Motorists have been warned to expect “a lot” of disruption after roadworks at several sites in Waikato resumed this week as part of the Government’s $2 billion investment into road and drainage renewal and maintenance via the State Highway Pothole Prevention Fund.
New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Waikato (NZTA) system manager Andy Oakley said the summer programme was “ambitious”.
“It means a lot of roadworks and disruption, however planning ahead will ease the frustration.”
Oakley recommended drivers use the NZTA Journey Planner to get real-time updates of network conditions and traffic delays.
“Our Summer Journeys page will also be available in the lead-up to long weekends, helping holidaymakers choose the best time to travel to their destination.”
· SH1 Ātiamuri to Wairakei: All work and traffic management has ended on this stretch of State Highway 1, with final surfacing south of the Waikato River Bridge to be done later in summer.
· SH1 between Tūrangi and Waiouru: The Desert Rd will close from 5am on Monday for about 2 months.
As well as reconstructing 16 kilometres (3 sites) of road, improving drainage, and clearing about 15km of shoulders, the deck of the Mangatoetoenui Bridge will be replaced.
The detour (from north to south) is via SH41, SH47, SH4, SH49 and back to SH1 in Waiouru. It is the usual recommended detour route whenever the Desert Rd is closed and adds around 30 to 40 minutes to journeys.
To encourage safe driving on the detours, the speed limit near and through Ohakune will be reduced to 50km/h while the detour is in place. Additional billboards and signage will be in place, and police will have an increased presence on the detour roads.
South of Tīrau to north of Putāruru: Final asphalt surfacing is scheduled to start on January 19, subject to final testing.
· Various pre-chipseal sites on SH25, SH27, SH26, SH29 and SH2 in the Waikato have started and will continue until February 15, weather permitting. The work will take place between 6am and 6pm each weekday. While the work is taking place there will be traffic management and speed restrictions in place.
· SH25 Tairua: Repairs to a large underslip at Pumpkin Hill near Sailors Grave Rd, just north of Tairua, are under way. Work at this site will take about 6 months and is due to be completed in April. There are temporary speed restrictions and a shoulder closure through the work site. Stop/stop traffic management will be required at times.
· SH25 between Waihī and Whangamatā: Resurfacing repairs have started and will continue until January 24. While this work is taking place there will be stop/go traffic management in place, delays are to be expected.
· SH25 Whangapoua Hill: Until January 17 asphalt repairs will take place in between Coromandel and Te Rerenga on SH25. While this work is taking place there will be stop/go traffic management, delays are to be expected.
· SH25 between Whiritoa and Whangamatā: Asphalt repairs will start on January 24 at night between 6pm and 6am each night. There will be stop/stop traffic management in place due to the location of the worksite. Delays of up to 30 minutes can be expected. There will be no work on January 17 and 18.
· SH41 Tokaanu: Works to fix an underslip are complete and SH41 is now open. Further finishing works will continue from January 13 and will require a single-lane closure for 2 days.
· SH3 Melville, Hamilton: Resurfacing will begin on SH3 Ōhaupō Rd between Collins Rd and Mahoe St at the Normanby Ave intersection, taking five nights to complete from January 12 between 8pm and 6am. While this work is taking place SH3 will be closed to through-traffic, a detour will be available via Collins St, Prisk St, Mahoe St to re-join SH3 and then left on to SH1C Lorne St. HPMV, heavy and over-dimensional vehicles will be stacked and released.
· SH21 Narrows Bridge: Resurfacing on SH21 on the Narrows Bridge will start on January 19 from 8pm to 5am, taking two nights to complete. While the work is taking place the road will be closed between SH3 intersection and the Tamahere Interchange, residents and businesses will have access at all times. The detour available is via SH1 northbound, southbound will use SH3 and SH1C to rejoin SH1.
· SH1/SH29 Piarere intersection: Two out of three permanent approach roads have now opened on the SH1/SH29 roundabout in Piarere, with the new SH1 (from Tīrau) and SH29 approaches opened in December 2024. The temporary Hamilton approach road remains in use while work continues on the permanent configuration, which is expected to be finished in early 2025. NZTA thanks motorists for their patience and asks drivers to stick to temporary speed limits and take extra care when travelling through the area while people adjust to the layout.
· SH1 Karāpiro: SH1 will be closed to all traffic between Karāpiro Rd south to SH1/29 Piarere for maintenance work from midnight January 19 to midnight January 23. During the works, contractors will lay 42,000m2 of chipseal and apply a second seal on barrier areas and shoulders. Following the resealing, the road will reopen with a 70km/h temporary speed limit. A detour will be in place, and traffic is urged to use alternative routes. All properties within the closure and sideroads leading to it will have access maintained.
· SH3 Ōhaupō township: A road rebuild has started on SH3 on Ōhaupō Rd in the Ōhaupō township and will take seven weeks to complete. While the work is taking place, northbound light vehicles will be detoured 24/7 via Ryburn Rd and Forkert Rd, which will add about 8 minutes to the journey, heavy vehicles including buses, overweight and over-dimension vehicles will be stacked and allowed through the worksite with delays of up to 30 minutes. The southbound lane will remain open to all traffic.
· SH3 Te Kūiti: Waitomo District Council has started work to replace a large water main, from Carroll St along to Duke St. This work is expected to continue until January 19. There will be a single road closure in Carroll St, with eastbound light vehicles being diverted along Taupiri St and Te Kumi Station Rd, heavy vehicles will detour via Esplanade and Te Kūiti Rd, north-bound traffic will use the single lane on Carroll St.
· SH30 Bennydale: A second road rebuild site near Kiwi Place will start on Tuesday and take six weeks to complete. Enabling works will be done first between 7am and 7pm daily, with stop/go traffic management in place. Once the site has been prepared the road rebuild will start, with stop/go traffic management in place and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h. Delays of up to 20 minutes can be expected.
· SH1 Pōkeno Interchange to Mercer Interchange: There will be a full southbound closure from Monday to Wednesday between 9pm and 5am for resurfacing. Traffic will still be able to travel south using one of the northbound lanes. Pōkeno southbound on-ramp will also be closed between 9pm and 5am. Please use alternative on-ramp at Nikau Rd.
· SH1 Mercer Interchange to Island Block Rd: There will be a full southbound closure on January 15 and 16 between 9pm and 5am for resurfacing. Traffic will still be able to travel south using one of the northbound lanes.
· SH1 Island Block Rd to Dragway Rd: There will be a full southbound closure on January 15 and 16 between 9pm and 5am for stormwater maintenance. Traffic will still be able to travel south using one of the northbound lanes. Please slow down and follow traffic management instructions. Dragway Rd southbound off-ramp will also be closed. Please use alternative off-ramp at Springhill Rd or Hampton Downs.
· SH1 southbound to SH2 eastbound link: There will be a full southbound closure on January 12 and 13 between 9pm and 5am for stormwater maintenance. Please stay on SH1 and turn around at the next interchange at Pokeno to travel back via SH1 northbound to SH2 eastbound link.
Elliot Cameron killed his brother in 1975, but his past was suppressed until now.