The New Zealand Transport Agency is reminding motorists that Kairua Road will be closed early this week as work continues on the Tauranga Eastern Link.

The road between State Highway 2 and Welcome Bay Road will be closed today and tomorrow between 9am and 4pm, with the off-ramp from State Highway 2 closing from 7am.

An overhead view of Kairua Road and SH2. Photo: File.

Drivers are encouraged to use alternative routes.

'As part of the Tauranga Eastern Link project, the construction team will be doing the final placement of asphalt in the area,” says an NZTA statement.

The works fall in line with NZTA's annual bridge inspection programme, which starts today.

Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed restriction will be in place while contractors inspect two state highway bridges, and short delays are expected.

SH2 Kaituna River Bridge, between Te Puke and Paengaroa, will be inspected today from 10.30am-3:30pm.

Tomorrow SH35 Motu Bridge, 40km east of Opotiki, will be inspected between 8am and 5pm.

The inspections are carried out from a truck with a mobile platform to allow workers to access areas under the bridge. Vehicles will be directed around the inspection area with stop/go traffic management.

NZTA says contractors will monitor traffic to ensure delays are as short as possible during the inspections, however motorists are advised to allow an extra 10 minutes for their journey during this time. The work is weather dependent and may be postponed.

Speed restrictions and stop/go traffic management will be in place at other Bay of Plenty work sites this month.

Sites where motorists can expect delays of more than five minutes next week are detailed below to allow people to plan ahead.

Tauranga Eastern Link State Highway 2 between Domain Road and Mangatawa:

Monday, May 11 through to Thursday, May 14 (between 9am and 4pm)

A 50km/h speed restriction and lane changes will be in place, as work on the TEL continues. Motorists on SH2 between Te Puke and Tauranga are advised to drive with care.

SH29 between Tauranga and Kaimai summit, Soldiers Road Passing Lane Pavement Rehabilitation:

A 50km/h speed restriction is in place while contractors continue rehabilitating a stretch of SH29 west of Soldiers Road. The road layout has been changed and the Tauranga-bound passing lane is closed to allow contractors to carry out the work.

Contractors will be working from 6am until 6pm each week day and motorists are advised to plan for delays of up to 15 minutes. The work started in March and is expected to be completed in June.

SH2 between Katikati and Waihi, Bridgman Lane:

A speed restriction of 70km/h will be in place on a 400m stretch of SH2, as contractors repair a road slip near Bridgman Lane, near the Athenree Gorge. Motorists are advised to allow an extra five minutes when travelling on this route.

SH2 between Tauranga and Waihi, multiple work sites:

Stop/go traffic management and speed restrictions will be in place at up to eleven different work sites on SH2 between Bethlehem and the Athenree Gorge at various times over the next four weeks.

Contractors are carrying out shoulder widening, installing new safety guard railing and felling trees close to the highway.

Contractors will be working from 6am to 6pm and motorists travelling on this route should allow for delays of up to 10 minutes. The work started in April and is expected to be completed by early July.

ROAD CLOSURE: SH2 Waioeka Gorge between Opotiki and Gisborne:

SH2 at the Waioeka Gorge will be closed to all traffic on Wednesday May 12 for one hour from 1.30pm as contractors carry out rock fall prevention works.

One lane of the road will reopen at 2.30 and stop/ go traffic management will be in place for the remainder of the week. Queue lengths will be actively monitored and kept to a minimum during the works. Motorists are advised to allow an extra 10 minutes for their journey during this time.