The new TEL highway came into its own over the holiday period, with traffic on the toll road increasing 58 per cent ahead of NZ Transport Agency expectations.

The busiest days were between Christmas and New Year.

The TEL is proving to be a popular piece of road.

On December 27, 10,164 vehicles paid tolls. December 28 saw 10,828 vehicles, while 10,312 vehicles used the road on December 30.

Average use remains 25 per cent more than the 6000 vehicles per day that the agency expected. Average to date is 7500 per day.

Over the holiday period the average was 9500 vehicles per day.

Since the highway opened in August, about 1.2 million trips have been made on the TEL, says the NZ Transport Agency.

Out of those trips, 85 per cent were from cars, motorbikes and light trucks. Trucks heavier than 3.5 tonnes make up 15 per cent of the traffic.

'The amount of tolls taken will be made public in the financial report due after the end of the current financial year,” says the NZTA,

'Not only are more people using the TEL than expected, they are praising the road in letters, emails and phone calls to NZTA.”

One Auckland man called the Tauranga office in December to say he didn't mind paying the toll because the road was 'simply gorgeous” and 'surely the eighth wonder of the world” – adding 'that he hasn't enjoyed driving on a road in a long time”.

The NZTA received a letter this month from a local organisation congratulating them of opening the TEL to such a high standard, ahead of time and on budget.

The writer called the TEL a 'fantastic piece of road” and said they were 'proud to have it in the district”.

People have also told the NZTA office staff they feel safer on the TEL, that the drive between Tauranga and Paengaroa takes much less time, that the new tolling website is nice and easy to use, and that the Transport Agency Contact Centre team are great to deal with.

Meanwhile, roadworks continue of a number of other highways in and about the Bay of Plenty and Waikato.

SH2, between Tauranga and Waihi, will be undergoing a major safety upgrade over the next four months and motorists using the road are advised to take extra care.

A section of highway between Wainui South Road and Sargent Drive will be repaired and widened, and a wire rope central median barrier installed to prevent head on crashes.

Work starts this month and is expected to wrap up in early May.

People should only expect minor delays minor delays but are urged to stay alert behind the wheel as there will be significant changes including lane closures, speed restrictions and occasional stop/go traffic management.

Rotorua

Rotorua motorists are advised to allow extra time when travelling this week as contractors carry out roadworks on a number of state highway sites.

Stop/go traffic management, changes to the road layout and speed restrictions will be in place at sites on SH5 near Springfield, SH36 near the Mangapouri Bridge, SH30 between Whakamaru and Rotorua and SH33 at Sun Valley Curves starting Monday January 18 for approximately one week.

The work is weather dependent and may be postponed if necessary.

SH24 Matamata

Work is under way to repair Matamata's main street - known as Broadway/SH24.

The works are at night for the town end with mostly day works for the section down to Burwood Road. Contractors Broadspectrum will be there until mid-February.

Heavy vehicles are being detoured away from Broadway at night and this will be extended to both day and night, at various times between January 17-29, to protect the new surface.

Hamilton Airport SH3

Roadworks get under way this week on a large section of State Highway 3 between the Hamilton Airport turnoff and Ohaupo, the NZ Transport Agency says.

The six-week job will see repairs to a 1.2km section of highway south of SH21 (Airport Road), side-by-side passing lanes removed and a section of wire rope barrier installed.

Passing lanes will be retained south-bound for 1km from the new roundabout being built at the SH3/21 intersection. Similarly there will be two lanes north-bound from Kaipaki Road for 1km.

The roadworks will be completed by late February. The roundabout project will be completed by late May.

The Transport Agency says speed restrictions will be in place during the work, and while the roundabout is built, so motorists on this route should add a few minutes to their journey times.

During the roadworks, traffic will be down to single lanes in both directions. Work will be done during the day, avoiding peak times, and two-way traffic will be maintained at all times.

To enable the roundabout to be built 'offline”, a temporary road is being built for traffic going in and out of SH21 and that will be in use from 25 January until the project is completed.

Waikato Expressway

Traffic management and speed restrictions are in place along some sections of SH1 as work continues on the Rangiriri and Huntly sections of the Waikato Expressway.

Rangiriri: There is also a 50km/h speed restriction in place between Rangiriri intersection and the Glen Murray intersection. This week the Rangiriri right-turn bay moves a little further north.

Huntly: A 70km/h speed restriction is ongoing north of Fisher Road to allow the contractor to widen the road and shift traffic on to a new alignment ahead of the start of the Ohinewai interchange bridge.

SH1 Kahikatea Drive

Contractors are gearing up to install traffic lights at the SH1 Kahikatea Drive and Gallagher Drive intersection.

Contractors Fulton Hogan are working on relocation of services, roadside berms and some geotech investigations this month.

There will be speed restrictions and traffic management as work moves out into the lanes ahead of a mid-year completion.

People can get information on road works and detours in the region they are in, or travelling to by going online and checking www.nzta.govt.nz/summerjourneys , by calling 0800 444 449 or following the Transport Agency on Facebook or Twitter.

The Transport Agency apologises for any inconvenience and thanks motorists for their patience during the works.