Resurfacing works will be carried out on State Highway 2 between the Athenree Gorge and Te Puna from tonight.

Work will start between Sharp Road and Hot Springs Road from 7pm to 5am tonight, the night works will be carried out until January 15.

Stop/Go traffic will be in place for one night only with a 30km/h temporary speed limit and motorists are advised to be aware of loose chip at all other times.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is also doing resurfacing at various other locations on SH2 between the Athenree Gorge and Te Puna, the sites will be a mixture of day and night works.

The road will operate under Stop/Go with a 30km/h temporary speed limit in place during the work.

For a period of at least 24 hours after a site has been sealed, and before it is swept, it continues to operate under a reduced temporary speed limit while we allow vehicles to travel over the seal and help to bed in the chip and to reduce the risk of chip damaging windscreens, says a statement from NZTA.

Following this, the site is swept, excess chip is removed and the temporary speed limit remains in place until line marking has been reinstated which is within 48 hours of the site being sealed depending on the weather, says the statement.

These works are expected to be completed by January 26 and are part of the spring/summer road maintenance programme, which will see repairs and reseals on state highways across the Bay of Plenty to ensure the safety and resilience of the state highway network, says NZTA.

'Warmer spring and summer months are the best time for resurfacing as daylight hours are longer and the warm temperatures and dry air help the new seal stick to the road surface.”

Motorists should expect delays and are advised to allow extra time for their journeys and avoid travelling during peak hours, where possible, says NZTA.