NZTA has issued a list of current and upcoming roadworks for Bay of Plenty and Waikato, to help motorists plan their journeys.

Bay of Plenty

Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty work starting next week:

SH2 North, Woodland Road: A section of SH2 near Woodland Road will be rebuilt over the next 9 weeks, starting on Wednesday September 16. Work will take place during the day between 6:30am and 6pm each day, with occasional night work. Traffic will be reduced to one lane and a lower speed limit in place while the work is ongoing. Delays of up to 10 minutes are expected.

SH2 Paengaroa: There will be a 24/7 closure on SH2 near the Te Puke Golf Club from 5am Saturday September 12 to 6am Monday September 14. This work is to enable KiwiRail to upgrade the level crossing. The detour for all vehicles is via Maniatutu Road and Old Coach Road back to SH2. More information

Work starting soon:

Cambridge Road, Tauriko: From Wednesday September 23 a new pedestrian layby will be installed in the road median outside 579 Cambridge Road. This is expected to take 3 days. Temporary traffic management will include a stop/go operation between 563 and 587 Cambridge Road from 9am to 3pm. These works are weather dependent and may be rescheduled to the next suitable shift if delayed.

Work underway:

SH29 Tauriko Village: Construction continues along the southern side of SH29, with a temporary 50km/h speed limit in place through Tauriko Village. Watermain installation works are ongoing between Te Ara Hoia Drive and 855 SH29, with shoulder closures, reduced speed limits, lane shifts, and mobile operations as required. Temporary safety barriers have been installed between 820 SH29 and 808 SH29 for stormwater works, with lane shifts, narrowed lanes, and reduced speed limits in effect. A temporary road layout remains in place on SH29, between the Cambridge Road intersection and the SH29/SH36 roundabout, for stormwater works. Temporary traffic management includes safety barriers, lane shifts, and reduced speed limits. The slip lane from SH29 on to Takitimu Drive Toll Road at the SH29/SH36 roundabout has been temporarily narrowed during these works, with a wide shoulder closure in place. Over dimension vehicles are required to travel via SH36, Paraone Koikoi Drive, Matakokiri Drive and Kaweroa Drive back out to SH29. More information

SH29/SH36 roundabout: The slip lane from SH29 onto Takitimu Drive Toll Road at the SH29/SH36 roundabout is closed for approximately six weeks while drainage works is completed. Access to Takitimu Drive Toll Road will be maintained via the roundabout.

SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road: A reduced speed limit of 70km/h remains in place while crews are working behind the barriers on the construction of this major interchange for the Takitimu North Link Stage 1 project. More information

SH2/Fifteenth Avenue: The bridge structure is completed. Crews are now installing drainage and building the approaches at the top of Fifteenth Avenue, and panels are being installed along the large soil nail wall with the remaining panels to be installed in late September, following pavement works at ground level. The lane closure near Edgecumbe Road will stay in place to late 2026. Road widening work is underway at the bottom of the Fifteenth Avenue bridge towards Tauriko. An extended lane closure and lane diversion is in place on SH2 between Eleventh Avenue off-ramp and SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Road. More information

SH2/Pahoia/Esdaile intersection: Construction of the new roundabout is underway. Lanes shifts, reduced speed limits and intermittent stop/go traffic management may result in longer delays.

SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link / Wairākei Interchange: Tolling infrastructure work is underway on the eastbound/Pāpāmoa off-ramp and westbound/Tauranga on-ramp until late October. A 50km/h speed limit is in place between 7am and 6pm. Please follow traffic management signs and take care.

SH2 Pukehina: Drainage and road construction has started this week on SH2 at Pukehina taking 5 weeks to complete. Works take place Monday to Saturday between 6am and 6:30pm. Stop/go traffic management will operate during the day, with delays of up to 10 minutes. Traffic management will remain in place outside of work hours.

Rotorua

Work starting next week:

SH36 Tauranga Direct Road: SH36 will be closed at the project site, 1km north of Hamurana, overnight on Monday September 14 from 7pm to 6am. If conditions are unsuitable, the closure will move to the next available night. Light vehicle detour - Jackson Road and Central Road to rejoin SH36. Large and heavy vehicles will be detoured via SH29, SH2, SH33, SH30 and SH5. Outside the closure traffic remains reduced to one lane, under temporary traffic management, with minor delays expected. Construction will be complete in 2027. Oversized vehicles are at all times required to detour via SH29, SH2, SH33, SH30 and SH5 for travel between Rotorua and Tauranga. More information

Eastern Bay of Plenty

Work underway:

SH2/Wainui Road, Matekerepu, near Ōpōtiki: A 30km/h temporary speed limit is in place until the final resurfacing on Matekerepu Stream Bridge is completed. This work is weather dependent and expected to be completed by late-September/early October. More information

SH2/Ōhiwa Beach Road/Waiōtahe Valley Back Road intersections near Ōpōtiki: Works are underway beside SH2 to construct 2 new teardrop roundabouts. SH2 remains open under a 50km/h temporary speed limit. Works are also continuing on local (side) roads, where stop/go traffic management operates from 7am to 6pm with a temporary speed limit of 30km/h. Road surfaces may be uneven in places, so please allow extra travel time when passing through the area. Completion is expected in mid-2027. More information

SH35 Whangaparaoa, near Waihau Bay: Underslip repairs near Waihau Bay are underway and expected to continue until the end of September. There will be stop/stop traffic management in place. Up to one-hour delays can be expected during the day to enable crews to work safely through the worksite.

Waikato

East Waikato:

Work underway

SH25 Coromandel recovery works: Work is underway at four slip sites at Whangapoua Hill and another at Manaia Hill, with the work linked to the storm events earlier this year. All sites have lane closures and speed restrictions in place 24/7 with the stop/go controlled by temporary traffic lights. The Whangapoua works run into early October, with Manaia to finish later in October.

SH25 Tairua: The Pepe Stream Bridge replacement project runs until late 2027. Access across the stream is being maintained for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists but occasional delays can be expected. More information

SH27 Ohinekaua Stream Bridge replacement: A replacement bridge is being installed 5km south of Patetonga, with a speed restriction of 50km/h. Traffic is using a diversion around the site which includes a single-lane temporary bridge and delays can be expected. The diversion bridge is 3.2m wide and cannot accommodate over-dimension vehicles. More information

SH27 Piako River Bridge: Strengthening work continues until December, with a 30km/h speed restriction in place. Some single lane closures and stop/go may be required.

West Waikato

Work starting soon:

SH39 Symes Bridge: From Monday October 12 Symes Bridge over the Moakurarua Stream, approximately 16km north of Ōtorohanga will be closed to all traffic for up to two months while the bridge deck and beams are replaced. While the bridge is closed, the official detour route for state highway traffic will be SH3 through Te Awamutu. For approximately three weeks before the closure begins there will be periods of Stop/Go traffic control at the bridge while scaffolding is built underneath and services that are attached to the deck are relocated.

Work underway

SH1 Waikato Expressway – Cambridge Section: Major asphalt renewal works continue on the Cambridge section of the Waikato Expressway to keep the route safe, resilient and ready for future growth. The team are nearing completion of Stage 6, the northbound lanes between the Northern Interchange (Velodrome/Cambridge West onramp) and the Tamahere Interchange. Weather delayed finishing work on the ramps and Stage 6 is expected to be complete next week (weather dependent). At the same time, they will be moving to widening works near the Cambridge Southern Interchange. This work will be done under temporary speed limits of 50km/h and 70km/h. Following that they will be completing asphalting on all ramps at the Victoria Road Interchange (Hautapu). This work is expected to start on Monday September 21 and go through to Tuesday September 28 with the ramps closed overnight between 8pm and 5am. They will start with the southbound ramps for three nights. The detour during this time for southbound SH1 traffic wanting to access Cambridge will be via the Northern Interchange (Velodrome/Cambridge West exit) or for southbound traffic wanting to leave Cambridge on SH1 via SH1B, Victoria Street, Duke Street and Tīrau Road, past the Cambridge Golf Course. More information

SH31 near the Kāwhia lookout: Work on an underslip near the Kāwhia lookout on SH31 is underway and completion expected late October. Crews will be working between 6am and 6pm Monday to Friday (Saturdays and Sundays may also be included as required). The road will be down to a single lane with stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h temporary speed limit in place.

SH30 near Bennydale: Work on two underslips near Bennydale is underway, from 7am to 5pm Monday to Friday. There will be a lane closure with stop/go traffic management in place, and is due to be completed mid-October. Should weather cause delays work may also take place on Saturdays.

SH39 Mangati Bridge: The permanent replacement to the Mangati Bridge on SH39 between Ōtorohanga and Pirongia is now under construction. The old bridge was damaged beyond repair by flash flooding in February, with traffic currently using a single-lane temporary Acrow bridge. Traffic will continue to use the Acrow bridge until the new bridge is open to traffic in early 2027. Please drive carefully past the construction site and obey the posted speed limits.

SH3 Awakino Gorge closure: SH3 Awakino Gorge remains under stop/go traffic management while recovery works continue following severe weather damage in April. Significant progress has been made, including the installation of new larger drainage culverts to help stabilise the major slip site and improve route reliability. NZTA has now confirmed a long-term solution that will move the road away from the active slip towards the river and construct a retaining wall to support a new section of road. Additional measures, including a rockfall barrier and containment area, will help protect the route from future slip material. Work is expected to begin shortly, with two-lane access currently expected to be restored by mid-December, subject to weather and site conditions. Motorists should continue to plan ahead, allow extra travel time and check Journey Planner before travelling. More information

North Waikato:

Work starting next week:

SH1 Pioneer Road to Pōkeno: There will be a full northbound closure on Sunday and Monday September 13-14 between 9pm and 5am. Northbound travel will be via one of the southbound lanes. The Pōkeno southbound on ramp will also be closed.

SH1 Springhill Road to Island Block Road: There will be a full northbound closure on Sunday September 13 between 9pm and 5am. Northbound travel will be via one of the southbound lanes.

South Waikato

Working starting next week:

SH28: Road rebuilding will start on SH28 north of Okoroire Road on Monday September 14 using stop/go traffic management Monday-Friday between the hours of 6am-6pm. Work is expected to be completed 6pm Thursday October 29 (weather dependent). Please plan for delays of up to 10 minutes at this site during work hours. A 30km/h temporary speed limit will be in place while this work is undertaken and will remain in place outside of work hours. Other work happening in the area, includes ongoing road widening work happening on SH5 extending the existing wide centreline to the new SH28–Harwoods Road roundabout using 24/7 stop/go traffic management.

Work starting soon

SH1 Waiotaka Bridge: SH1 will be fully closed at Waiotaka No2 Bridge, near the Waiotaka Scenic Reserve between Tūrangi and Motuoapa, for four days from 8pm Thursday October 1 until 5am Tuesday October 6 while we carry out critical maintenance work. The closure points will be located at the intersections of SH1 and Grace/Waiotaka roads in Tūrangi, and SH1 and Korohe Road in Motuoapa. During the closure, a detour will be available via SH41, SH32 and SH30, adding significant time to some journeys. Please plan ahead and allow extra travel time. More information.

Work underway

Arapuni Dam: Arapuni Road across Arapuni Dam is closed for 24-36 months while Mercury carries out major repair work on Arapuni Hydro Dam. A temporary detour route via Powerhouse Road is in place during the closure for light vehicles only including cars, motorcycles, school buses, emergency services, and rigged trucks up to 8 metres. General through traffic, heavy freight/commercial vehicles and long-distance travel should detour via SH1/ SH21 and SH3.

SH5 South Waikato: Road widening to allow for wide centrelines has resumed along SH5 from near Waimakariri Road. Wide centrelines create more separation between vehicles and reduce the risk of head-on crashes. The current work covers 1.2km of SH5, extending the existing wide centrelines from Whites Road to the new SH28-Harwoods Road roundabout. The work will run until mid-December, under 24/7 stop/go traffic management, and minor delays are expected. More information