Start your Bay of Plenty journey online

Tauranga and Bay of Plenty motorists are advised to plan ahead and leave extra time when travelling as the NZCT AIMS games kicks off, and work on a $5 million road safety package continues.

The NZ Transport Agency’s Bay of Plenty journey manager, Nigel D’Ath says speed restrictions and traffic management will be in place on roads around the region from this week and people should allow extra time to get to their destination.

“The Transport Agency is finishing off a major road safety improvements programme on State Highway 2, and contractors are also filling a number of potholes that have appeared on SH2 over winter,” he says.

“With extra people coming into the region for the NZCT AIMS Games from this weekend, the roads are going to be busier next week and it is important that people plan ahead and leave home a bit earlier than normal.”

Mr D’Ath says people travelling around the region can go towww.drivelive.nz/tauranga , a dedicated website that tells people what the current journey times are to get to key places.

“The website is linked to high-tech sensors which use bluetooth technology to record travel time around the region,” he says.

“The information is streamed live to www.drivelive.nz/tauranga so travellers know what to expect and can share the information with others.”

Routes on the website include the Tauranga CBD to Te Puna, Tauriko, Hairini, Papamoa, Te Puke and further afield to Waihi, across the Kaimai Range, Whakatane and Rotorua.

Mr D’Ath says the DriveLive initiative helps people to plan ahead and work out the best time to travel, and what time they are likely to arrive at their destination.

Road works, events and other changes that may cause more than five minutes delay are detailed below to help people plan ahead.

NZCT AIMS Games 2015 Sunday September 6 - Friday September 11

Drivers should allow an extra five to 10 minutes to normal travel time as there will be an increased traffic during the day particularly before and after school hours (before 9am and after 3pm) on roads leading to our large sports grounds – BayPark and Blake Park.

SH2 Tauranga to Waihi - Safety Works

Stop/go traffic management, lane changes and speed restrictions will be in place along parts of SH2 between Tauranga and Waihi this month as a major safety improvement programme continues.

Contractors will be working on nine sites on the route and motorists are advised to allow an extra 10 minutes when travelling on this route. The work is expected to be completed by late September.

SH2 north of Tauranga - road maintenance “mill and fill”

Speed restrictions and lane closures will be in place on various SH2 sites fromSeptember 7 through to September 11 while contractors mill out sections of the road and resurface it with asphaltic concrete.

Drivers should allow an extra 10 minutes when travelling this route, particularly between 9am and 4pm.

SH29A Tauranga - Maungatapu underpass project

A 50km/h speed restriction, diversions and lane closures will be in place this month while contractors clear vegetation and carry out other work in preparation for the construction of the Maungatapu underpass.

The work will be carried out on weekdays between the hours of 9am and 4pm to minimise disruption to traffic.

The Transport Agency apologies for any inconvenience caused and thanks motorists for their patience during the works.

For personalised information about driving conditions on their frequently used routes, motorists can check out and sign up to On The Move at www.onthemove.govt.nz.

For real time information on highway conditions and incidents or to report issues on the network visit www.nzta.govt.nz call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS or follow @nztawaibop on twitter.

ENDS

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