Road works in Bethlehem that are currently taking place along State Highway 2, are ahead of schedule.

NZTA Bay of Plenty System Manager Rob Campbell, says the project is going well with very few complications so far.

'Based on current progress we should finish inside the six week window that has been allowed for this work.

'The expected completion date is currently April 15 – 1 week earlier – but this is weather dependent.

'We would like to thank motorists for their patience and cooperation during this time.”

There are events taking place this weekend, therefore event closures and parking restrictions will be in place:

Event closures and parking restrictions:

TSB Surf Life Saving Nationals 2019
21 - 24 March 2019

There will be traffic management and parking restrictions in place on Marine Parade and Adams Avenue during the following times:

5am Wednesday, March 20 to 8pm Thursday, March 21

5am Sunday, March 24 to 8pm Monday, March 25

Food for Thought: A Rescued Food Festival
23 March 2019

There will be a partial closure in place at the Hamilton Street car park from 12pm Friday, 22 March to 7pm Saturday, 23 March.

Mobility access to the car park will be maintained at all times.

Tunes in Tye Park
23 March 2019

On Saturday, 23 March between 11am and 7pm, there will be traffic management in place to support safe event operations, including some parking restrictions in Forrester Drive from Rangataua Street.

Road closures:

Cruise ships

To help manage extra activity whenever a cruise ship arrives at the port, a section of Salisbury Avenue and The Mall will be turned into a one-way traffic lane. The one-way section will start at Victoria Road and end at Prince Avenue. Each closure will be closely monitored and will probably last a few hours.

Hamilton Street and Harington Street road closure:

Hamilton Street and Harington Street are closed to through traffic outside the Harington Street car park building construction site. Access to and from Harrington House basement parking and the Library car park will be from Willow Street only. Access to and from Quest Apartments and the Citizens Advice Bureau will only be from Durham Street. Pedestrian access on the library side of Hamilton Street will be maintained at all times. The closure will be in place for about 12 months. Be aware of a significant increase in truck movements out of Hamilton Street.

Spring Street road closure:

There is no through access along the section of Spring Street, from Grey Street to Durham Street, for the next two months. Access to the basement car park and other properties in this section of Spring Street will be from Grey Street only. There is no access for the next month from Cameron Road to Durham Street along Spring Street, as cobblestone work is completed. Access to properties in this block of Spring Street, is from Cameron Road only.

Traffic report:

City centre:

Dive Crescent: the storage sheds on Dive Crescent have been demolished to make way for a temporary car parking area. The site fencing will remain in place until the work is complete. Work is due for completion mid-2019.

Seventeenth Avenue: earthworks are underway at the bottom of Seventeenth Avenue. No road closures are in place, however the berms will be closed to car parking.

Durham Street: from Spring Street to Elizabeth Street is closed to traffic nightly, from 7pm to 6am. Traffic through the Spring Street intersection is being diverted on to the completed section of pavement work. There is no access on to Spring Street. During the day, Durham Street remains one-way from Spring Street to Elizabeth Street. Best access to Durham Street is from Wharf Street. Access from Elizabeth Street into Durham Street is closed until further notice. Access to the car park building is from the Spring Street end of Durham Street only.

Durham Lane: pavement construction work is nearing completion from the Bongard Centre to Cameron Road. Limited access to private car parking is available. The access from the University of Waikato to Cameron Road is closed for three weeks, to allow for construction works. There will be no through traffic route available.

Beyond the city centre:

Pyes Pa Road: tree felling work is planned on land bordering Pyes Pa Road, State Highway 36, at 2.2km south of Oropi Gorge Road intersection. The work will take place on Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 March, managed with a stop/go.

Maunganui Road: work has commenced on Maunganui Road between Hull Road and Hinau Street. The safety improvements being made include central median islands, roundabouts, a shared footpath/cycleway next to Blake Park, landscaping and improved street lighting. Temporary traffic management will be in place. Motorists should expect delays and if possible use an alternative route or adjust travel times.

Domain Road: reconstruction works commence on Domain Road with the installation of culverts at the Wairakei Stream. Between Gravatt Road and Papamoa Beach Road, existing utility services will be relocated and upgraded. Temporary traffic management will be in place and at times diversions will be required. Motorists should expect delays and if possible use an alternative route or adjust travel times.

Roundabout at Waihi Road/Otumoetai Road/Cambridge Road: safety improvements at this intersection are underway. Weather permitting, works are expected to take six weeks. Please drive carefully through the site.

Windermere Drive/Lagoon Place: safety improvements installing a new roundabout at the intersection continue. Works are due for completion by the end of March.

McFetridge Lane: work upgrading the road has begun. The work is expected to be complete by mid July.

Kennedy Road: a new stormwater treatment pond is being constructed. The construction site is off the road, but the shoulder will remain closed. Please drive carefully through the area. Works are expected to continue through to mid 2019.

Matapihi: the laying of new wastewater pipelines in road reserve in Matapihi, Puwhariki, Waikari, Hungahungatoroa, Matapihi Station and Waikari Roads is in progress. Please drive carefully through the area.

Pyes Pa Road (between Aquinas College and Kennedy Road): construction of a shared pathway, a pedestrian island, a water main, a stormwater main, Joyce Road intersection upgrade, and street lights continue. Please drive carefully through the area, there are temporary speed limits in place. The works are expected to be completed in May.

Mortlake Heights extension: this section of the new loop road and Taumata School is open. Heavy truck activity will continue while completing a new stormwater pond and subdivision development. Please drive carefully through the area, especially during school hours.

Oropi Road (between Phillips Drive and Pukemapu Road): roading improvements continue. Please drive carefully through the works area, a 30kph speed restriction is in place. Weather permitting, works are due for completion this month.

SH36 pedestrian overbridge: works continue near the Takitimu Drive/Taurikura Drive roundabout. Please drive carefully through this area as it is under traffic management control with temporary speed limits.