TRAFFIC BULLETIN

6 April 2016 | WAIKATO & BAY OF PLENTY

Plan ahead to avoid delays on Bay of Plenty and Waikato roads this month

The NZ Transport Agency urges Waikato and Bay of Plenty motorists to leave extra time when travelling this month as work continues on major projects and roadworks.

Transport Agency work crews are out in force at the moment, making the most of the last of the warm, dry weather to maintain the state highways and progress projects such as the Waikato Expressway and Tauranga’s Maungatapu underpass.

Drivers are likely to encounter speed restrictions and other traffic management which may cause delays and should get in the habit of allowing extra time for their journeys.

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 visitwww.nzta.govt.nz call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49) or by following the Transport Agency on Facebook or @nztawaibop on twitter.

Bay of Plenty travellers can also go to www.drivelive.nz/BayofPlenty, a dedicated website that tells drivers what the current travel times are to get to key places.

Roadworks that are scheduled to start in the next week or are currently underway are detailed below to help people plan ahead when travelling.

BAY OF PLENTY

SH29/ Takitimu Drive and SH36/Taurikura Drive roundabout upgrade

Motorists are asked to drive with extra care when travelling through the roundabouts over the next month. Tauranga City Council’s contractor is carrying out works including tree felling in the area and speed restrictions, lane closures and occasional stop/go traffic management will be in place at times from this week.

SH2 between Tauranga and Waihi

Motorists travelling on SH2 between Tauranga and Waihi are urged to drive with extra care as work continues on a major safety upgrade.

A section of highway between Wainui South Road and Sargent Drive is being repaired and widened, and a wire rope central median barrier installed to prevent head on crashes.

Traffic is currently split with works underway in the middle of the two lanes.

All surfaces are sealed however a 50km/h speed restriction is in place for the safety of workers and to allow the seal to bed in.

People should only expect minor delays but are urged to stay alert behind the wheel as there will be changes to the road layout over the next month.

Tauranga road marking

Speed restrictions and traffic management will be in place on several sections of SH2 and SH29 over the next fortnight while contractors carry out road marking. Motorists should expect short delays at times and slow moving vehicles in their lane at times.

SH2 Wright Road

Contractors are installing guard rails on both approaches to Wright Road this week to improve safety for motorists. A speed restriction and changes to the road layout will be in place.

WAIKATO

Cambridge (Former SH1)

Contractors will be removing the passing lanes on Cambridge Road (the old SH1) from Monday, 11 April (weather dependent). The passing lane removal is part of a package of works being undertaken by the NZ Transport Agency following the opening of the Cambridge Section of the Waikato Expressway in December 2015.

The Cambridge Section is now State Highway 1 and the old SH1/Cambridge Road will be transferred to Waipa District Council to manage as a local road. The passing lane removal, lane remarking and shoulder widening is expected to happen over the next two weeks and will require traffic management with speed restrictions of 30km/h, raising to 50km/h to allow new chip to bed-in.

Motorists are advised to be aware of loose chip on this section of road.

The passing lane removal and associated works are the first stage of a package of works on Cambridge Road between Cambridge and Tamahere which is jointly funded by the Transport Agency and Waipa District Council.

Additional stages on the old state highway will be progressively rolled out over the next 12 months.

Waikato Expressway – Huntly and Rangiriri sections

Work continues at both the Huntly and Rangiriri sites and there are on-going traffic management and speed restrictions in place. Motorists are asked to respect these for the safety of all road users and construction staff.

SH29 – Kaimai Range

A major reseal programme on the Waikato side of the Kaimai Range (SH29) is under way this month. So far the works have progressed well however motorists are advised to allow an extra few minutes when travelling up thesteep Waikato side as there will be fewer passing opportunities. The work will be carried out during week days and is expected to take most of April to complete.

SH1 Putaruru

Roadworks south of Putaruru are under way and may cause minor delays for SH1 travellers until mid-April. The works, between the rail overbridge and vehicle testing station south of Putaruru, will wrap up on 22 April. Contractors will be on site seven days a week, 6am-7pm. Traffic will be managed through the site, and motorists may encounter short delays.

SH3, Te Kuiti

South-bound traffic will be detoured off SH3 in Te Kuiti from Monday 11 April until 12 May while contractors carry out roadworks.

The work includes surface repairs between George Street-King Street and a deep reconstruction between King Street-Awakino Road.

The detour is only during the day, from Monday to Saturday, and is suitable for all types of heavy vehicles. It will take traffic via Lawrence St-Taupiri St-King St East and Rora St.North-bound traffic managed through the sites.

SH1 Kahikatea Drive, Hamilton

Travellers on SH1 through Hamilton should be prepared for minor delays as work is under way to install traffic lights at the Kahikatea Drive and Gallagher Drive intersection. A speed restriction and traffic management is in place until mid-year when the project will be complete.

SH3 Ohaupo Road, Hamilton

Work is well under way on the shared path for cyclists and pedestrians alongside on SH3 in Hamilton. The $2 million project will see a 3.5km shared path on SH3 Ohaupo Road. The path will be finished in April with two signalised pedestrian crossings at Normandy Avenue shops to be installed by mid-year.

SH3/SH21 Hamilton Airport turn-off

Motorists can expect occasional minor delays while work continues on a roundabout at the intersection. It is being built away from traffic and will be completed in May.
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