Major works are progressing this week with the construction of a roundabout on State Highway 2 at the intersection of Rea Road and Tetley Road, near Katikati.

The work will be carried out in stages and will take around four months to complete.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Bay of Plenty System Manager, Roger Brady says Tetley Road will be closed between SH2 and Rereatukahia Pā Road from February 21 to late April, to enable these works to be carried out safely.

'Traffic on SH2 will not be affected by the closure, although residents needing to access Tetley Road during this time will use Marshall Road in Katikati.”

Roger says the work is another significant step towards making SH2 safer for all road users.

'The addition of a roundabout at this location will provide a safer intersection and save lives.”

There are many challenges to constructing a roundabout on an operational highway, says Roger.

'This is not an easy task, and we will do our very best to always keep traffic moving. However, there will be some inconvenience for those travelling through the site for a while. We ask that you remain patient and please bear with us while we carry out this essential work.”

A detour route will be sign posted and additional travel time will be minimal, estimated to be one to two minutes.

Mobile VMS boards will be put out this week to notify drivers of the part closure on Tetley Rd.

The work is being undertaken as part of the SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa safety improvements project which aims to improve safety and resilience of 40km of state highway.

Motorists are encouraged to check Journey Planner and online updates for up-to-date information on delays, road works and road closures along the route.

This is what you can expect to see on your journey between Waihī and Tauranga this week:

Ongoing safety improvement works (between 7am-6pm)

• Athenree Road to Tanners Point Road – road widening works continue throughout the week. Expect road layout changes marked out with cones. Minor delays of one to two minutes.
• Hikurangi Road to Tuapiro Road - lane shifts for retaining wall construction. Expect road layout changes marked out with cones. Minor delays of one to two minutes.
• Rea Road / Tetley Road intersection - roundabout construction gets into full swing this week, so expect major traffic layout changes. Tetley Rd will be temporarily closed between State Highway 2 and Rereatukahia Pā Rd and a detour route is signposted. Please follow temporary traffic management signage. Minor delays of one to two minutes.
• Lund Road to Aongatete Road – road widening, earthworks, drainage barrier installation and service relocation works continue with a focus on the Wright Road intersection. Expect to see road layout changes marked out with cones. Minor delays of one to two minutes.
• Wainui River Bridge to south of Sargent Drive – full width pavement construction continues. Stop/Go traffic management will be in place at times. Please anticipate delays when planning your journey through here.

• Apata Station Road to Esdaile Road - vegetation clearing continues. Expect to see cones marking out works alongside the existing road. Minor delays of one to two minutes.
• Takitimu North Link enabling works, ecological and environmental investigations continuing on

Wairoa Road (off SH2) – Service relocations underway and continuing until mid-March, Stop/Go traffic management will be in place.

In the event of bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances, works may be postponed.

People are advised to keep an eye on our Waikato/BOP Facebook page for any changes to major planned works and check the interactive Journey Planner website for the latest information on roadworks, traffic, road closures and detours before you travel.

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

• COVID-19 services update: nzta.govt.nz/COVID19
• Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• Facebook: facebook.com/NZTAWaikatoBoP
• Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahiWaiBP
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)