Bay of Plenty state highway works for March 2023
2 March 2023
As the response to the widespread impact of Cyclone Gabrielle continues, road renewals and project activity has been able to re-commence, in part thanks to a run of warm sunny weather gracing the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region.
While crews in areas such as Coromandel, Eastern Bay of Plenty and the state highways heading to the western coast are focused on recovery works, other crews are pushing ahead with other work, says Roger Brady, Bay of Plenty System Manager at Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency.
“Different crews have different skillsets, and we don’t expect a specialist asphalt crew to be able to jump into an emergency response situation. This means that while some crews are focused on the response and recovery actions, others can focus on the task of renewing our roads while we still have the right weather to do so.
“We want to ensure the state highway network is in the best condition possible before the colder months settle in. Road rebuilding and resealing is crucial to this goal. While we have had a wet summer, we have an opportunity over the next month or so to do as much as we can.”
Over the coming weeks there will be a number of road closures across the region, to allow works to take place safely and efficiently.
“We’re aware of the key routes that are being used by those providing lifeline services and supplies into Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay,” says Mr Brady.
“We want to ensure that supplies continue to reach these areas as efficiently as possible. However, some routes may be closed to help teams work quicker within a safer environment.
“We continue to ask that you respect and support our contractor crews during this time. Over the last few weeks we have had a number of incidents of abusive behaviour towards crews reported to us. This is totally unacceptable, and we are encouraging crews to report this behaviour to NZ Police, especially if a situation becomes threatening.”
Road users are reminded to check the Journey Planner (www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz) for the latest road conditions across the state highway network.
Rotorua
- SH5 Tarukenga: Road reconstruction commences Monday 27 February on a 300m section west of Tarukenga. Stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place until late-March while this work takes place. Delays are expected.
- SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Safety improvement upgrade work continues near Pareteiro - Sun Valley Curves passing lane. Temporary traffic management is in place. More information.
- SH30/SH33 Te Ngae Junction: Construction of safety improvements continue on the western side of the intersection, with a shoulder closure in place. More information.
- SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: Multiple worksites are active on SH30/Te Ngae Road between Iles Road and Puketāwhero Park. Temporary traffic management will be in place with all eastbound traffic - including heavy haulage - required to turn at Vaughan Road and follow detours. Any local eastbound traffic at the Iles Road intersection will be required to take the right turn at Iles Road and follow detours. One lane of westbound traffic will be maintained from the Ōwhata roundabout to Iles Road, with a lane shift between 411 Te Ngae Road and Basley Road. Tennyson Drive is closed at the intersection with SH30/Te Ngae Road. There is no exit from Basley Road onto SH30/Te Ngae Road - detours are in place - and there is a temporary left hand turn into Basley Road from SH30/ Te Ngae Road. The upgraded footpath on the lakeside of SH30/Te Ngae Road, between Iles Road and Basley Road is closed. Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times. More information.
Tauranga
- Takitimu North Link Stage One: A range of construction activities will continue between Te Puna, Bethlehem and Tauriko including Cambridge Road, Harrison Road, Wairoa Road, Minden Road, Loop Road and State Highway 2, there are a number of shoulder closures and reduced speed limits. The new Harrison Road alignment will open with new seal and line marking scheduled in the coming weeks, when there is consistent fine weather. People may notice an increase in truck movements along Moffat Road over the summer months as earthworks ramp up in the Tauriko/Bethlehem area. Tree felling and stump grinding take place at the corner of Cambridge and Moffat Roads on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 March, between 7am and 7pm each day. During this time Cambridge Road will be closed from Moffat Road to St Andrews Drive. More information.
- SH2 Bay Link: The location of the westbound lanes on SH29A near the roundabout will change next week to allow for the next stage of road reconstruction in the area. From Sunday 26 February to Thursday 2 March (7pm to 6am, nights only), a single lane closure will be in place in both directions on a short section of SH29A next to the roundabout to allow this work to be completed safely. This work is weather dependent. There will be a single northbound lane closure on SH2 past the SH2/SH29A Te Maunga onramp to Bayfair roundabout on Sunday 26 February, Tuesday 28 February and Wednesday 1 March 2023 (from 7pm to 6am, nights only) to allow for line marking and barrier realignment. Temporary asphalt will be laid on a short section of Matapihi Road between the railway line and Bayfair roundabout overnight on Monday 27 February and Tuesday 28 February (from 7pm to 6am, nights only). During these hours, there will be no right turn available from Matapihi Road onto Owens Place. A detour will be available via Bayfair roundabout. More information.
- SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road: A reduced speed limit of 80km/h will be in place while contractor crews are working behind the barriers. More information.
- SH2 Fifteenth Avenue: Work continues on the upgrade of the intersection at SH2/Fifteenth Avenue and Cameron Road. Traffic management will be in place at the intersection, and there will be a reduced number of lanes on Cameron Road. Minor delays are expected. Cameron Road, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth Avenue, has a southbound lane closure through to mid-2023.
- SH2 Hewletts Road: Works to upgrade the footpath on the northern side of SH2 Hewletts Road to a shared path will begin week commencing Monday 27 February. Work will take place in four consecutive stages to minimise disruption and will start between Totara Street and Waimarie Street. The northbound bus lane will be closed Monday to Friday between 5am and 3pm each day. A detour for people walking and cycling will be in place. Regular traffic lanes will operate as per normal. More information.
- SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): For the Tauranga City Council led Pāpāmoa East Interchange construction project, a section of the TELTR, just north of the Kaituna River Bridge, is reduced to three lanes. Whilst earthworks continue on the south side of the road, both eastbound lanes are open and normal speed applies. The inner westbound lane is open whilst work continues along the outside lane - the speed limit past the work site is 70km/h. This layout will remain in place until May 2023 with reinstatement work planned for June 2023. More information.
The Quayside Properties Ltd led Rangiuru Business Park Interchange project continues. Temporary barriers have been installed on both sides of the TELTR, and these will be in place until approximately October 2023, with one lane available in either direction. A temporary speed limit of 70km/h will apply through the site. On Tuesday 27 February the steel barriers will be extended by 250m at the end of the site, which will take place between 6am and 5pm. During this time a temporary speed limit of 30km/h will be in place past the worksite. More information.
Western Bay of Plenty
- SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Safety improvement works continue at five active sites: between Tanners Point Road to Kauri Point Road, Rea Road / Tetley Road intersection, Lockington Road / Matahui Roadintersection, Morton Road intersection and Apata Station Road to Esdaile Road. Pavement work to complete the Rea Road / Tetley Road roundabout will take place as soon as there is consistent fine weather. There is an unsealed section northbound of the Morton Road roundabout awaiting sealing. Minor delays are expected. More information.
Repairs to a slip opposite Sargent Drive commence today, Friday 24 February. Stop/go traffic management will be in place on Tuesday 28 February between 9am and 4pm, to allow for the removal of material from the slope. If required, this operation will continue on Wednesday 1 March. Delays will be significant through this area. This work cannot be completed safely at night.
Chipsealing continues between Katikati and Ōmokoroa from the night of Sunday 26 February. Weather permitting, work will take place from 7pm to 6am each night, Sunday to Thursday. During this time stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place.
Eastern Bay of Plenty
- SH30 Te Ruato Bay: Road rehabilitation commences Monday 27 February just west of Lake Okataina Road. This work is expected to be complete by late-March, during this time stop/go or stop/stop traffic management will be in place as required. Work will take place between 6am and 6pm each weekday.
- SH30 Rotoma: A road closure will be in place between Matahi Road and SH34 Kawerau Road from Monday 27 February to Friday 3 March, between 8:30am and 5pm each day, to allow multiple maintenance activities to take place. During work hours the detour will be via SH33, SH2 and SH34 Military Road.
- SH30 Te Teko: A road closure will be in place between Te Teko Road and Western Drain Road from Monday 13 to Friday 17 March, between 8am and 5pm each day, to allow multiple maintenance activities to take place. During work hours the detour will be via SH34 Military Road and SH2.
- SH30 Awakeri to Whakatāne: Pavement and utility site investigation work will occur during the week along SH30, between the SH30/SH2 and SH30/Shaw Road intersections. Work will be undertaken at night under stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit.
- SH2 Waioeka Gorge: An underslip at the road edge sees a section of road under priority give-way. Care is required when driving through this area.
For up to 48 hours following completion of chipseal sites, a 50km/h temporary speed limit will be in place until the road is swept and line marking reinstated.
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 Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz).
Waka Kotahi 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: facebook.com/NZTAWaikatoBoP
- Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahiWaiBP
- Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
- Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)