It should be smooth travelling over the holiday season, says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, as people will be able to drive on a number of newly sealed roads.

The roading agency says contractors across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty are continuing to make great progress as the holiday season approaches.  

While contractors can work up until midday on Friday, December 22, they’ll be making sure new seal has ample time to bed-in before holiday traffic drives over it, ensuring all presents are delivered on time.   

Now is also the time to start planning for your trip, says Waikato system manager Andrew Oakley.

“We expect traffic to be busy from the weekend before Christmas, right through until early in the New Year. It’s been a long year, and everyone deserves to relax and unwind. Consider planning ahead so you know what to expect when travelling. Key routes will be busier than usual, and ensuring you have everything you need for a longer journey can make things much more enjoyable.   

“As well as this, make sure you check over your vehicles in the next couple of weeks, and if you are towing a caravan, boat or trailer make sure it’s attached before you start your journey - the last thing anyone needs is to have their holiday plans disrupted by a breakdown.   

“Before and after the break our contractors will be on the network, please remember to respect any temporary traffic management, signage, and directions from our crews. They’re working hard and will minimise any delays as much as possible.”  

People are recommended to use the NZTA Journey Planner (journeys.nzta.govt.nz), which provides real-time updates of network conditions, including traffic delays. 

Bay of Plenty 

Tauranga 

• Takitimu North Link Stage One: Earthworks are underway across a number of sites. On Wairoa Road, stop/go traffic management will be in place while trucks are crossing Wairoa Road, and 30km/h speed limits will be in place at all times within the construction area. Work in this area will become more evident as we work towards completing the Wairoa Road bridge in preparation of its opening. Minden Road has a 30km/h speed limit throughout the construction zone. A temporary haul road into the Te Mete Valley is operational to support the summer earthworks season. The single-lane haul road is separated from SH2. Road users should be aware of the new road layout and temporary speed limit of 60km/h on SH2 alongside the haul road. More information. 

   

• Cambridge Road: Construction work to complete the new Cambridge Road overbridge, between Bethlehem and Tauriko continues. Work to connect the bridge with Cambridge and Moffat roads and utility services will be completed in 3 phases. Phase 1 involves building a diversion road allowing traffic to flow during these works. While these works take place there will be slower speed limits in place on Cambridge Road, shoulder closures and when necessary, stop/go traffic management. Traffic has diverted onto the temporary diversion road from this week. A 3-month closure of a section of Moffat Road near Tauranga Adventist School starts on Monday 8 January 2024. More information. 

   

• Cambridge Road (East): Tauranga City Council continues slip repair work at Cambridge Road East near the St Andrews Drive roundabout. Cambridge Road is now one-lane only while the work is underway, drivers heading into the city detour via St Andrews Drive, Castlewold Drive and Wakefield Drive. Drivers coming from the city are to use Cambridge Road as usual. There is a 30km/h speed restriction past the work site. The repair is expected to be completed in mid-December, weather dependent.  

   

• SH2 Wairoa Cycleway: The Tauranga City Council cycleway construction continues with the finalising of traffic lights and line marking. The cycleway is due to be completed mid-December 2023. 

   

• Hewletts Road /Maunganui Road: Construction continues on two pedestrian maze crossings at the railway crossing. Work is expected to be complete in mid-December 2023. During construction there will be lane closures for periods of time. 

   

• SH2 Bay Link: People travelling between Baypark and Bayfair will continue to see several road and lane closures. Closures will vary night to night, depending on site requirements and progress, and people are asked to allow extra time, follow signposted detours and drive with caution through the project site. To minimise impact, works are undertaken at night where possible with the aim to minimise disruption to people travelling through the area. From Sunday 10 to Friday 15 December, between 7pm and 6am, SH2 northbound will be closed from Sandhurst interchange to SH2/SH29A Te Maunga interchange to safely install gantry signage on Tauranga Eastern Link.  More information. 

   

• SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road (TDTR): A reduced speed limit of 80km/h is in place while Takitimu North Link crews are working behind the barriers.  

   

• SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): Traffic management for the Tauranga City Council led Pāpāmoa East Interchange construction project has been removed until construction of the interchange itself starts in early 2024. More detail will be shared closer to the time. More information. 

   

The Quayside Properties Ltd led Rangiuru Business Park Interchange project continues. Prior to Christmas, material is being removed from the northern side of the site.

Traffic management will be in place for two weeks between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday on the shared path to ensure the safety of path users.

Temporary barriers have been installed on both sides of the TELTR, and these will be in place until approximately June 2024, with one lane available in either direction. A temporary speed limit of 70km/h applies through the site. More information. 

Western Bay of Plenty 

• SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Roundabout construction is underway at Sharp Road with significant activity on both lanes. Contraflow is in place on the southbound lanes with speed restrictions. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause delays. At the Ōmokoroa Road intersection vegetation clearing continues, this work is offline however shoulder closures will be in place at times.  The Park and Ride on Ōmokoroa Road near SH2 will be closed Saturday 16 December. More information. 

   

• Western tie-in (near Loop Road): Construction continues at the western tie-in of the Takitimu North Link project where utilities need to be moved. SH2 will be reduced to 50km/h in the area during this work, and the passing lane heading west will be removed to allow the crews to work on the side of the road.   

   

• SH33 Paengaroa: Road rebuilding is ongoing on a northbound uphill slow lane south of Paengaroa. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place until late December, with work taking place between 6am and 6pm. Delays are expected.  

   

Rotorua 

• SH30A Amohau Street: Road resurfacing continues between Ranolf Street and Fenton Street. Work will take place between 8pm and 5am each night, Sunday to Thursday, and is due to be completed mid-December. During work hours the road will be closed, HPMV are required to detour via SH5 and SH30, light vehicles can use Ranolf Street, Malfroy Road and Fenton Street. 

   

• SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: There are multiple active worksites on SH30 / Te Ngae Road between Iles Road and Ōwhata Road. In places there is stop/go, lane shifts and shoulder closures, temporary pedestrian crossings, footpath closures, and/or reduced speed limits. Night time road closures will be in place from 8pm to 5am, Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 December for road resurfacing. During this time through traffic will be diverted via Vaughan Road. Minor traffic delays are expected. Access for local residents and businesses will be maintained at all times.  More information. 

   

• SH36 Kaharoa: Survey work continues on a 200m section of road between Kaharoa Road and Te Waerenga Road. Stop/go traffic management will be in place with minor delays expected. Physical works will start next week, will cease for the Christmas holidays and continue in the New Year.   

   

• SH33 Ōkere Falls: Road rebuilding continues at an 800m section of road north of Ōkere Falls. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place until late December, with work taking place between 6am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Delays are expected. 

   

• SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Work on SH33 safety improvements are underway with contractors working on multiple sites along this section of highway. Work includes widening of the road corridor, installing safety barriers, improving drainage and rehabilitation works. Temporary traffic management will be in place including stop/go, lane shifts and shoulder closures while these works are underway. Minor traffic delays are expected. More information.   

   

• SH5 Waimangu: Work has started to repair a slip south of Tumunui, backfilling and stabilising the bank. Minor delays are expected, work is expected to be complete by mid-December.  

Eastern Bay of Plenty 

• SH2 Waimana Gorge: Road rebuilding continues. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place during this time.  Work will cease for the Christmas holidays and continue in the New Year.   

   

• SH2 Wainui to Ōpōtiki: Safety improvements between Parkinsons Road and Woodlands Road near Ōpōtiki continue. This work is expected to be complete in December 2023 (weather dependent). Works consists of shoulder widening and the installation of safety barriers. During this time road users can expect to see shoulder closures and/or stop/go operations in place, as required. Works will take place between 7am and 5pm each weekday. Please allow extra time for your journey as delays up to 10 minutes may be experienced.  

   

• SH2 Manganuku Bridge, Waioeka Gorge: A reduced speed limit of 30km/h for heavy vehicles will remain in place until further notice. Heavy vehicles must stick to the speed limit as those travelling at higher speeds will exert greater loads on the structure, which currently poses a significant risk.