Bay of Plenty state highway manager Brett Gliddon says work to complete the resurfacing of State Highway 2 at Te Puna will resume as soon as the weather improves.

The resurfacing work from Te Puna Road to Te Mete Road was planned for three days and was on track until Wednesday afternoon's rain.

Resurfacing is required because the seal has stripped in some parts of State Highway 2 from Te Puna Road to Te Mete Road.

'The reason the surface stripped is believed to be the result of heavy rainfall causing moisture to enter the base course and, on the first hot day, moisture rose to the surface causing the seal to come away,” says Brett.

'Repairs have started with a scrub layer of asphalt completed over the area in the last two days and another ultra-thin application will be applied over this when work resumes – once the weather has improved.”

The contractor InRoads will cover the full cost of the re-work, says Brett.

There will be no impact to other projects in the region.

While repair work is being undertaken southbound traffic is detouring via Te Puna and Te Puna Station Roads, but these detours are removed overnight.

The detours have been currently removed whilst work is on hold due to the wet weather. Speed restrictions are still in place through the site.

The three month project last year was a safety improvement project which included widening, installation of guardrails, kerbing, drainage and culvert replacement.

The surfacing was done in conjunction with this project.

The total cost for that work was $580,000.

Last year's works were undertaken over three months, with interminable detours.

Detours because of the repairs are not expected to take as long because the work is expected to be completed over a three day period.

'Our contractors met with neighbouring businesses owners and the local school to discuss the works including time frame and where safety for children could be maintained and commercial impact to businesses could be minimised,” says Brett.