Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advises that the duration of work will be from 8pm to 5.30am from Sunday to Friday and will be from the intersections with State Highway 24 and State Highway 28 at Te Poi on the Waikato side, through to the intersection of SH29 and Cambridge Road on the Bay of Plenty side.

During the periods when SH29 is closed there will be two three and a half hour windows to allow for traffic to pass through in one direction only. The timetable for the works are:

• 8pm to 9pm – SH29 will be fully closed to all traffic while the site is being set up. 
• 9pm to 12.30am – SH29 will be open to traffic travelling from the east (Bay of Plenty) to the west (Waikato).
• 12.30am to 1am – A full road closure will be in place to allow for the change of traffic direction.
• 1am to 4.30am – SH29 will be open to traffic travelling from the west (Waikato) to the east (Bay of Plenty).
• 4.30am to 5:30am – Final closure to allow for the site to be made safe for the resumption of two way traffic during the day.

Resident access will be maintained at all times during the works, however residents will need to liaise with the traffic control teams onsite.

Waikato System Manager Cara Lauder says the partial closure allows the vital maintenance work to take place while still allowing traffic, particularly trucks, to plan their journey across the Kaimai Range.

“Completing the road maintenance work safely is our priority. However we know that regular users such as freight want certainty to plan their journey. This partial closure will allow us to get important surfacing work done, while still enabling freight to get to and from Tauranga.”

Waka Kotahi has opted for one long window for traffic in each direction rather than more frequent but shorter windows to avoid lengthy queues of vehicles waiting for their turn to cross the Kaimai Range. By having a longer window drivers, especially those in trucks, can plan their journey with greater certainty that when they arrive the road will be open.

During the day the road will reopen to two lanes and there will be reduced speeds through areas that have been recently resealed.

The detours for this closure are significant. Road users are advised to plan their travel according to when the road will be open or use alternative routes.

Any drivers planning to use the east-bound or west-bound travel window during the closures are advised to allow extra time for their journey.

The work is scheduled to be complete by 12 December. Work will happen every night during the week except for Saturdays.

Ms Lauder says SH29 over the Kaimai Range is difficult terrain, exposed to many weather events and has high traffic volumes.

“All of these factors create additional challenges for our regular maintenance programme and we’d like to thank those who travel over the Kaimai Range regularly for their patience.”

Road users are encouraged to visit the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website for up to date information.

Journey Planner website

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

• COVID-19 services update: nzta.govt.nz/COVID19
• Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• Facebook: facebook.com/WakaKotahiHBG
• Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahiCNI
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)

Due to a serious crash earlier this morning, the Police Serious Crash Unit is still onsite conducting an investigation.

Delays are significant and heavy congestion is expected to remain throughout peak traffic hours this morning due to southbound traffic being down to one lane.

Motorists are advised to consider delaying their journey. For those people travelling on the road this morning, please be patient and follow instructions from contractors and Police onsite.

It’s another step closer to the new four-lane expressway and shared walking and cycling path that will provide better transport choices for the area’s growing population and thriving economy.  

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Regional Manager Infrastructure Delivery Jo Wilton says site crew will be highly visible over coming weeks.   

“Fulton Hogan/HEB Joint Venture were awarded the design contract in May 2021 and have progressed site investigations, technical assessments and detailed design.    

“Before we start construction, we need to carry out a number of essential enabling works and archaeological investigations.  

“Enabling works involve vegetation and tree clearance, including the clearance of some kiwifruit orchards, building site access tracks and storage areas, and the relocation of utility services,” says Ms Wilton. 

“Investigations and surveys will continue to tell us what exactly is in the area and how the new road may affect the environment.  

“There are several rich areas of archaeological interest to look at, freshwater surveys to be carried out, the relocation of native lizards and skinks, and setting up monitoring for native birds and bats.   

“We are committed to working with our communities and partners to minimise the impact work has on our sensitive and important ecosystems and the creatures already living in the area.”  

When complete, the new four-lane expressway will provide people with more options and prioritise public transport.  

“The shared walking and cycling path will give people more choice on how they want to travel around the western Bay of Plenty,” says Ms Wilton.  

The property phase of the project has made significant progress and the construction contract is expected to be awarded in December 2021.   

The project is funded through the Government’s $8.7 billion New Zealand Upgrade Programme. Communities can look forward to transport improvements that provide better travel choices and help people get where they’re going safely. The programme will also help grow our economy, while responding to the impacts of travel on the environment and supporting housing.  

To find out more, or to sign up for updates about the project, visit: 

Takitimu North Link

Beca Ecologist Jessica Schofield (left) and Fulton Hogan/HEB Joint Venture Environmental Manager Stephanie Kirk (right) checking the fyke nets (a type of fish trap) and recording species found along the Takitimu North Link Stage One alignment.

While most drivers are doing the right thing through worksites, it is disappointing to see some people speeding and putting others at risk, Bay of Plenty System Manager, Roger Brady, says.

“Speeding vehicles can flick up loose metal and other objects, which can be dangerous to our road workers and other road users,” says Mr Brady.

“Motorists also have less control at higher speeds. They may clip road cones and send them flying at our road workers or oncoming traffic – or lose control completely.

“Even when there is no one working on site, we may leave speed limits in place to protect road users. Drivers should consider reduced visibility and the effects of temporary surfaces at night and in bad weather, as well as the safety of motorcyclists and cyclists.

“We also need to alert drivers to changes that they may not be expecting, such as reduced road widths and changes to road layout,” says Mr Brady.

“Safety is always our highest priority and we make no apologies for this.”

This is what you can expect to see on your journey between Waihī and Tauranga this week:

Ongoing works (between 7am-6pm)

• Old Tauranga Road to Athenree Gorge – installation of safety barriers. Expect minor delays of one to two minutes.
• Athenree Road to Tanners Point Road –works continue with earthworks, drainage, service relocations, kerb and channel construction and pavement throughout the week. Expect minor delays of one to two minutes.
• Tanners Point Road to Kauri Point Road – final connection of power and watermain relocation/connection are underway, with expected completion at the end of November. Expect minor delays of one to two minutes.
• Rea Road / Tetley Road intersection – preparation works for a roundabout are ongoing. Expect minor delays of one to two minutes.
• Sharp Road to Sargent Drive – road widening, earthworks, drainage and service relocation works between Lund Road and Wright Road continues. Expect minor delays of one to two minutes.

Major works

• Friday 26 November – between Barrett Road and Munro Road. These are night works, scheduled between 7pm-5am. Stop/Go traffic management will be in place with a 30km/hr temporary speed limit. Expect delays of 45 minutes for 36 to 48 hours following the work.

Please note these works are weather dependent and can change at short notice.

For at least 24 hours after a site is sealed, and before being swept, it continues to operate under a reduced temporary speed limit while vehicles travel over the seal and help “bed in” the chip. This helps reduce the risk of windscreen damage. Sites are then swept, excess chip removed, and the temporary speed limit remains in place until line marking is reinstated (within 48 hours, weather dependent).

We advise to

• keep an eye on our Waikato/BOP Facebook page for any changes to major planned works
• check the Journey Planner website before you travel.

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

• COVID-19 services update: nzta.govt.nz/COVID19
• 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)