SH2 Karangahake Gorge – repair work underway. Photo / NZTA
Significant repair work is underway along State Highway 2 through the Karangahake Gorge after severe weather in January.
NZ Transport Agency said the storm caused major damage at nine sites along the key corridor linking Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.
A lane is closed and traffic signals in place in one part of the gorge where several areas of damage are near each other.
NZTA said three of the repairs should be done within the next two weeks.
Contractors will then move to major areas of damage at river level, which are expected to take longer to repair because of complexity and challenging access, the roading agency said.
Traffic management, including 24/7 lane closures, will remain in place until all the work is done. Current estimates suggest the full programme will take up to three months.
Motorists travelling through the gorge are being advised to allow extra time for journeys, avoid peak travel times where possible, and follow the signs and instructions from crews on site.
As well as the storm repairs, planned maintenance is also being carried out at two other sites through the gorge.
NZTA noted that roadworks may need to be postponed because of wet weather or other disruptions, and that other minor works not listed in the weekly schedule may also be underway.
Other roadworks taking place around the region:
Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty SH29 Hamilton to Tauranga: Because of the number of worksites on SH29 between Hinuera and Tauriko, please allow up to 20 minutes extra time for travel.
Work starting next week
SH2 near Baypark: A weekend of road resurfacing is taking place from 6pm on Friday, March 13, through to 6am Monday, March 16, between Sandhurst Drive and the SH2/SH29A Te Maunga interchange. During the day, SH2 will have one lane open with a reduced speed limit, at night the road will be closed with a detour via Truman Lane back to SH29A/SH2. Delays are to be expected.
SH2 Takitimu Drive: Resurfacing work will start on Monday, March 16, for four nights between 8pm and 5am on the northbound side of SH2 Takitimu Drive between the 11th Ave on-ramp and the Elizabeth St roundabout. The first night requires the closure of the Waihī Rd on-ramp to SH2, as well as the Koromiko St/Waihī Rd on-ramp. Detours will be in place via 11th Ave, Cameron Rd and Elizabeth St, returning traffic to SH2. Nights three and four will involve closing the northbound exit ramp to the Elizabeth St roundabout. With this ramp unavailable, traffic will continue along SH2 to the Chapel St offramp before heading back up toward Cameron Rd.
Work starting soon
SH29 and Ōmanawa Rd intersection: On Thursday, March 26, stop/go and a reduced 30km/h speed limit will be in place between 7pm and 6am at the Ōmanawa Rd and SH29 intersection. Drivers are asked to take extra care.
SH29 Tauriko: Night works are planned from Monday, March 23, for two nights, between 6pm and 5am. The works involve a large concrete pour for the retaining wall at the intersection of SH29 and Cambridge Rd. Temporary traffic management will include a three-way stop/go and a reduced speed limit of 30km/h on approach to the work area.
After 18 months of construction on the northern side of SH29, traffic shifts on to the newly widened section through Tauriko Village in mid-April. This temporary layout will provide one lane in each direction while construction continues on the southern side. Access for residents and businesses on the southern side will be maintained via a temporary road. Further details on the traffic switch will be provided in the coming weeks.
SH29A Greerton/Pyes Pā area: On March 24 and 25, between 9am and 4pm, lane shifts and a 30km/h reduced speed limit will be in place on SH29A between the Oropi roundabout and Barkes Corner. Minor delays are to be expected. In addition, over the next two weeks, shoulder closures will be in place on SH29A and SH29, in the Greerton and Tauriko area.
SH2 Te Awanui Drive (Tauranga Harbour Bridge): Resurfacing work will take place from 6pm Saturday, March 21 to 6am Monday, March 23, on the southbound lanes on Te Awanui Drive. There will be lane closures and switches with a reduced speed limit.
SH2 Snodgrass Rd to Loop Rd: Road resurfacing will start on Monday,March 30, for three nights, between 8pm and 5am, near Ainsworth Rd. There will be stop/go traffic management and a reduced speed limit in place while the work is underway. During the day there will be an uneven surface with a reduced speed limit of 50km/h.
Work underway
SH29 Ōmanawa Bridge: Construction activity has begun close to the Hamilton-bound edge of SH29 between Ōmanawa Bridge and the Ōmanawa Rd intersection. The Hamilton-bound lane has been shifted and the shoulder (from the bridge to west of the intersection) and the left-turn slip lane into Ōmanawa Road is closed.
SH29 Tauriko: Construction continues along the northern side of SH29 in Tauriko Village with temporary traffic management including shoulder closures, temporary speed limits and mobile operations as required. The slip lane from SH29 on to Takitimu Drive Toll Rd (at the SH29/SH36 roundabout) remains closed to traffic Monday to Friday during off-peak hours, 9.30am to 3.30pm, while drainage work is carried out on the nearby wetland. This is expected to take four weeks. Traffic can continue to access Takitimu Drive Toll Rd via the roundabout.
SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Rd: A reduced speed limit of 70km/h remains in place while crews are working behind the barriers on the construction of a flyover bridge and southbound slip lane works for the Takitimu North Link project. Traffic is anticipated to be diverted onto the flyover bridge and southbound slip lane in the next year while works continue.
SH2/SH29 Takitimu Drive: SH29 and SH2 traffic is now diverted onto temporary lanes northbound to Mount Maunganui and Tauranga CBD, this diversion will be in place until May. Traffic from SH29 to 15th Ave will be detoured via SH2 Takitimu Drive to Elizabeth St. SH2 traffic will still be able to travel to 15th Ave. The diversion is to allow construction of new lanes as part of the Takitimu North Link project.
SH2/15th Ave: One lane at SH2/15th Ave near Edgecumbe Rd is closed while the new connection to SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Rd takes place, this is likely to remain in place until mid-2026. Traffic management will be in place when the beams arrive and are lifted into place.
SH33 South of Paengaroa: Road resurfacing has started near Allport Rd south of Paengaroa between 6am and 6pm each day. There will be stop/go traffic management with reduced speed limits in place Monday to Friday. The work is due to be completed mid-April.
SH2/Pahoia/Esdaile intersection: Road widening is underway at this intersection. PSpeed restrictions and intermittent stop/go traffic management will be in place, which may result in longer delays.
SH2 Ōmokoroa Rd intersection upgrade: Road construction for the new roundabout is ongoing, and this phase is particularly busy. Please expect delays. During the day, speed restrictions and intermittent stop/go traffic management will be in place, and night works will continue.
Minden Rd North: The road between the new roundabout and the Te Puna shops will be under various forms of traffic management from now until April 2026 as works continue to complete road widening, drainage and new pavement.