TRAFFIC BULLETIN

29 April 2016 | WAIKATO & BAY OF PLENTY

Plan ahead and allow extra time when travelling in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato

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

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 visit www.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

SH2 Morton Road intersection

The northbound passing lane near Morton Road has been closed for safety reasons as the road surface is slippery.

There is a 50km/h temporary speed limit in place and water-cutting which will improve the grip of the surface is being carried out.

The Transport Agency asks that drivers take extra care when driving through this area as contractors carry out the water cutting and other work to improve safety in the area.

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.

Some surfaces are sealed and 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.

SH2 Waipapa Bridge Omokoroa

Contractors will be carrying out repairs to the bridge next month following a recent crash.

Stop/ go traffic management will be in place between the hours of 7pm and 5am 9 on Monday May 1 and Tuesday May 2. Expect minor delays.

SH2 Bethlehem

One of the Te Puna-bound lanes will be closed for road repairs from 7pm on Monday May 2 until 5am the following day. Expect minor delays.

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 and speed restrictions, lane closures and occasional stop/go traffic management will be in place at times from this week.

Tauranga East Road (Te Puke)

Contractors will be working on a stretch of road between Te Puke Quarry Road and Collins Lane from Sunday May 1 through to Tuesday May 3. The work will be carried out between the hours of 7pm and 5am.

Motorists are advised to allow an extra five minutes for their journey and drive with care as there will be changes to the road layout and traffic management in place while the work is underway.

Rotorua Marathon

Speed restrictions and other traffic management will be in place on state highways around Rotorua on Saturday April 30 while the Rotorua Marathon is on.

Motorists are advised to expect delays when travelling and to drive with extra care for the safety of competitors.

SH35 - Opotiki to Cape Runaway

Transport Agency contractors will be working at various sites along this route over the next month, carrying out including drainage improvement works and clearing small slips Traffic management will be in place and motorists are advised to drive with extra care .

SH2 Waioeka Gorge

Contractors will be undertaking revegetation work to help stabilise a slip face in the gorge over the next week. Speed restrictions and stop/go traffic management will be in place, and motorists are advised to be prepared stop at two separate locations within the same work site. Motorists are advised to plan for delays of up to 10 minutes.

WAIKATO

Waikato Expressway - Rangiriri

A number of changes are taking place to the local road layout as works continue on the Rangiriri Section of the Waikato Expressway.

Churchill East Road is now connected to the Rangiriri Interchange and the intersection is controlled by traffic signals. All traffic travelling to and from the south end of Churchill East Road will now use this connection.

There have also been big changes for traffic exiting Rangiriri. The south-bound on-ramp to the Expressway, for all traffic heading south, is now live. Traffic leaving Rangiriri to head north can still turn right out of Rangiriri however.

Motorists are advised to take care with the new road layout and be aware there may be some loose chip. A 30km/h speed restriction is in place to allow the new chip to bed-in.

Huntly

There is ongoing traffic management on the local roads connected to the Huntly Section of the Expressway. SH1 traffic is still restricted to 70km/h and there are changes to the road layout while the contractor continues work on the Huntly Northern Interchange.

SH24, Matamata

A major part of the Matamata main street upgrade resumes in May when contractors will rebuild the section of SH24-Broadway from Isite to the SH27 roundabout.

Asphalt works are scheduled from 8-15 May and will be mostly at night – except on Monday and Wednesday when there will be day works.

Detours will be in place during the work and routes will be clearly signposted.

The detour for heavy vehicles is SH27 and Burwood Road, while light traffic will be managed around the works area via nearby streets.

SH37 – Waitomo

Safety improvement works on SH37 are under way. Work includes road widening, installing side barriers in places, and new signage and roadmarking. The work is being carried out in sections and people can expect minor delays between the SH3 intersection at Waitomo village until the end of June.

SH3, Te Kuiti

South-bound traffic is being detoured off SH3 in Te Kuiti until mid-May while contractors carry out roadworks. The work includes surface repairs between George Street-King Street and a deep reconstruction of the road 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 takes traffic via Rora St-King St East-Taupiri St and Lawrence St. North-bound traffic is being managed through the sites.

Cambridge Road

Work continues on Cambridge Road next week with the removal of the passing lane between Kelly Road and Peake Road to create a wide centreline and space for cyclists. Work will be done on Wednesday 4 May, weather dependant, and involves a reseal and remarking.

The work is among a number of changes being carried out on the road as the old State Highway 1 is being transferred to Waipa District Council to manage as a local road. Additional works will be rolled out over the next 12 months. There will be speed restrictions while work is under way.

SH3 Ohaupo Road, Hamilton

Two city pedestrian crossings are now being upgraded to have traffic lights. Work is well under way on a shared path for cyclists and pedestrians along SH3 in Hamilton and the $2 million project includes two signalised pedestrian crossings at the Normandy Avenue shops – one on Normandy Avenue and the other on Ohaupo Road.

The Transport Agency apologises for any inconvenience during the works and thanks motorists for their patience and understanding.

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