on SH29 Kaimai Range, now under way near Old Kaimai Rd. Crews are back on site after the Christmas break; when work is under way there will be stop/go traffic management in place. Over the coming six months there will be several significant worksites to complete. More information

· SH29 McLarens Fall Rd: The Lower Kaimai passing lane from Poripori Rd will be closed and reduced to one lane from Monday, January 13 to Wednesday, January 22, while drainage maintenance work takes place near McLarens Fall Rd. For the duration of the work there will be a 24/7 temporary speed limit through the SH29 site.

· SH29 Tauriko West between Redwood Lane and Cambridge Rd: A short section of the northbound lane on Cambridge Rd, from the SH29 intersection to 563 Cambridge Rd, is closed 24/7 until early February, with no entry into Cambridge Rd from SH29. All Bethlehem-bound vehicles are required to detour via SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road or SH29A and Cameron Rd. The free detour for heavy vehicles is via SH29A, Fifteenth Ave to SH2. The southbound lane of Cambridge Rd remains open for the duration of the works. A 60km/h speed limit applies on SH29 on all approaches to the intersection, and a 30km/h speed limit around the work site on Cambridge Rd. Crews are working Monday to Saturday, between 7am and 6pm. Access for Cambridge Rd residents from SH29 is via the detours. In addition, temporary safety barriers have been installed on SH29 (between 841 SH29 and 782 SH29) to allow for retaining wall construction in this area. People are advised to expect delays. More information

· SH29/Redwood Lane: Shoulder closures, reduced speed limits and mobile operations are in place. Motorists and cyclists are urged to drive and ride with extra care, especially in the areas between Redwood Lane and Belk Rd, and adhere to the reduced speed.

· 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

· SH2 TELTR: On Saturday, January 18, the Tauranga Half Triathlon takes place, and from 5.30am to 1pm the eastbound lane of the toll road from Domain Rd (including the Domain Rd eastbound on-ramp) to the intersection with SH33 will be closed. The alternative route for motorists during this time is via the Te Puke Highway. The westbound lanes will remain open.

Western Bay of Plenty

· SH2 Katikati: The annual Katikati Avocado Food and Wine Festival takes place on Saturday, January 11, from noon-6pm at the Uretara Domain in Katikati. About 4000 people are expected to attend, so motorists should expect more people and cars in the area.

· SH2 Apata Station Rd to Wainui South Rd: Road construction works are under way 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 that 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 Rd: Road construction and service relocation works are under way in preparation for the new roundabout. Lane shifts are in place along with speed restrictions. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management that 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 Snodgrass Rd, Te Puna: Night work will start on a road rebuild on Sunday, January 12, taking about six weeks to complete near the Snodgrass and Te Puna Quarry Rds intersection. While the work is taking place, the entry into Snodgrass and Te Puna Quarry Rds will be closed at the state highway end. Alternative roads are available to the south via Munro Rd and to the north via Armstrong Rd or Borrell Rd. Work will start at 8 each night and finish at 5.30am, Sunday to Thursday; there will be stop/go in place and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h during the day.

· SH2 Minden Rd – Takitimu North Link Stage 1: Shoulder closures and stop/go traffic management will continue from Monday, January 13. Please take direction from staff on the ground and slow down through the worksite.

· SH2 North chip seal programme: Several chip seal sites on SH2 north of Tauranga start on Sunday, January 12, at night taking 10 nights to complete all nine worksites. Kicking off at Te Mete Rd and finishing near Aongatete. There will be a temporary speed limit in place the day after the chip sealing has been completed to allow the chip seal to bed in.

Rotorua

· SH30 Te Ngae Rd, Rotorua: Resurfacing works on Te Ngae Rd between Iles Rd to Ōwhata Rd have started and will take 10 nights to complete. While the work is taking place the road will be closed and traffic detoured. All traffic travelling north, including heavy traffic, will be required to turn left at Vaughan Rd and follow detours to Ōwhata roundabout. All southbound traffic will turn right at Ōwhata roundabout and follow detours to Marino Rd/SH30 Te Ngae Rd intersection.

· SH5 Rotorua: Those travelling between Rotorua and Tīrau on SH5 will encounter two major road rebuilds and are advised to allow extra time when planning their journeys through this section of highway. The first is an approximate 2km stretch of SH5 just west of Oturoa Rd Mamaku, with the second just east of Tapapa. Both are expected to take three months to complete and will have stop/go traffic management and temporary speed restrictions in place during this time. More information.

· SH38 Kaingaroa Forest: Tree felling will take place for a week from January 21 on SH38 near Dun Rd, there will be a temporary speed limit in place of 30km/h while work is happening.

Waikato

· SH1 Ātiamuri to Wairākei: All work and traffic management has ended on this stretch of SH1, with final surfacing south of the Waikato River Bridge to be done later in summer.

· SH1 Tīrau to Waiōuru overall programme:

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SH1 between Tūrangi and Waiōuru: The Desert Road will close from 5am on Monday, January 13, for about two months.

As well as reconstructing 16 lane km (three sites) of road, improving drainage, and clearing about 15km of shoulders, the deck of the Mangatoetoenui Bridge will be replaced.

The detour (from north to south) is via SH41, SH47, SH4, SH49 and back to SH1 in Waiōuru. It is the usual recommended detour route whenever the Desert Road is closed and adds about 30-40 minutes to journeys. To encourage safe driving on the detours, the speed limit near and through Ohakune will be reduced to 50km/h while the detour is in place. Additional billboards and signage will be in place, and police have indicated they will have an increased presence on the detour roads.

South of Tīrau to north of Putāruru: Final asphalt surfacing is scheduled to start on Sunday, January 19, subject to final testing. More information.

East Waikato

· Various pre-chip-seal sites on SH25, SH27, SH26, SH29 and SH2 in the Waikato have started and will continue until Saturday, February 15, weather permitting. The work will take place between 6am and 6pm each weekday. While the work is taking place there will be traffic management and speed restrictions in place.

· SH25 Tairua: Repairs to a large underslip at Pumpkin Hill near Sailors Grave Rd just north of Tairua are under way. Work at this site will take about six months to complete and is due to be completed in April. There are temporary speed restrictions and a shoulder closure through the worksite. Stop/stop traffic management will be required at times. More information.

· SH25 between Waihī and Whangamatā: Resurfacing repairs have started and will continue until Friday, January 24. While this work is taking place there will be stop/go traffic management in place, delays are to be expected.

· SH25 Whangapoua Hill: Until Friday, January 17, asphalt repairs will take place between Coromandel and Te Rerenga on SH25. While this work is taking place there will be stop/go traffic management, delays are to be expected.

· SH25 between Whiritoa and Whangamatā: Asphalt repairs will start on Sunday, January 12, until Friday, January 24, between 6pm and 6am each night. There will be stop/stop traffic management in place due to the location of the worksite. Delays of up to 30 minutes can be expected. There will be no work on January 17-18.

Central Waikato

· SH41 Tokaanu: Works to fix an underslip are complete and SH41 is now open. Further finishing works will continue from Monday, January 13, and will require a single lane closure for two days.

West Waikato

· SH3 Melville, Hamilton: Resurfacing will begin on SH3 Ōhaupō Rd between Collins Rd and Mahoe St at the Normanby Ave intersection, taking five nights to complete from Sunday, January 12, between 8pm and 6am each night. While this work is taking place SH3 will be closed to through traffic, a detour will be available via Collins St, Prisk St, Mahoe St to rejoin SH3 and then left on to SH1C Lorne St. HPMV, heavy and over-dimensional vehicles will be stacked and released.

· SH21 Narrows Bridge: Resurfacing on SH21 on the Narrows Bridge will start on Sunday, January 19, from 8pm to 5am, taking two nights to complete. While the work is taking place the road will be closed between SH3 intersection and the Tamahere Interchange, residents and businesses will have access at all times. The detour available is via SH1 northbound, southbound will use SH3 and SH1C to rejoin SH1.

· SH1/SH29 Piarere intersection: Two out of three permanent approach roads have now opened on the SH1/SH29 roundabout in Piarere, with the new SH1 (from Tīrau) and SH29 approaches opened in December. The temporary Hamilton approach road remains in use while work continues on the permanent configuration, which is expected to be finished in early 2025. NZTA thanks motorists for their patience and asks drivers to stick to temporary speed limits and take extra care when travelling through the area while people adjust to the layout. View a map here.

· SH1 Karāpiro: SH1 will be closed to all traffic between Karāpiro Rd south to SH1/29 Piarere for maintenance work from midnight on Sunday, January 19, to midnight on Thursday, January 23. During the works, contractors will lay 42,000sq m of chip seal and apply a second seal on barrier areas and shoulders. Following the resealing, the road will reopen with a 70km/h temporary speed limit. A detour will be in place and traffic is urged to use alternative routes. All properties within the closure and sideroads leading to it will have access maintained. More information.

· SH3 Ōhaupō township: A road rebuild has started on SH3 on Ōhaupō Rd in the Ōhaupō township and will take seven weeks to complete. While the work is taking place, northbound light vehicles will be detoured 24/7 via Ryburn Forkert Rds, adding about eight minutes to the journey; heavy vehicles, including buses, overweight and over-dimension vehicles, will be stacked and allowed through the worksite with delays of up to 30 minutes. The southbound lane will remain open to all traffic. More information

· SH3 Te Kūiti: Waitomo District Council has started work to replace a large watermain, from Carroll St along to Duke St. This work is expected to continue until Wednesday, January 19. There will be a single road closure in Carroll St, with eastbound light vehicles being diverted along Taupiri St and Te Kumi Station Rd, heavy vehicles will detour via Esplanade and Te Kūiti Rd, northbound traffic will use the single lane in Carroll St.

· SH30 Bennydale: A second road rebuild site near Kiwi Place will start on Tuesday, January 14, and take six weeks to complete. 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/go traffic management in place and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h. Delays of up to 20 minutes can be expected.

North Waikato

· SH1 Pōkeno Interchange to Mercer Interchange: There will be a full southbound closure on Monday, January 13, and Wednesday, January 15, between 9pm and 5am for resurfacing. Traffic will still be able to travel south using one of the northbound lanes. Pōkeno southbound on-ramp will also be closed between 9pm and 5am. Please use alternative on-ramp at Nikau Rd.

· SH1 Mercer Interchange to Island Block Road: There will be a full southbound closure on Wednesday, January 15 and Thursday, January 16 between 9pm and 5am for resurfacing. Traffic will still be able to travel south using one of the northbound lanes.

· SH1 Island Block Rd to Dragway Rd: There will be a full southbound closure on Wednesday, January 15 and Thursday, January 16 between 9pm and 5am for stormwater maintenance. Traffic will still be able to travel south using one of the northbound lanes. Please slow down and follow traffic management instructions. Dragway Rd southbound off-ramp will also be closed. Please use alternative off-ramp at Springhill Rd or Hampton Downs.

· SH1 southbound to SH2 eastbound link: There will be a full southbound closure on Sunday and Monday, January12-13 between 9pm and 5am for stormwater maintenance. Please stay on SH1 and turn around at the next interchange at Pokeno to travel back via SH1 northbound to SH2 eastbound link.

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

Taranaki

· SH3 Tongaporutu: A road rebuild has begun between Pilot and Rapanui Rds, taking one month to complete, Monday to Saturday between 7am and 7pm each day. While the work is taking place there will be stop/go traffic management in place with a 30km/h speed limit, delays of up to 10 minutes can be expected.

The above information is accurate at the time of release. Many of the above works are dependent on several factors, particularly weather, and may be postponed at short notice. For up-to-date information on roadworks, 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.

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