Road renewals commence throughout the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region next week, with a number of contractors looking to make a head start on their programmes, weather permitting.

With over 700 lane kilometres of the network to be rebuilt or resealed this season, every dry, warm day needs to be well utilised to keep on track with delivery goals, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Bay of Plenty system manager Roger Brady.

'It's going to be a busy summer, and we are being up front about the fact that we will be consistently causing disruption for road users across the region. However, this is for the long-term benefit of road users, as it means we are delivering on our commitment to provide a safe, accessible and reliable state highway network.”

Key focus areas for the coming months include the Coromandel (SH25), Waihī to Ōmokoroa (SH2) and the eastern Bay of Plenty (SH35). Asphalt programmes will be commencing in towns such as Whakatāne, Te Awamutu and Putaruru.

'We appreciate that there are going to be multiple worksites on some corridors, especially corridors such as Waihī to Ōmokoroa, which has a long-term safety improvement project underway as well. Our advice is plan ahead by using the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner (www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz) which provides real-time updates.

'This level of activity will continue right through until April or May next year. However, we always look to minimise disruption during holiday periods and around large events such as Beach Hop and Fieldays, which draw in people from outside the region.”

Bay of Plenty

Tauranga

· Takitimu North Link Stage One: A range of construction activities are taking place between Te Puna and Bethlehem. This includes stop/go traffic management in place at Wairoa Road and Minden Road, and a number of shoulder closures and temporary speed limits. More information.

· SH2 Hewletts Road: As part of the Tauranga City Council Totara Street cycleway project, work at the intersection of SH2 Hewletts Road and Totara Street has commenced, and will be completed in November. Construction works will include signalising the existing slip lane and upgrading the island to provide a fully signalised crossing for shared path users. These works will take place between Tasman Quay and Totara Street each night between 8pm and 5am. Eastbound traffic along Hewletts Road will be reduced to one lane during this time. Minimal delays are expected. More information.

· SH2 Bay Link: The first vehicle entrance to Bayfair Shopping Centre on Girven Road after the Bayfair roundabout has reopened, and Girven Road eastbound between the Bayfair roundabout and Gloucester Road has been restored to two lanes. There will be a single lane closure on SH2/Maunganui Road from Concord Avenue to Exeter Street from approximately 7pm to 6am each night from Monday 26 September to Thursday 29 September. During this time, temporary barriers will be removed, and work areas prepared around the base of the northern ramp of the Bayfair flyover. This scheduled work is weather-dependent. If it is delayed due to weather or other unforeseen issues, it will be carried out during the next suitable shift. Drivers are reminded of the new layout at the Bayfair roundabout. For people approaching the roundabout from Matapihi, the left lane is now a left turn only and the right lane is for traffic going straight through and turning right. More information.

· SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road: A section of the Kopurererua Valley cycleway is temporarily closed while services are relocated alongside SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road. There is an alternate track parallel to the closed section and signposted for track users. This work is expected to be completed in September. In early to mid-October a reduced speed limit of 50km/h will be in place while contractor crews install barriers. This is expected to take place over two days. More information.

· SH36 Pyes Pa: The Tauranga City Council watermain and wastewater pipe installations have progressed ahead of schedule. Traffic diversions have now been removed; shoulder closures remain in place while works continue outside the carriageway.

· SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): For the Tauranga City Council led Pāpāmoa East Interchange project, traffic on the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road, just north of the Kaituna River Bridge continues to be down to one lane in either direction. Traffic lanes will be modified overnight on Monday 26 September, weather permitting; this will see both eastbound lanes and one westbound lane operational, with the temporary speed through the worksite increased to 70km/h. This layout will remain in place until April 2023. More information.

Western Bay of Plenty

· SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Safety improvement works continue at five active sites: between Athenree Road and Tanners Point Road, Tanners Point Road to Tuapiro Road, Rea Road / Tetley Road intersection, Morton Road intersection and Apata Station Road to Esdaile Road. Minor delays are expected. More information.

Chipsealing commences near Athenree on Sunday 16 October. Work will take place at night, between the hours of 7pm and 6am, Sunday to Thursday nights. When works are taking place stop/go traffic management and a reduced speed limit will be in place. The majority of this work is expected to be complete by late-November.

· SH2 Athenree to Pahoia: Road surface repairs will take place in multiple locations. Work will be undertaken between 7pm and 6am each night, from Sunday 25 to Thursday 29 September. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place.

· SH2 Te Puna: SH2 will be closed between the SH2/Te Puna Road/Minden Road and SH2/Clarke Road intersections on both Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 October, between the hours of 5am and 4pm, to allow tree removal to take place. A detour via Te Puna Road, Te Puna Station Road and Clarke Road will be in place. Delays are expected. More information.

· SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: Multiple worksites are active between Iles Road and Puketāwhero Park to excavate the shared service trench for the relocation of underground services and installation of the new watermain. Temporary traffic management will be in place with an intermittent lane closure on Basley Road, with no left turn lane out of Basley Road to SH30/Te Ngae Road. A detour will be in place for local traffic via Owhatiura Drive and Iles Road. Minor delays are expected. The upgraded footpath on the lakeside between Iles Road to Basley Road, heading east on SH30/Te Ngae Road, is now open, including the installation of a temporary pedestrian crossing on SH30/Te Ngae Road adjacent to Lynmore Rise Village. Works continue in the area and pedestrians are asked to take care. More information.

· SH30/SH33 Te Ngae Junction: Intersection safety improvement works are ongoing. Traffic will be maintained in both directions however works may cause minor traffic delays and people are asked to take extra care while traveling through the site. More information.

· SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Safety improvement upgrade work continues near Pareteiro - Sun Valley Curves passing lane. During the day and when the crew are on site, either two lanes will be open or stop/go will be in place – depending on the works. A temporary speed limit of 30km/h applies. Outside of work hours and when the site is unattended, the worksite will have a shoulder closure and a temporary speed limit of 50km/h. There are also ongoing shared path works between Mourea Bridge and Ōkere Falls. Traffic management will be a combination of shoulder closures and stop/go as required to carry out the works safely. Allow extra time. More information.

Eastern Bay of Plenty

· SH35 Motu River: 24/7 single lane access has been reinstated, with traffic signal control in place, along with a 30km/h temporary speed limit. There will be periods where traffic is stopped at each end to allow works to take place across the full road width. Works will continue until late-September. More information.

October – Chipsealing commences near Whangaparāoa on Monday 3 October. Work will take place during the day, between the hours of 7am and 7pm, Monday to Friday. When works are taking place stop/go traffic management and a reduced speed limit will be in place. The majority of this work is expected to be complete by early-November.

· SH30 Whakatāne: Resurfacing work between SH2/Gateway Drive/Phoenix Drive and Whakatāne Landing Bridge commences Sunday 2 October, taking up to three weeks to complete. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place between 6pm and 6am Sunday to Thursday; during this time Coastlands residents will have a signposted single direction detour. Temporary speed limits will remain in place during the day when there are uneven surfaces.

· SH2 Waimana Gorge: Road rehabilitation commences Monday 3 October just south of Fraser Road. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place until late-October.

· SH2 Wainui Road to Ōpōtiki: Service relocation work between Pohutukawa Drive and Paerata Ridge Road continues. Stop/go traffic management will be in place during the day when this work is taking place. This work is expected to be complete by the end of the month. More information.

· SH2 Waioeka Gorge: A section of the Waioeka River is in close proximity to the road edge. Traffic management is in place, and remedial works will commence in the near future.