Permanent repairs to the State Highway 2 Wairoa River Bridge cycleway begin on Monday, with work expected to finish late November.

Severe weather earlier this year caused the embankment to slip beside the bridge, damaging the cycleway and forcing its closure in March.

It reopened in August following a temporary safety fix, but some sections remained narrow.

The bridge is part of the Ōmokoroa to Tauranga cycleway.

An NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) statement today said the permanent repairs would stabilise the embankment, improve drainage and restore the cycleway to its previous width.

Over six weeks, crews will reposition rock protection and concrete blocks at two slip sites, build up a section of the lower path to restore its full width, improve drainage, resurface the cycleway and repair the upper path and reinstate fencing.

NZTA said work will take place away from the State Highway, between 6am and 6pm on weekdays.

During repairs, cycleway users will be directed through a staffed, signal-controlled crossing point on SH2.

This will be put in place on Sunday night.

People travelling towards Tauranga will use the cycle lane alongside the bridge as usual, then wait at the crossing point at the end of the bridge.

When directed, they will cross the State Highway and travel along the grass berm behind the safety barrier before rejoining the existing on-road cycleway towards Carmichael Rd.

People travelling in the opposite direction will follow the route in reverse.

Path users may be held briefly at the crossing and released when it is safe. This will help minimise disruption to State Highway traffic.

A temporary speed limit of 30km/h will be in place through the crossing area.

NZTA said it would monitor safety and traffic flow at the temporary crossing.

If safety concerns or significant traffic disruption mean the crossing needs to close, the cycleway may also need to close while repairs are completed.

Work dates and traffic management arrangements may change, depending on weather and site conditions.

Final surfacing work set for SH2 / Ōmokoroa Rd roundabout

Further west along State Highway 2, final surfacing work at the roundabout with Ōmokoroa Rd is scheduled to begin Sunday night.

Work will take place overnight from 6pm to 6am on Sunday and Monday with line marking planned for Wednesday weather permitting, a Western Bay of Plenty Council statement said today.

Reduced speed limits and stop/go traffic management will be in place on all approaches to the roundabout during this work.

Drivers should expect and plan for delays. 

The full SH2/Ōmokoroa Rd intersection project was completed in April this year, but the final asphalt layer was deferred until spring,with better conditions for applying the specialised skid-resistant surface, the council said.

The permanent speed limit through the roundabout of 100km/h will be in place once the work is done.