Waka Kotahi Traffic Bulletin - April 2023
6 April 2023
Hop off to holiday destinations, but don’t get cross if it takes time
Heading away in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato these Easter and school holidays? Here’s what you need to know to make your journey all the sweeter…
The Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency holiday journey planner shows predicted traffic conditions for popular routes all over the country during holiday periods, based on previous years’ travel patterns.
It’s a helpful tool, with school holidays from Easter to 24 April and Anzac Day 25 April. Key routes will be busy in over the next two to three weeks.
Kane Patena, Waka Kotahi Director of Land Transport urges everyone heading away to plan ahead for a safe journey, especially in areas affected by recent severe weather.
“Our teams have put in a huge effort over the past six weeks to repair flood and slip damage and re-open most highways in Northland, Coromandel, Tairawhiti and Hawkes Bay. We’re thrilled that these roads ready for people to travel to and from holiday destinations, and to visit friends and family.
“There are still many damaged sites with restrictions in place on several routes, and we’re urging people to allow plenty of time for their journeys, share the driving to avoid fatigue and be patient when traffic is heavy and there are delays,” Mr Patena says.
BAY OF PLENTY
Bay of Plenty hotspots will include SH2 between Paeroa and Waihi eastbound Thursday afternoon and expect heavy Friday 7 April from 11.30am until 4pm. Westbound – Sunday afternoon and Monday morning sees the heaviest traffic.
SH2 between Tauranga and Katikati has busy patches Thursday, Saturday and Monday mornings, while southbound on Thursday afternoon is likely to be busy.
State Highway 29 over the Kaimai range west of Tauranga may be heavy Friday from late morning until 3.30pm eastbound. Monday 10 April may be busy from mid-morning until mid-afternoon westbound.
Waka Kotahi urges everyone to drive carefully these holidays.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility – we can all play a part to ensure that no one is harmed on our roads,” says Mr Patena.
There are simple things we can all do to help keep everyone on the roads safe:
- Check your vehicle is safe to drive. Check your tyres, wipers, lights and indicators, and ensure you have a valid Warrant of Fitness before you leave.
- Drive to the conditions - whether it’s the weather, the road you’re on, the time of day or the volume of traffic on the roads.
- Make sure everyone does up their seat belt after a break outside the car.
- Keep a safe following distance from vehicles in front so you can stop safely, and share the driving if possible.
- People towing caravans and boats need to ensure their roadworthiness before attaching them to the tow bar. Stack heavy items toward the front to balance the load and remember the speed limit is 90k/h for towing vehicles. Pull over frequently and let queues pass when safe to do so.
Bay of Plenty state highway works for April 2023
As the end of March signals the close of the traditional construction season, there is an opportunity to reflect on the work completed over the past six months.
When crews started resealing and rebuilding roads across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region there was optimism that they would be able to achieve the target of renewing over 700 lane kilometres of the regional state highway network.
What followed was one of the wettest summers on record, with consistent rain before Christmas, before Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle (as well as the rain event of 27 January) left a lasting impact on the region.
These weather events meant that a challenging target became much harder, says Roger Brady, Bay of Plenty System Manager at Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency.
“Rain is our worst enemy, in summer we need dry weather to get through our resealing programme, and in winter water has a significant impact on roads. This summer we couldn’t catch a break until very late in the season.
“However, across the region crews have persevered, and been able to get their reward over the past month or so, thanks to more consistent weather. At the same time, they have been dealing with the clean-up following the more significant weather events, which will take some time to fully recover from.
Works will continue for the next couple of months at a reduced volume, with some works able to continue even as temperatures start to drop.
“We’re continuing to complete what work we can,” says Mr Brady. “Everything we do now will help us keep the network safe and accessible over winter.”
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
- SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: Multiple worksites are active on SH30/Te Ngae Road between Iles Road and Ōwhata Road. Temporary traffic management will be in place, including a shoulder closure on the westbound lane between Basley Road and 411 Te Ngae Road, a full closure at the Basley Road and SH30/Te Ngae Road intersection – detours are in place. There is a temporary reduced speed limit through site of 50km/per hr. The upgraded footpath on the lakeside of SH30/Te Ngae Road, between Iles Road and Tennyson Drive is now open. The footpath on the southern side of SH30/Te Ngae Road, between Basley Road and 411 Te Ngae Road is closed with a temporary signalised pedestrian crossing at the city end of Puketāwhero park to cross SH30/Te Ngae Road. Work is underway on the new retaining wall and shared service trench opposite Brent Road on SH30/Te Ngae Road, temporary traffic management will be in place including a contraflow lane shift, shoulder closure on the eastbound lane of SH30/ Te Ngae Road between Puketāwhero Park and Brent Road, the footpath through this section remains closed. Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times. 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. Earthworks continue on the southeast corner of the SH30/SH33 junction, temporary traffic management will be in place including a reduced speed limit through site and a 3-way stop/go during work hours. Moderate traffic delays are expected. More information.
- SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Temporary reduced speed limits are in place while maintenance teams work on slip areas and fallen trees. 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. More information.
- SH2 Wairoa Cycleway: Construction commences in the near future on the last 800m section of the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway, between the Wairoa Bridge and Bethlehem. While most of the works will be undertaken at night, there will be traffic management in place for on-road works. Work is expected to take about eight weeks to complete. This project is a partnership between Tauranga City Council and Waka Kotahi. More information.
- SH2 Bay Link: At the Bayfair roundabout, partial overnight closures will be in place to allow for the safe installation of precast concrete barriers and service ducting at the flyover. A partial closure will be in place between either Matapihi Road and Girven Road or between Girven and Matapihi Road, these closures will be in place from Sunday 2 April to Wednesday 5 April (from approximately 7pm to 6am, nights only) to enable works to be completed safely near live traffic lanes. On Sunday, the works are scheduled to start earlier, from 5.30pm, due to lower traffic volumes. During these hours there will be signposted detours in place. In the event of bad weather or unforeseen circumstances, the closure may be moved to the next suitable night/s. 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. Road resurfacing commences Tuesday 11 April, with work taking place between 7pm and 5am, Sunday to Thursday nights. Stop/go or lane shifts will be in place most nights, lane closures will be utilised between 16 and 18 April. 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 continues. Work is taking place in four consecutive stages to minimise disruption. Stage four works, between Maru St and Aerodrome Rd are scheduled to commence from Monday 3 April. 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. 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 Road intersection, 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. Stop/go traffic management will be in place overnight at the Morton Road roundabout site, which also has an unsealed section northbound of the roundabout awaiting sealing. Slip repairs are continuing opposite Sargent Drive. A power pole will be replaced near Westbank Drive on Saturday 25 March. Minor delays are expected. More information.
- SH29 Lower Kaimai: Chipsealing will take place during the week from Monday 3 April. Work will take place between 9am and 4pm. During this time stop/go and/or lane shift traffic management will be in place, along with temporary speed limits. Minor delays are expected.
Eastern Bay of Plenty
- SH30 Te Ruato Bay: Road rehabilitation continues just west of Lake Okataina Road. This work is expected to be complete by late-April, 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.
- 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.