State Highway 29 will be a hive of activity at night from Sunday 14 July, with the Kaimai Range closed from 8pm to 3.30am for 4 consecutive nights.  

“This is the third time we have closed SH29 for maintenance works and we have found the full closures provide huge safety benefits for both crews and road users,” says Sandra King, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi System Manger, Bay of Plenty.  

The Kaimai Range closure is to enable maintenance crews to carry out scheduled maintenance more efficiently. By locking in a schedule, regular road users including freight operators, can make plans to minimise disruption to themselves and their customers. 

To take advantage of the closure 2 other projects will also carry out works on nearby corridors, increasing the effectiveness while traffic volumes are reduced across the Tauranga and Western bay of Plenty state highway network.   

Ms King explains, “These works are part of the Tauriko Enabling Works project, including road surface repairs, line marking, barrier adjustments, and the installation of hit sticks. 

“Also, on the SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road there will be a northbound lane closure for 1 night on Sunday 14 July to allow for temporary barriers to be installed as part of the Takitimu North Link project,”.  

Elsewhere on the network, winter maintenance continues ensuring the state highways are safe and accessible throughout the wetter, colder months. 

Remember to always check NZTA Journey planner for up to date information on road conditions. 
journeys.nzta.govt.nz 

Note: Over the winter months this traffic bulletin will be issued fortnightly. 
 
Bay of Plenty 

Tauranga 

·         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. On Sunday 14 July the northbound lane on the Takitimu Drive Toll Road will be closed for 1 night from 8pm to 5am. The closure will enable temporary barriers to be put in place to allow a safe work site for crews working on the Takitimu North Link project. A detour will be available via SH29, Cambridge Road, Moffat Road and back to SH2. More information 

·         Cambridge/Moffat roads: A section of Cambridge Road East from Moffat Road to St Andrews roundabout will be closed while the new intersection joining onto Moffat Road is constructed. Detours and temporary speed limits are in place for the closed section of Cambridge Road East. More Information 

·         SH2 15^th Ave/Elizabeth Street: From Sunday 14 July Tauranga City Council will be undertaking work at several intersections along Cameron Road which will impact some state highway intersections. Fifteenth Ave will be closed from the SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road through to Devonport Road on Sunday 14 July for 2 nights from 10pm to 6am.  
On Thursday 18 July from 10pm to 6am, the Elizabeth Street/Cameron Road intersection will be closed, a detour from SH2 Takitimu Drive will be available via Glasgow Street and 2nd Avenue back to Cameron Road. 

·         SH2 Bay Link: In the coming weeks, daytime lane closures during off-peak hours will be required across the project site for surface inspections. Night works will take place on Tuesday 16 July (from approximately 7pm to 5am) with SH2/Tauranga Eastern Link northbound closed from Sandhurst interchange to SH2/SH29A Te Maunga interchange. A signposted detour via Sandhurst interchange, Mangatawa Link Road, Truman Lane, SH29A roundabout, SH2/SH29A Te Maunga interchange and Maunganui Road northbound will apply. In addition, from Wednesday 17 July to Thursday 18 July (from approximately 7pm to 5am), shoulder closures will apply on SH2/Tauranga Eastern Link northbound underneath SH2/SH29A Te Maunga interchange. In the week commencing Sunday 21 July various overnight road and lane closures will be required while surfacing works are underway. Closures will vary, depending on site requirements and progress. These works are weather dependent. Please follow signposted detours. More Information 

·         SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road: A 2km section of SH2, just past the Kaituna River bridge continues to be reduced to a single lane in each direction to allow construction of the Pāpāmoa East interchange to progress. This closure will remain in place for the duration of construction, with a temporary 70km/h speed limit in place.  More information. 

·         SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): The Quayside Properties Ltd-led Rangiuru Business Park Interchange project continues. Temporary barriers are in place until mid August 2024, with 1 lane available in either direction. A temporary speed limit of 70km/h applies through the site. More information. 

Western Bay of Plenty 

·         SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Median barrier and sign installation continues between the Matahui Road roundabout to Morton Road, there are lane switches and speed restrictions in place. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management which may cause longer delays. Please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes. Between Sharp Road and Lund Road there is a shoulder closure in place until the median barriers are installed to the south. 

·         SH2 Apata Curves: Road widening works underway. Lane shifts are in place along with speed restrictions. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays. Follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes. 

·         SH2 Ōmokoroa Road: Shoulder and lane closures with speed restrictions are in place for roundabout construction. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays on Ōmokoroa Road. Please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes. More information.  

·         SH29 Tauriko/Redwood Lane: On Sunday 14 July and from Monday 22 July to Thursday 25 July, from 8pm to approximately 5am each night, stop/go and a temporary 30km/h speed limit will be in place in both directions on SH29 between Gargan Road and Belk Road (and at the intersection with SH29 and Belk Road on Sunday only), for line marking, barrier adjustments, installation of hit sticks and works to underground power lines. This work is weather dependent, if it is delayed because of weather or other unforeseen issues, it will be carried out on the next suitable night. Construction continues on Redwood Lane and SH29 between Belk Road and Gargan Road during the day, with traffic management including, shoulder closures and mobile operations in place. Minor traffic delays are expected. People are asked to drive and cycle with extra care through the SH29/Redwood Lane and Belk Road area and adhere to the reduced speed limit of 70km/h. More information. 

·         SH29 Kaimai Range: The Kaimai Range will be closed overnight from Sunday 14 July to Wednesday 17 July – inclusive – (4 nights), from 8pm to 3.30am to allow road resurfacing and maintenance to take place. The closure points on the western side of the Kaimai Range are at the SH29/24 and SH29/28 intersections and on the eastern side of the Kaimai Range at the SH29/Cambridge Road intersection. Detours are available for all vehicles southbound via Rotorua and northbound via SH2 Karangahake Gorge. Emergency services will have access at all times, residents can access their property from the relevant side of the closure. More information.  

Rotorua 

·         SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: On the week beginning Monday 22 July, work will commence on the culvert at the end of the Motion carpark, on SH30 Te Ngae Road north of Iles Road. The temporary bridge will be removed allowing a box culvert to be installed. A rock wall will be constructed, along with a new footpath and a handrail. A northbound lane will be closed on SH30 between Iles and Basley roads and the far north exit out of the Motion carpark will be closed while this work is undertaken. We expect these works to take 5 weeks, weather permitting. A temporary speed restriction of 50km/h is in place on SH30 between Tumene Drive and the Ōwhata Road roundabout. More information.   

Eastern Bay of Plenty 

·         SH34 Kawerau – Tarawera River bridge walkway: Upgrades to the walkway over the Tarawera River in Kawerau continue until the end of July. The old walkway is being demolished and a new steel walkway will be built. There is stop/go in place between 6.30am and 5.30pm Monday to Saturday, when there is no work taking place on site traffic signals will be operating. Scaffolding will be in place under the bridge, so the waterway can be protected, and workers can be kept safe during construction. More information 

·         SH2 Pekatahi bridge: The Pekatahi bridge will be closed for scheduled maintenance for 4 days from Monday 15 July to Thursday 18 July, with work to take place on Friday 19 July if required. Contractors will be repairing and replacing damaged decking planks and undertaking general maintenance. While the work is taking place between 8.30am and 4.30pm each day, a detour for all vehicles will be available northbound via Tāneatua Road, Arawa Road, Hinemoa Street and onto SH30 towards Awakeri, southbound traffic will use the same route in reverse. More information. 

Tairāwhiti Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay 

·         SH5 Napier to Taupō: Recovery alliance Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) continues to progress safety improvements, as well as repair, recovery and maintenance activities at multiple sites on SH5 between Eskdale and Waipunga. Overall, please expect cumulative delays of up to 40 minutes if travelling the whole of SH5 (Napier to Taupō) There will be a full closure of SH2 from Whirinaki to Tūtira on 15,16,17 July from 9pm to 5am each night for multiple recovery works, including rock blasting, guardrail installation, culvert work and resurfacing.  More information.  

Waikato 

East Waikato 

·         SH25 Coromandel: Drainage repair and clearance is continuing between Waihī and Whiritoa. More information.  

Central Waikato 

·         SH1 East Taupō Arterial: Flexible safety barrier installation continues between SH5-Napier Road and the airport roundabout. One lane is open in each direction with speed restrictions in place. Completion expected late July. More information.   

·         SH41 Tokaanu: Due to a washout, the road is down to one lane under temporary traffic lights, with a 30km/h temporary speed restriction in place. Works to repair the washout are due to begin late July and will take 6 weeks to complete. 

West Waikato 

·         SH1C Waikato Expressway - Te Rapa Bypass: Resurfacing work continues at the southern end of the Te Rapa section, with the Horotiu southbound onramp closed for several weeks. Traffic wanting to head south from Horotiu should use Te Rapa Road instead.  
From Wednesday 17 July to Sunday 21 July the Horotiu southbound offramp will be closed from 9am to approximately 9pm. Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction and shifted on to the northbound lanes with speed restrictions in place.  
The Koura Drive Southbound on and off ramps are scheduled to close from Monday 22 July for approximately 2 weeks, traffic wanting to access the expressway southbound are advised to use the northbound onramp and turn around using the Horotiu interchange. Traffic wanting to exit the Expressway at Koura Drive will stay on SH1C and turn around using the SH1C roundabout at Crawford Street/Avalon Drive.  More information.  

·         SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia section: Safety improvements and remedial works continue with traffic managed through the site. Within the current work site there is a temporary speed limit of 80km/h for 2 lane sections, speeds are further reduced to 70km/h and 50km/h for one lane sections. More information. 

·         SH1 Karāpiro (Hickey Road): Work is wrapping up on the SH1 improvements near Hickey Road. Along with constructing a turnaround bay, we’ve widened the entrance road at the weigh station on SH1, between Hickey and Hydro Roads, and installed median and side safety barriers. Minor finishing works are still occurring with all work expected to be complete by ate July. More information  

·         SH1/SH29 Piarere intersection: Construction is underway on the southern side of the roundabout, with the Tīrau approach road being built. To safely accommodate this work, traffic south of the roundabout has been moved onto a recently constructed section of road adjacent to SH1. This is a short bypass road which rejoins SH1 before the intersection, which continues to operate as normal. This arrangement is expected to remain in place until September 2024, when construction will start on the next approach road and another temporary layout change will be put in place. More information will be provided to road users ahead of each change in layout. Motorists are reminded to drive with care through the site. A temporary speed limit of 60km/h is in place around the project site to protect road workers and ensure the safety of everyone travelling through the area. More information 

·         SH3 Te Kūiti: Due to the construction of a retaining wall on Carroll Street in Te Kūiti, traffic management will be in place until Friday 19 July.  

North Waikato 

·         SH1 Pioneer Road: The Pioneer Road northbound off-ramp remains closed. Please continue on SH1 and exit at Pokeno northbound off-ramp, turn around at McDonald Road and head south using Pokeno southbound onramp on SH1 to get off at Pioneer Road (South). This work has been extended and will be ongoing until early August due to unfavourable weather conditions. 

·         SH1 Pokeno: There will be a full northbound closure on Thursday 25 July between 9pm and 5am for resurfacing. Traffic will still be able to travel north using one of the southbound lanes.  

·         SH1 Island Bock Road to Mercer interchange: There will be a full northbound closure on Thursday 25 July between 9pm and 5am for resurfacing. Traffic will still be able to travel north using one of the southbound lanes.   

·         SH1/SH2 link to Oleary Road: Stop/go traffic management will be in place on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 July between 9pm to 5am for resurfacing.  

·         SH1 southbound link to SH2 eastbound link: This will also be closed on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 July. Follow SH1 south to Pokeno southbound offramp. You will be able to turn around and re-enter the motorway using Pokeno northbound onramp. Head north on SH1 and use the SH1 northbound to SH2 link.    

·         SH2 Koheroa Road: The westbound offramp will be closed on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 July between 9pm and 5am for resurfacing. Please use alternative offramp at Rawiri Road or Great South Road.  

·         SH2 Coalfields Road to Maramarua township: Stop/go traffic management will be in place on Thursday 18 July between 9pm and 5am for road marking.  

·          SH2 Dimmock Road to Steen Road: Stop/go traffic management will be in place on Sunday 14 and Monday 15 July between 9pm and 5am for road marking.   

Taranaki 

·         SH3 Te Ara Tutohu Waitara to Bell Block: Contractors are putting the finishing touches on the Princess Street roundabout – which is on track to be completed by the end of the month. Workers have been completing asphalting work, landscaping, footpaths, barriers, fences, and have also installed and connected new light poles. The underpass is also nearing completion and is set to open to the public late July once the cultural expression on the walls of the underpass and those leading up to it is complete. More information.  

·         SH3 Waitara Road, Bell Block: From Monday 13 May until the end of July, there will be a 30km/h temporary speed limit in place on SH3 through the intersections with Waitara Road and Raleigh Street and on Raleigh Street from the intersection of SH3 through to the intersection with Tate Road. SH3 will remain open to two lanes of traffic at all times. There will be no right turn into Raleigh Street. Tate Road, from the intersection with Raleigh Street through to SH3, will be closed to everyone except residents. This will allow workers to complete necessary work on the road in preparation for it connecting with the roundabout. All properties on SH3, Raleigh Street and Tate Road will be accessible for residents during these works. 

·         SH4 Paroparowhero Culvert Replacement: The site has been reinstated to two lanes under a temporary speed limit of 30km/h. The site will be held by a temporary seal over the winter months, until it can be fully rebuilt during the summer construction season.  

The above information is accurate at the time of release. Many of the above works are dependent on a number of factors, particularly weather, and may be postponed at short notice. For up-to-date information on road works, traffic, detours and delays, motorists are encouraged to visit the NZTA Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz). 
 
NZTA thanks motorists for their patience while we complete this essential work to keep the state highway network safe, accessible and resilient. 

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

·         Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic

• Facebook: facebook.com/TransportAgency
• Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahi_news
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)