Crews are cracking on with work on State Highway 2 between Waihī and Tauranga, making the most of dry spells of weather and kicking off the new year with a significant programme of road renewals, to help keep this corridor in good condition. 

“Road users should expect to see several active sites over the coming weeks with resurfacing taking place alongside ongoing project works. Delays are to be expected, particularly as roads get busier with people returning to work and school,” says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Acting Regional Manager Maintenance and Operations, Roger Brady.    

Reseal sites are weather dependent and programmed to get underway 22 January. Night works will start at the Wairoa bridge and then continue through to Katikati. Following this, day works will start from the Athenree rest area and work back towards Katikati at various sites. People should expect reduced speed limits during in the days following work at each site. 

Reseal works are being coordinated with the Waihī to Ōmokoroa project team, who have commenced shoulder widening at Athenree Gorge. South of Katikati, the project team are tracking well towards the completion of the SH2 / Sharp Road roundabout, marking the fourth of the six roundabouts completed ahead of the installation of flexible median barrier. There is significant activity on the southbound lanes at this site, with speed restrictions in place, and intermittent stop/go traffic management which may cause longer delays.  

The Takitimu North Link project has enjoyed the dry start to January, getting stuck into earthworks with a target of 700,000m3 this season. Key sites are at SH2 near Loop Road (Te Puna), Minden Road, Te Mete Valley, Wairoa Road and Cambridge Road, Bethlehem, where major works are underway. 

“The closure of a section of Moffat Road came into effect on 9 January and will be in place until April. When there are significant traffic management changes like this, we normally expect a heightened period of disruption over a few weeks as people experience it and adjust their journeys. We anticipate the return to school will be a particularly busy time with increased traffic volumes around school runs.   

“Thank you for your patience while this important work takes place,” Roger Brady says.  

Waihī to Tauranga corridor summer worksites 2024.

Bay of Plenty 

Tauranga 

• Takitimu North Link Stage One: Earthworks are underway across a number of sites. On Wairoa Road, stop/go traffic management will be in place while trucks are crossing Wairoa Road, and 30km/h speed limits will be in place at all times within the construction area. Work in this area will become more evident as we work towards completing the Wairoa Road bridge in preparation of its opening. Minden Road has a 30km/h speed limit throughout the construction zone. A temporary haul road into the Te Mete Valley is operational to support the summer earthworks season. The single-lane haul road is separated from SH2. Road users should be aware of the new road layout and temporary speed limit of 60km/h on SH2 alongside the haul road. More information. 

• Cambridge/Moffat Roads: Construction work to complete the new Cambridge Road Overbridge, between Bethlehem and Tauriko continues. Until April 2024, major works require a full closure of a section of Moffat Road between Tauranga Adventist School and Cambridge Road (East). This is disruptive, there are local alternative routes for light vehicles, and heavy trucks can use SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Road. More information. 

• SH2 Bay Link: People travelling between Baypark and Bayfair will continue to see several road and lane closures at night. From Sunday 21 January to Thursday 25 January, road closures will apply on SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link and SH2/Maunganui Road between approximately 7pm and 6am each night. In addition, on Sunday 21 January and Monday 22 January (from approximately 7pm to 6am each night) the SH2 Hewletts Road flyover will be fully closed in both directions to allow for the installation of flexible median safety barriers. A detour via the Golf Road roundabout will apply. Once installation of the barriers gets underway, vehicles will not be able to cross SH2/Maunganui Road between Spur Ave and the Bayfair flyover. Closures will vary night to night, depending on site requirements and progress, and people are asked to allow extra time, follow signposted detours and drive with caution through the project site. To minimise impact, works are undertaken at night where possible. More information.   

• SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road (TDTR): A reduced speed limit of 80km/h is in place while Takitimu North Link crews are working behind the barriers.  

• SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR) Shared Path: The shared path alongside SH2 is diverted until May 2024. Over the coming months there will be an increase in heavy plant and machinery in the area. The safety of crew and the public is a priority, and the best way to ensure the safety of all parties is to temporarily close the shared path to cyclists and pedestrians. An alternative option for path users is available via Kaituna Road and Te Tumu Road. 

• SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR):  The TELTR will close between 8pm and 6am each night for 2 nights in both directions starting Monday 19 February to allow for the installation of the watermain to the underneath of the Rangiuru Bridge. A detour will be available via the Te Puke Highway.  More information. 

The Quayside Properties Ltd led Rangiuru Business Park Interchange project continues. Temporary barriers will be in place until approximately June 2024, with one lane available in either direction. A temporary speed limit of 70km/h applies through the site. More information. 

• SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR) Event: The eastbound lanes between Domain Road (Pāpāmoa) and Paengaroa will be closed between 5.30am and 1pm on Saturday 20 January as part of the cycle route for the Tauranga Half Ironman, which is part of the Mount Festival of Multisport. The alternative route for people driving eastbound during this time will be via Te Puke Highway. Westbound lanes will remain open. More information. 

Western Bay of Plenty 

• SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Roundabout construction is underway at Sharp Road with significant activity on the northbound lanes with speed restrictions, there will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays. A speed limit of 50km/h will be in place. In the Athenree Gorge, near Athenree Road, shoulder widening has started and there will be lane shifts in place with speed restrictions. More information. 

• Western tie-in (near Loop Road): Construction continues at the western tie-in of the Takitimu North Link project where utilities need to be moved. SH2 will be reduced to 50km/h in the area during this work, and the passing lane heading west will be removed to allow the crews to work on the side of the road.   

• SH2 Bethlehem to Athenree: Resealing will start in the coming weeks at a number of locations on SH2 between Waihī and Bethlehem. Night works will start at the Wairoa Bridge and then continue through to Katikati, delays are expected. Day works will then start on the Athenree rest area and work back towards Woodland Road. 

• SH2 Te Puke Highway to Otamarakau: Side barrier and guardrail installation will start on 22 January until 30 January. There will be stop/go traffic management between 6am and 7pm during this time. Detours are not required for these works.  

Rotorua 

• SH5 Ngongotahā: Chipsealing will start between Western Road and the Ngongotahā roundabout from Wednesday 24 January to Tuesday 30 January. Crews will be operating between 9am and 4pm daily. A southbound road closure will be in place on SH5 between Western Road and Ngongotahā roundabout during each workday.  Temporary traffic management and a reduced speed limit will be in place. A detour will be available to southbound traffic on SH5 to Western Road then SH36 and then to the SH5/36 Ngongotahā Roundabout.  HPMV Vehicles travelling south should detour through SH1 Tīrau onto SH30 and SH5. 

• SH36 Kaharoa: Road rehabilitation has started between Kaharoa Road and Te Waerenga Road. The work will continue between the hours of 7am and 5pm each day until Friday 2 February, with traffic management and speed restrictions in place. People should expect moderate delays. 

• SH5 Rotorua: Due to water main upgrades, lane closures will be in place between Malfroy and Devon Streets until Wednesday 31 January. Minor delays are expected. 

• SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage One: Nighttime line marking will be underway from Sala Street to Iles Road from 7pm Monday 15 January to 5am Friday 26 January. This will include limit lines, fire hydrant/valve markings along the road and through the intersection. Temporary traffic management will be in place including short-term lane closures, road closures, shoulder closures and temporary speed restrictions while the work is undertaken and drying. We expect this work to take 2 weeks, weather dependent. 

• SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: There are multiple active worksites on SH30/Te Ngae Road between Iles Road and Ōwhata Road. In places there is stop/go, lane shifts and shoulder closures, temporary pedestrian crossings, footpath closures, and/or reduced speed limits. Minor traffic delays are expected. Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times. More information. 

• SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Work on SH33 safety improvements is underway with contractors working along this section of highway. Work includes road widening, installing safety barriers, improving drainage and rehabilitation works. Temporary traffic management will be in place including stop/go, lane shifts, shoulder closures and reduced speed limits. Minor traffic delays are expected. More information. 

Eastern Bay of Plenty 

• SH2 Pekatahi Bridge: Pekatahi Bridge, located north of Tāneatua on SH2, will close daily for maintenance from Monday 22 January 2024 for 4 - 5 days.  Closures will take place daily between 8.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Thursday, to allow contractors to replace a section of handrail and repair broken and loose decking planks. The closure may be extended to Friday morning between 8.30am and 12pm (midday) if required, to finish the work. A detour will be in place for northbound traffic, using Tāneatua Road, Arawa Road, Hinemoa Street and onto SH30 towards Awakeri. Southbound traffic should use the same route, in reverse. This detour is expected to add up to 20 minutes to journey times and is suitable for all vehicles, including High Productivity Motor Vehicles (HPMV). 

• SH2 Manganuku Bridge, Waioeka Gorge: A reduced speed limit of 30km/h for heavy vehicles will remain in place until further notice. Heavy vehicles must adhere to the speed limit as those travelling at higher speeds will exert greater loads on the structure, which currently poses a significant risk.