Heavy traffic is expected across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions as people head to their holiday destinations, says Andrew Brosnan, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Journey Manager.

Mr Brosnan said, “We’re expecting congestion in various parts of the regions but especially on roads around the Coromandel and on State Highway 2 in the Bay of Plenty. Delays are inevitable in peak times; however, if everyone leaves plenty of time for their journey, and drives to the conditions and plans before leaving home, frustrations can be eased."

Three large events are happening this weekend –Tauranga, Whitianga and another in Taupō.

One Love Festival is held at the Wharepai Domain in Tauranga, on Saturday and Sunday, and organisers expect to attract up to 20,000 people. Drivers should expect more traffic in Tauranga city as festival goers travel to and from the event.

The popular Summer Concert Tour will be happening in Taupō on Saturday.

People should expect congestion around the area as concertgoers move to and from the venue. The Summer Concert then moves to a new venue in Whitianga on Sunday. Road users should expect congestion and more foot traffic in the area during this time.

“Patience is key when driving this weekend. Keep a safe following distance from vehicles in front so you can stop safely and drive to the conditions. We want to see people enjoying the long weekend and arriving at their destinations safely,” says Mr Brosnan.

Tauranga

• 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 is closed while this work takes place, this is likely to remain in place until mid-2026.
• SH29 Kaimai Range: A programme of maintenance work continues at night on SH29 Kaimai Range with stop/go, lane closures and lane shifts in place. There are several significant worksites to complete. More information 
• SH29 McLaren Falls Road: From Tuesday 28 January* to Tuesday 11 March, temporary traffic management, including a closure of the Lower Kaimai passing lane, from Poripori Road until just after McLaren Falls Road, and lane shifts will be in place while drainage maintenance work takes place. There will be a reduced speed limit of 30km/h to ensure the safety of the community and our team. Three lanes will be open at the weekends. *This work was originally scheduled to get underway on Monday 20 January. 
• SH29 Soldiers Road: Resurfacing work is underway near Kaukumoutiti Stream Bridge, north of Soldiers Road, with 2 final night shifts required on Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 January. Works will take place between 7pm and 6am, with stop/go in place, and a reduced speed limit of 50km/h during the day. Some periods of stop/stop, of up to 30 minutes, will also be required to complete work within the narrow bridge area. People are advised to expect delays. 
• SH29 Tauriko West between Redwood Lane and Cambridge Road: A short section of the northbound lane on Cambridge Road, from the SH29 intersection to 563 Cambridge Road, is closed 24/7 until early February, with no entry into Cambridge Road from SH29. All Bethlehem-bound vehicles are required to detour via SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road or SH29A and Cameron Road. The free detour for heavy vehicles is via SH29A, Fifteenth Ave to SH2. The southbound lane of Cambridge Road 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 Road. Access for Cambridge Road residents from SH29 is via the detours. Project construction is ongoing at multiple sites on SH29, with shoulder closures, reduced speed limits and mobile operations in place. From Wednesday 29 January, intermittent mobile operations to allow for vegetation clearance along SH29 between 808 SH29 and 782 SH29 will be in place. People are advised to expect delays. More information   
• SH29/Redwood Lane: Shoulder closures, reduced speed limits and mobile operations are in place. From Tuesday 28 January to Thursday 30 January and then again Sunday 2 February, between 7pm and 6am each night, pavement construction will be underway on Redwood Lane at the SH29/Redwood Lane intersection. Redwood Lane will be closed with residents only access. From Sunday 2 February to Tuesday 4 February, from 7pm to 6am each night, works to relocate existing safety barriers on the northbound lane of SH29, between Belk Road and Gargan Road, will be underway. A temporary 30km/h speed limit, lane shifts and stop/go on SH29, between Gargan Road and Belk Road, will be in place. From Monday 10 February to Monday 24 February, from 7pm to 6am each night excluding Friday and Saturday nights, construction of the new road surface for Redwood Lane and the new roundabout will be underway. These works will be carried out in sections with access to Redwood Lane maintained with lane shifts, stop/go and temporary road layouts as required. During this time, day works will continue on Redwood Lane for the new watermain, installation of the new kerb and traffic islands. Motorists and cyclists are urged to drive and ride with extra care, especially in the areas between Redwood Lane and Belk Road, 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 allowing 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 
• SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road: Ongoing works in this area for the Takitimu North Link project and the construction of a flyover bridge and southbound slip lane. A reduced speed limit of 70km/h is in place while crews are working behind the barriers.
  Western Bay of Plenty
• SH2 Apata Station Road to Wainui South Road: Road construction 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 construction 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 Snodgrass Road, Te Puna: Night works are underway on the road rebuild near the Snodgrass Road and Te Puna Quarry Road intersection expected to be finished mid-February.
  While the work is taking place, the entry into Snodgrass Road and Te Puna Quarry Road will be closed at the state highway end.Alternative roads are available to the south via Munro Road and to the north via Armstrong Road or Borrell Road.
• Work will start at 8pm each night finishing at 5.30am, Sunday to Thursday, there will be stop/go in place and a temporary speed limit during the day.
• SH2 Minden Road – Takitimu North Link Stage 1: Shoulder closures and stop/go traffic management are in place. Please take direction from staff on the ground and slow down through the work site.
• SH2 North chipseal programme: There are 3 more chipseal sites left south of Katikati to be completed over 4 nights by Waitangi Day. A site near Thompsons Track is planned to be completed on the night of Friday 31st January, while two other sites near Lund Road and the Claymark Sawmill are to be completed by 5th February. The final two sites on this corridor near Athenree are planned for completion by Friday 14th February. All works are weather dependent. There will be temporary speed limits in place the day after chipsealing has been completed to allow the chipseal to bed in.
  Rotorua 
• SH30 Te Ngae Road: Overnight road resurfacing between Vaughan Road and Sala Street will be completed 5am Wednesday 29 January. Work will take place between 8pm and 5am each night. While this work is underway lane closures and a reduced speed limit will be in place and will remain for up to 48 hours until line marking has been completed. This work is weather dependent. 
• SH30 Te Ngae Road-Wharenui Road, Rotorua: From Tuesday 28 January we will start preliminary work on signalising the intersection of SH30 Te Ngae Road and Wharenui Road. From Monday 3 February Wharenui Road will be closed to through-traffic from the intersection with SH30 to the intersection of Glenfield/Reeve roads. Traffic management will be in place on SH30 Te Ngae Road. A temporary pedestrian crossing will be installed south of Fresh Choice.
• SH5 Rotorua: Those travelling between Rotorua and Tīrau on SH5 will encounter 2 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 Road Mamaku, with the second just east of Tapapa. Both are expected to take 2 further months to complete and will have stop/go traffic management and temporary speed restrictions in place during this time. More information.
• SH36, Te Pu: A road rebuild including drainage work will begin on State Highway 36, Te Pu north of Dudley Road from Monday 20 January and is expected to take 10 weeks to complete. Works will take place from Monday to Friday between the hours of 7.30am and 5.30pm with prioritisation for peak morning and evening traffic flows, weather permitting. Expect delays while the work is taking place as there will be stop/go traffic management in place with a 30km/h speed limit.