With continued sunshine, road workers across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions are making significant progress on various worksites.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and its contractors are carrying out an ambitious programme aimed at improving the safety and resilience of the state highway network.

They are making the most of the summer months, a crucial period for resealing and reconstructing roads, said Sandra King, Bay of Plenty System Manager.

“The recent spell of good weather has allowed our contractors to make great progress on their maintenance programmes, some ahead of schedule, across both regions. Examples include completing the rebuild of both State Highway 2 north of Tauranga at Snodgrass Road and State Highway 27 in Matamata, several asphalting sites on State Highway 29 Kaimai Range and the scheduled closure on the Kaimai Range,” said Ms King.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience, especially where we have road closures and detours, or multiple worksites in the same area. This scale of work shows our investment in the region and our commitment to improving people’s journeys.

“Due to the work taking place, there will inevitably be delays to some journeys. As always, our key focus is to keep road users and contracting crews safe at all times,” she added.

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.

To plan ahead and check for disruptions, people can use the NZTA Journey Planner (journeys.nzta.govt.nz), which provides real-time updates on all disruptive activity and potential hazards on the state highway network.
 

Key Works Across the Bay of Plenty:

Tauranga

SH2/Fifteenth Ave: Major works are in progress as part of the Takitimu North Link project, including the construction of a 120m retaining wall and a single-lane bridge. Piling will begin in March, with bridge construction expected to take 12 months. One lane at SH2/Fifteenth Ave near Edgecumbe Road is closed until mid-2026.

SH29 Kaimai Range: The Kaimai Range will be closed overnight from Sunday 16 to Friday 21 February (4.30am) from 8pm to 4.30am for resurfacing and maintenance. Detours are available via Rotorua (southbound) and SH2 Karangahake Gorge (northbound).

SH2 Bethlehem: City-bound lanes at Bethlehem will be closed overnight on Wednesday 19 February from 8pm to 6am for maintenance works. A detour will be in place via Te Paeroa Road, Carmichael Road, and Bethlehem Road.

SH2 Hewletts Road Crossing: A 24-hour closure will take place from 6am on Saturday 15 February to 6am on Sunday 16 February for railway line replacement and resurfacing. A detour will be available via Newton Street, Hull Road, and Maunganui Road.

Western Bay of Plenty

SH2 Apata Station Road to Wainui South Road: Road construction for a new roundabout is underway, with lane shifts and intermittent stop/go traffic management. Drivers should expect minor delays.

SH2 Ō mokoroa Road: Construction and service relocation for a new roundabout continue. Lane shifts and speed restrictions are in place, with stop/go management expected to cause some delays, particularly during peak times.

With these works ongoing, motorists and cyclists are advised to remain patient, adhere to speed restrictions, and plan their journeys accordingly.