Roadworks and wine times may cause minor delays

There could be some minor traffic delays on Saturday as people travel between wineries for the Bridge Pa Wine Festival.

An increase in highway roadworks as well as an annual festival celebrating one of Hawke's Bay's finest wine-growing areas will mean some delays for motorists across the region during the next week.

New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) journey manager for Napier Oliver Postings said the summer season of roadworks was sparking up this week after the holiday break and several work programmes were getting under way, which will affect travel times across most highways.

On State Highway 2 south of Paki Paki through to Takapau there will be re-sealing of several sites along the stretch.

Mr Postings said drivers needed to obey the speed restrictions as there would be loose gravel as well as contractors at work.

There were likely to be slight delays as stop-go signalling would be in place.

"At times there may be a need to stop the traffic to enable work to continue so please be patient. The crews will try to minimise the delays through these sites and in most cases work will be completed within a few days," Mr Postings said.

Work has also got under way at the Napier Rd/Pilchers Rd roundabout on SH2 between Napier and Hastings.

The work is part of the Whakatu arterial link road programme.

On the northern stretch of SH2 between Bay View and Putorino there will be speed restrictions in place at several sites where repairs are being carried out in preparation for re-sealing in the next few weeks.

Across SH5 between Napier and Taupo work is under way on NZTA's annual line re-painting programme and with road-marking vehicles moving slowly at the work sites motorists can expect some slight delays.

Shuttle buses involved in the annual Bridge Pa Triangle Wine Festival will be moving through SH50 south of Ngatarawa Rd on Saturday and some slight delays can be expected as temporary speed restrictions will be in place.

An estimated 2000 people will be moving among the eight wineries involved.