Construction of the new roundabout on SH2 at Bethlehem has begun with clearing of trees within the road boundaries underway. Work is expected to take about six months to complete. Traffic management and site screens will be in place but only minimal delays are expected in the early stages of construction. Motorists are advised to take care when driving through the work site.


Traffic on this stretch of SH2 could become much busier as roadworks in the area begin.

This information from New Zealand Transport Agency weekly bulletin for the week beginning January 25 – published below.

Tauranga City works:
Parton Road: Work is continuing on laying the new kerb and channel. There will be unsealed sections and temporary speed restrictions will be in place.
Local Road Resealing: The local road resealing programme has started again and work will continue until late March. Generally this work will involve minimal disruption to traffic.
Links Avenue: Work to remove existing speed humps and replace them with speed cushions is underway. There will be traffic management in place so please take care when driving in the area and follow the temporary signs.
Andrew Place/Shelley Street: Work to install new stormwater pipes is underway. Some minor disruption to traffic is possible.
Vale Street: Work to reshape Vale Street between Baden Street and Landscape Road to form an overland stormwater flow path during severe storms has started. Work is likely to take eight months to complete and intermittent disruption to traffic is likely. Please take care when driving in the area.
Wharf /Willow Streets: Major road works are due to start on Wharf and Willow Streets next month. The work will involve reconstructing and resurfacing the road and installing new kerb and channelling. Additional work includes upgrading the sewer, stormwater, watermains and some parts of the footpath. While these road works are underway, the Hopper buses will operate from temporary bus stops on Durham Street. Temporary bus shelters have been put on Durham Street, near Baycourt. Details on bus stop changes will be available closer to when the work is due to start.
Speed Limit Changes: Amendments to the Speed Limit Bylaw 2009 means the following speed limit changes will come into effect on 22 January.
Moffat Road: between Cambridge Road and Orange Lane the speed limit changes from 70km/h to 60 km/h.
Maranui Street: between Sunrise Avenue and Papamoa Beach Road the speed limit changes to 60km/h.
Papamoa Beach Road: between Maranui Street and a point just south of Kirkpatrick Place the speed limit changes to 60km/h except on the approach to Papamoa Domain roundabout where the speed limit will remain at 50km/h.

Western Bay of Plenty District works:
State Highway Network: SH29/Tuakopai Stream Bridge area rehabilitation work, minor delays possible.

Local Road Network: Seal Widening/Extension - Minden, Crawford, Mountain and Wilson Road North Roads. Stop/Go control, minor delays possible.