Detour delayed: Rain pushes back start date for Ngongotahā Western Rd detour

Road work causing a detour to Ngongotahā has been postponed until Friday. Photo / Archive

Plans for a detour on the route from Rotorua to Ngongotahā have been further delayed due to rain.

The detour - allowing for roadworks on State Highway 36 - was due to start today but over the weekend Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency pushed it back to Tuesday due to forecast wet weather making it difficult to lay any new seal.

But today it moved the start date to Friday, again due to the rain.

The detour will be in place for six weeks. Photo / Archive

Contractors have been working hard to get the slip lane road surface prepared so it could be sealed in time for the detour. The rain made it too wet to proceed with any road surfacing, temporary or permanent, a spokeswoman said.

"Waka Kotahi apologises for the delay in switching traffic over to the detour and for any confusion caused.

"Weather plays a big part in how our work is programmed and at this time of year, work can often be disrupted due to cooler temperatures and rain."

Contractors were focussing on sealing the road early Friday morning and aimed to have the detour in place around midday, she said.

The detour

A short section of State Highway 36 will be closed, with people travelling from Rotorua to Ngongotahā, Hamurana and Tauranga detoured via State Highway 5 and Western Rd.

The detour does not affect southbound traffic heading into Rotorua.

This work will be clearly signposted to help road users know where to go.

To help with traffic flow, the new SH5 and SH36 roundabout free flow (slip) lane will be opened and two temporary roundabouts installed - one at the SH5 and Western Rd turnoff and one in Ngongotahā Village at the SH36 and Western Rd intersection.

Manual traffic control may also be in place at times.

While the detour is in place there will be extra traffic along Western Rd. The detour will be monitored to ensure traffic is flowing and adjusted if necessary.

The changes are expected to be in place for up to six weeks.

Motorists are asked to take extra care while the detour is in place, especially at the Ngongotahā Village end.