Delays are expected at times and motorists are advised to plan for these delays and allow extra time for their journeys.

Work sites for the week starting Sunday 11 July

• State Highway 30, Puarenga Bridge underpass – The Puarenga Bridge underpass is open with pedestrians and cyclists requested to take care as contractors continue with landscaping works through this area.
• State Highway 30, Puarenga Bridge – Contractors will be working to widen the footpath on the northern side of the Puarenga Bridge to join with the shared path at either end of the bridge. Lane closures may be in place during off-peak times as this work progresses.
• State Highway 30, median, east of Puarenga Bridge – Contractors continue with landscaping works at the median east of the Puarenga Bridge. Lane closures may be in place during off-peak times.
• State Highway 30, Sala Street to Vaughan Road – The footpath on the northern side remains closed for public safety as contractors complete the shared path construction and landscaping works in this area. Shoulder/lane closures may be in place during off-peak times as part of these works.
• State Highway 30, Ngapuna shops to Marino Road – Contractors are working along the northern side of SH30/ Te Ngae Road from just east of Ngapuna shops to Marino Road connecting services, surfacing against new kerbs and completing shared path works. Lane closures may be in place during off-peak times.
• State Highway 30, Tarawera roundabout – The last temporary roundabout remains in place as contractors continue to install poles and lanterns for the traffic lights. Final base layer of surfacing has now been laid. Due to weather delays, the intersection is due to be under signalised control by mid-July. Lane closures may be in place during off-peak times.
• State Highway 30, Tarawera Road – Contractors continue working intermittently on the new watermain along the footpath. Traffic management will be in place and may include off-peak Stop/ Go operations. The footpath will remain open.
• State Highway 30, Allen Mills Road to Iles Road – Pedestrian access through this section is for business access and residents only as there is no through access to Rotorua CBD. See below map for pedestrian access routes.

View larger image

Temporary speed limits of 30km/h or 50km/h are in place at the above work sites, including when workers are off-site.

Pedestrians and cyclists are encouraged to use the signalised crossings at either Sala Street or Iles Road, and the temporary pedestrian crossing at Tarawera Road.

In the event of bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances, work may be postponed.

Waka Kotahi thanks motorists for their patience.

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

• Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• Facebook: facebook.com/NZTAWaikatoBoP
• Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahiWaiBP
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advises the closure will be in place between 8.30am and 4.30pm, while contractors are on site to replace a section of handrail that was recently damaged. Due to the narrow width of the bridge, it needs to be closed to ensure this work can be carried out safely. The closure has been scheduled during the school holidays to minimise disruption to motorists.

There will be a detour in place for northbound traffic, using Taneatua Road, Arawa Road, Hinemoa Street and on to State Highway 30 towards Awakeri. Southbound traffic should use the same route, in reverse. This detour is expected to take 20 minutes and is suitable for High Productivity Motor Vehicles (HPMV). 

Outside work hours the road will operate as normal.

In the event of bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances, work may be postponed. Visit the interactive Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website for the latest information on roadworks, traffic, road closures and detours to help plan your trip.

Journey Planner

Waka Kotahi thanks motorists for their patience.

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

• Traffic updates: nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• Facebook: facebook.com/NZTAWaikatoBoP
• Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahiWaiBP
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)

Waka Kotahi General Manager Transport Services Brett Gliddon says in spite of the short window of time remaining to carry out a significant amount of work needed to open the road and meet the strict safety and quality standards required by the project agreement, WGP and the CPB HEB Joint Venture continue to confirm that they can meet the contractually agreed opening date of 27 September 2021.

“We know that they are pushing hard to achieve opening by the agreed date, including bringing in additional resources from across the construction sector, and we’re also aware of the high public expectations for the road to be opened as soon as possible. There is now a critical 11 weeks ahead for the contractor and the builder, with a lot of work still to do in a relatively short space of time, in challenging winter conditions.  That combination of factors means there continues to be a risk around achieving the agreed opening date,” Mr Gliddon says.

Under the terms of the September 2020 settlement agreement for the project, if the road is not open by 27 September 2021, the builder will be liable for damages of more than $250,000 per day. The agreement also stipulates that the final $7.5m of a $145.5m settlement for the CPB HEB Joint Venture to cover the costs of delays and other impacts resulting from the five-week Covid-19 shutdown will only be paid if the road opens by 27 September 2021.

September 2020 settlement agreement

As with every construction project, progress on Transmission Gully is dependent on many factors, including material supplies and suitable weather, particularly for the laying of pavement.

Mr Gliddon says as well as finishing the physical works, there are also other critical requirements which need to be met by the contractor and the builder before the motorway can legally be opened for public use. This includes safety and asset quality assurance work, and compliance with environmental consent conditions.

“Before Transmission Gully can be opened to the public, the contract for the project requires a range of safety and quality conditions to be met, with approvals to be issued by WGP and their maintenance contractor Ventia. WGP and the CPB HEB Joint Venture will also need to demonstrate that they have met a range of specified conditions for road construction, which will require sign off from Greater Wellington Regional Council (GW) as the environmental regulator before the necessary consents can be issued to allow the motorway to legally open. We have met with GW to discuss their critical role in the sign off process. They have assured us that they can respond as required and achieve the necessary sign offs to permit the road opening.

“The responsibility for meeting all of these safety, quality and environmental conditions, and the final decision on when the road can open ultimately rests with WGP as the project contractor, and GW as the consenting authority.”

Background

Under the terms of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement for the Transmission Gully motorway, WGP has contracted the CPB HEB Joint Venture to undertake the motorway’s design and construction, and Ventia to maintain the road after it opens. The contract requires WGP to operate and maintain the road for 25 years following its opening, after which time the road will be handed over to Waka Kotahi at an agreed standard. Subject to complying with the contractual requirements, all operational decisions related to the construction of the motorway sit solely with the builder, the CPB HEB Joint Venture, and not Waka Kotahi.

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

• Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• Facebook: facebook.com/TransportAgency
• Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahi_news
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)

Please note this traffic bulletin is updated every Friday.

Daily updated closure information

Unless otherwise stated, closures start at 9pm and finish at 5am.

NORTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)

• McClymonts Road southbound on-ramp, 11-12 July
• Southbound lanes between Greville Road off-ramp and Upper Harbour Highway on-ramp, 11 July
• Greville Road southbound on-ramp, 11 July
• Northbound lanes between Upper Harbour Highway off-ramp and Greville Road on-ramp, 11 July (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
• Upper Harbour Highway northbound on-ramp, 11 July
• Northcote Road southbound on-ramp, 13 July
• Northcote Road northbound off-ramp, 13 July

CENTRAL MOTORWAY JUNCTION (CMJ)

• Westbound lanes between Stanley Street off-ramp and Wellesley Street on-ramp, 12 July
• SH16 (Port) to SH16 Westbound Link, 12 July

SOUTHERN MOTORWAY (SH1)

• Northbound lanes between Drury off-ramp and Papakura on-ramp, 11 & 15 July
• Drury northbound on-ramp, 11 & 15 July
• Southbound lanes between Papakura off-ramp and Drury on-ramp, 12-14 July
• Papakura southbound on-ramp, 12-14 July
• Beaver Road northbound on-ramp, 12 July
• Beaver Road northbound off-ramp, 12 July
• Nikau Road northbound on-ramp, 12 July

NORTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH16)

• None planned

UPPER HARBOUR MOTORWAY (SH18)

• Westbound lanes between Paul Mathews Drive off-ramp and Albany Highway on-ramp, 14 July (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)
• Eastbound lanes between Albany Highway off-ramp and Paul Mathews Drive on-ramp, 14 July (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)
• Albany Highway eastbound on-ramp, 14 July (approx. 8:00pm to 5:00am)

SOUTHWESTERN MOTORWAY (SH20)

• Coronation Road northbound off-ramp, 15 July
• Southbound lanes between Massey Road off-ramp and Puhinui Road on-ramp, 11-15 July (approx. 10:00pm to 5:00am)
• Massey Road southbound on-ramp, 11-15 July
• Puhinui Road southbound off-ramp, 11 July

GEORGE BOLT MEMORIAL DRIVE (SH20A)

• None planned

PUHINUI ROAD (SH20B)

• None planned

STATE HIGHWAY 22 (SH22)

• None planned

STATE HIGHWAY 2 (SH2)

• Golf Road westbound off-ramp, 14 July

Please follow the signposted detours. Waka Kotahi thanks you for your co-operation during these essential improvements and maintenance.

Current overnight closure information 

Auckland roads and public transport