Drivers travelling through the Ōmokoroa roundabout can look forward to a smoother journey soon, with final surfacing works expected to be completed by the end of March, weather permitting.

Night works are scheduled to begin on Sunday, February 22, marking the last major construction phase of the roundabout at the intersection of State Highway 2 and Ōmokoroa Rd.

Over the coming weeks, crews will lay structural asphalt layers for about 60 metres in each direction from the roundabout.

These deeper layers strengthen the road in high‑stress areas before the final surface is applied across the entire site.

Work will take place between 6pm and 6am, Sunday to Thursday nights.

“We expect the surfacing to take around four weeks to complete, however this timeframe is heavily dependent on weather conditions,” Western Bay of Plenty District Council infrastructure growth and delivery manager Annelie Badenhorst said.

Stop/go traffic management using temporary traffic lights will guide vehicles safely through the area overnight.

“Please follow all signage and speed restrictions. Overnight delays may be longer than usual, so allow extra time if you’re travelling through the area,” Badenhorst said.

Once surfacing is complete, crews will undertake final tasks including installing signage, safety barriers, landscaping and line marking. Additional works along Ōmokoroa Rd will continue in the months ahead.

Badenhorst said the project reaching this stage is a significant milestone.

“It’s exciting to see the Ōmokoroa roundabout project nearing completion. Seeing it come together is an important milestone in helping to deliver better, safer journeys for the community.”

The SH2/Ōmokoroa Rd roundabout is designed to improve safety and traffic flow as a minimum 10‑year interim solution until funding is secured for a full interchange under NZ Transport Agency’s proposed Tauranga Northern Link (TNL) Stage 2.

– Supplied content