Fans told to add 30min due to road works

Rugby fans heading to the Steamers game at Baypark Stadium tomorrow are warned to add half an hour to their journey to factor in the closure of State Highway 29 over the Kaimai Range.

From 7am to 6pm tomorrow and Sunday the highway will be closed at the Ruahihi Bluffs to allow workers to remove a column of loose rock from above the road.

The section of highway will re-open tomorrow night with the works expected to be completed by 6pm on Sunday.

A detour along Poripori Rd will be available during the closures, adding 30 minutes to the journey time. Drivers can use alternate state highway routes - such as SH2 if travelling between Tauranga and Auckland or SH36 and SH5 if heading west towards the South Waikato and Taupo area.

New Zealand Transport Agency Bay of Plenty state highways manager Brett Gliddon said the loose rock needed to be removed and blasting was the best way to do this.

He advised rugby supporters travelling from Taranaki to the Steamers versus Taranaki game tomorrow to allow sufficient time for their journey.

"We do not anticipate large numbers of travellers and we have certainly allowed for the expected volumes using either the detour route or the alternate roads."

The road over the Kaimai Range is open to one lane until this weekend's work commences.

For more information call NZTA's freephone 08004 HIGHWAYS or 0800 44 44 49, or check the website www.highwayinfo.govt.nz for up-to-the-minute info on road conditions.