People travelling through the State Highway 2 and Wainui Road intersection in the Bay of Plenty will navigate a change in layout soon.

In an updated statement, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said some traffic is being moved onto the newly widened shoulder.

“From Tuesday, July 29, weather permitting, vehicles traveling on Wainui Road to Ōpōtiki will use the newly built shoulder, allowing work to continue on the Matekerepu roundabout.

This photo shows the shoulder widening under construction. This is where traffic will be shifted. Photo / NZTA

“People are asked to drive with care and stick to the temporary speed limit as they adjust to the new road layout, which is expected to be in place until later this year.”

With work happening at the SH2 Wainui Road intersection and funding approved for work at the intersections of SH2 with Ōhiwa Beach Road and Waiotahe Valley Back Road, people may be curious about what’s driving the upgrades, NZTA said in project update on July 11.

“The stretch of road on SH2 between Wainui Road and Ōpōtiki is a high-risk rural road which can be made safer and therefore more efficient,” the roading agency said in its update.

“Because of its status as a high-risk rural road, a safety improvements project was developed and implemented in 2021.

“Since then, the safety improvements made have been installing side road and flexible side barriers, improving the curve in the road, widening road shoulders and line marking at various locations between Ōpōtiki and Wainui Road.”

The intersection connecting SH2 and Wainui Road is on a sweeping bend with limited visibility, said NZTA.

Between 2014 and 2023, there were nine crashes at this intersection.

Three of these were crashes causing injury, one of which was serious.

“The intersections of SH2 with Ōhiwa Beach Road and Waiotahe Valley Back Road are also dangerous with there being two fatal crashes, one crash causing serious injury, and three crashes causing minor injuries occurring between 2014 and 2023.”