With Tauranga expecting an influx of 20,000 visitors over the next week for the Zespri AIMS Games, the city will be busier than usual.

'As Tauranga will be welcoming 11,000 young athletes and their supporters for the first AIMS Games since 2019, residents and visitors should expect some delays,” says Bay of Plenty System Manager at Waka Kotahi, Roger Brady.

Both Tauranga City Council and Waka Kotahi have a number of significant projects that are taking place across the road network within the city, and road users are encouraged to use the Journey Planner (www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz) to check the real-time updates online ahead of leaving for their destination.

'If drivers, especially those who may not have visited Tauranga in a while, know what is happening on the roads, they can better prepare for the trip ahead and allow extra time to get to their destination safely.

'For those driving to and from Tauranga for the Games, the Journey Planner will also help with route planning into Tauranga. The effects of recent weather events are still being felt throughout the wider Bay of Plenty region and further afield. There are sections of the state highway network that are down to one lane with traffic management in place to manage traffic through site.

'Please allow extra time while travelling as there will be an increase in traffic during the day, particularly before and after school hours on roads leading to the sport facilities and reserves throughout the city,” says Roger.

Bay of Plenty

Tauranga

· AIMS Games: The 2022 Zespri AIMS Games commence Saturday 3 September. Traffic volumes throughout Tauranga are expected to be higher than usual until Friday 9 September, expect delays, especially before and after school hours on roads leading to the sport facilities and reserves. We expect greater than usual traffic volumes entering Tauranga on 3 Sept and exiting on 9 Sept. More information.

· Takitimu North Link Stage One: A range of construction activities are taking place between Te Puna and Bethlehem. This includes stop/go traffic management in place at Wairoa Road, and a number of shoulder closures and temporary speed limits. More information.

· SH2 Hewletts Road: As part of the Tauranga City Council Totara Street cycleway project, work at the intersection of SH2 Hewletts Road and Totara Street is scheduled to begin in mid-September and be completed by late-2022. Construction works will include signalising the existing slip lane and upgrading the island to provide a fully signalised crossing for shared path users. These works will take place between Tasman Quay and Totara Street each night between 8pm and 5am. Eastbound traffic along Hewletts Road will be reduced to one lane during this time. Minimal delays are expected. More information.

· SH2 Bay Link: Drivers are reminded of the new layout at the Bayfair roundabout. For people approaching the roundabout from Matapihi, the left lane is now a left turn only and the right lane is for traffic going straight through and turning right. More information.

· SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road: A section of the Kopurererua Valley cycleway is temporarily closed while services are relocated alongside SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road. While this work is underway there is a reduced speed limit of 80km/h in place. This work is expected to be completed in September. More information.

· SH36 Pyes Pa: Tauranga City Council is undertaking watermain and wastewater pipe installations; work is expected to be complete in mid-October. During this time northbound traffic from the SH36/Pyes Pa roundabout will be detoured via Pyes Pa Road through to the SH29A Barkes Corner roundabout. Delays of up to 15 minutes during peak times are expected. More information.

· SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): For the Tauranga City Council led Pāpāmoa East Interchange project, traffic on the Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road, just north of the Kaituna River Bridge, continues to be down to one lane in either direction until Monday 3 October. This is to allow the installation of a culvert across the TELTR, which will enable earthworks in preparation for construction. On the nights of Sunday 4 and Monday 5 September, traffic lanes will be shifted, however one lane in either direction will be maintained at all times. Speed is reduced to 50km/h through the work site. Under normal circumstances, we anticipate any delays to be less than two minutes. More information.

Western Bay of Plenty

· SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Safety improvement works continue at five active sites: between Athenree Road and Tanners Point Road, Tanners Point Road to Tuapiro Road, Rea Road / Tetley Road intersection, Morton Road intersection and Apata Station Road to Esdaile Road. Minor delays are expected. From Monday 5 September retaining walls will be constructed between Apata Station Road and Esdaile Road. Stop/go traffic management will be in place outside of morning and evening peak traffic, from 9am-4pm. Light vehicles under ten tonnes can take an alternative route via Wainui South and Esdaile Road There are currently no right turns to Tetley Road and limited right turn options to Rea Road. Detours routes are available, please follow the signs and directions of the traffic management team. More information.

Rotorua

· SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: Multiple worksites are active between Iles Road and Puketāwhero Park to excavate the shared service trench for the relocation of underground services and installation of the new watermain. Relocation of the temporary traffic barrier from the eastbound side to the westbound side of SH30/Te Ngae Road is scheduled to take place for two nights starting Sunday 4 September, weather dependent. A full road closure of SH30 between Iles Road and Ōwhata Road will be in place from 7pm to 6am each night, with the highway re-opening to traffic during the day. There will be a detour along Vaughan Road, including for heavy vehicles. Local eastbound traffic will be able to use the right hand turn at the Iles Road intersection. Please follow the detour signs in place. Minor delays are expected. A full road closure at the Basley Road and SH30/Te Ngae Road intersection will be in place from 7am – 6pm starting Monday 5 September, while contractors install underground services and the new stormwater system across Basley Road. This work is expected to take one week. Detours will be in place and minor delays are expected. A full road closure of Tennyson Drive at the intersection with SH30/ Te Ngae Road will take place from 7am on Tuesday 6 September until 6pm on Wednesday 7 September, weather dependent. This will enable trenching across Tennyson Drive to install the new water main. Detours will be in place and minor delays are expected. More information.

· SH30/SH33 Te Ngae Junction: Intersection safety improvements early works start next week. Early works include hydro-vac investigation work identifying underground services and clearing vegetation. While this work is underway there will be a reduced speed limit of 30km/h through the site, lane shifts and off-peak shoulder closures. Traffic will be maintained in both directions however the works may cause minor traffic delays. More information.

· SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Safety improvement upgrade work continues near Pareteiro - Sun Valley Curves passing lane. During the day and when the crew are on site, either two lanes will be open or stop/go will be in place – depending on the works. A temporary speed limit of 30km/h applies. Outside of work hours and when the site is unattended, the worksite will have a shoulder closure and a temporary speed limit of 50km/h. There are also ongoing shared path works between Mourea Bridge and Ōkere Falls. Weather permitting, the finishing works will include sealing, installation of the remaining refuge islands and re-installing the side barrier between Mourea Bridge and Hamurana Road. Traffic management will be a combination of shoulder closures and stop/go as required to carry out the works safely. Allow extra time More information.

Eastern Bay of Plenty

· SH35 Motu River: 24/7 single lane access has been reinstated, with traffic signal control in place, along with a 30km/h temporary speed limit. There will be periods where traffic is stopped at each end to allow works to take place across the full road width. Works will continue until early September with chipsealing expected next week. More information.

Tairāwhiti Gisborne/Hawke's Bay

· SH35 Kopuaroa: The site remains under stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h at all times. Enabling works for the longer-term solution have commenced. More information.

· SH2 Matawai (east of Waioeka Gorge): The road has now been reinstated to full width and is now open to all vehicles.

· SH5 Te Haroto (between Taupō and Napier): Due to a dropout, the road is down to one lane with a 50km/h speed restriction and temporary traffic lights in place. Work to re-instate the road to two lanes is expected to be complete in October. More information.

· SH2 Esk River Bridge: The bridge over the Esk River on State Highway 2, north of Napier, has been reduced to a 30km/h temporary speed limit due to recent assessments identifying the bridge does not have capacity for sustained increased travel demands. Overweight vehicles are required to reduce their speed to 10km/h within their own lane, or to follow the restriction on their permit if it is lower. More information.

· SH2 Airport to Longlands: Overnight maintenance

Manawatū-Whanganui

· SH4 Auraki Stream Road Retreat: Work to retreat the road away from a slip adjacent to the Mangawhero River is currently underway and will continue into 2023. For the duration of the works the road is reduced to one lane with traffic control operating under traffic signals. Works are generally undertaken away from the road, however there are occasions where traffic signals are used to keep drivers safe from hazards, with delays of up to 10 minutes.

· SH4 Te Oreore slip: Following a landslip in 2019, a temporary road is in place at Te Oreore, with a 30km/h temporary speed limit in place.

· SH4 Upokongaro to Raetihi: Slip clear crews continue to clear material from numerous slip sites. Traffic is generally reduced down to one lane past these slip sites during working hours. At sites 150m north of Burrell Road and 3km north of Burrell Road, SH4 is reduced down to one lane due to underslips with priority give way and 30km/h speed limits in place. At Aberfeldy, 1km north of Parihauhau Road, speed is reduced to 50km/h due to an underslip compromising the edge line of the northbound lane.

Waikato

Central Waikato

· SH1 Ātiamuri: Safety improvements on a 4.5km stretch of SH1 between Maroa Road and Tram Road, south of Ātiamuri, are continuing. A 50km/h temporary speed limit is in place through the site and stop/go traffic management with a 30km/h temporary speed limit may also be used at times between 9am and 3pm Monday to Friday. More information.

· SH1 Taupō: Minor maintenance will be undertaken at the SH1/SH5 roundabout in Wairakei and the SH1/SH5 Napier Road roundabout. Works will be completed at night with stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit in place.

· SH1 Desert Road: The road is down a single lane near Tree Trunk Gorge Road, due to washouts. Temporary traffic signals are in place along with a temporary speed limit; road users are reminded to comply with the traffic management on site.

West Waikato

· SH1B Puketaha: SH1B east of Hamilton is closed at the southern end of Telephone Road while options for its long-term future are investigated. Detour via Holland Road, Waverley Road and Seddon Road. More information.

· SH1 Tamahere: SH1 at Tamahere is reduced to one lane in each direction as safety improvements are made to bring the road up to 110km/h design and safety standards. People are asked to take care when driving through the site and follow the posted speed limit of 70km/h. More information.

· SH3 Te Kūiti: Work is taking place to make the entrance to Te Tokanganui-a-Noho marae safer for pedestrians to cross State Highway 3 Awakino Road. Traffic heading east on State Highway 30 will need to detour north along Carroll Street, cross the railway line on Ward Street and then head south on Rora St. The same detour will apply in reverse for westbound traffic. The project is expected to be complete by the end of September. More information.

· SH30 Kōpaki: A localised drop out between Kōpaki Road and Ohirea Road means temporary traffic signals are in place to control traffic, along with a temporary speed restriction of 30 km/h. Repairs are complete at a slump near Kōpaki Bridge; however, this site remains under a temporary speed restriction. Truck drivers are reminded that the existing Kōpaki rail overbridge has a maximum weight limit of 6 tonnes. If compliance with the load restriction doesn't greatly improve, the potential risk to both road and rail users will force us to close the road to all traffic. The detour route between Maniaiti/Benneydale and Te Kuiti is via Kōpaki Road and State Highway 4.

· SH4 Taumarunui: Following storm damage, a section of road north of Taumarunui is under stop/go traffic management, controlled by traffic signals. Enabling works have commenced, and plans for the long-term repair of this road are currently being designed.

North Waikato

· SH1 Hampton Downs: This section of the expressway will be without lighting until November, while work continues on upgrading the state highway. Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction as safety improvements are made to the road, bringing it up to 110km/h design and safety standards. People are asked to take care when driving through the site by following the posted speed limit of 70km/h. More information.

· SH1 Meremere: Multiple maintenance activities will take place between Island Block Road and Hampton Downs on Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 September. Work will take place between the hours of 9pm and 5am. One lane of traffic will be available in each direction on SH1, utilising the northbound lanes. The SH1/Island Block Road intersection and Hampton Downs interchange will have traffic management in place to guide traffic through the area.

· SH1 Te Kauwhata: Multiple maintenance activities will take place on the southbound lanes between Te Kauwhata and Hampton Downs on Sunday 4 September. Work will take place between the hours of 8pm and 5am, and the road will be closed during this time. Please follow the signposted detour via Whangamarino Road, Paddy Road, Summertime Lane, Hall Road and Rodda Road, adding approximately five minutes to journey time.

· SH2 McPherson Road: Stop/go traffic management between McPherson Road and Pinnacle Hill Road on Sunday 4 September between 9pm and 5am.

Taranaki

· SH3 Piopio: A slip has the road down to one lane, which is being controlled by traffic lights. Delays of 5-10 minutes are expected. More information.

· SH3 Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass: Stop/go controls are operating daily, with delays of up to 15 minutes expected. The lane closure allows for Bypass enabling works. More information.

· SH3 Awakino: A slip has the road down to one lane under stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h temporary speed limit. There are various other slips in the gorge that are currently not affecting traffic, however drivers are asked to drive with caution, and expect delays at the single lane section.

· SH3 Waitara: Due to wastewater maintenance, northbound light vehicle traffic is being detoured via Waitara. Heavy vehicles and all southbound vehicles continue to use SH3 under stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit. Delays of between 5-10 minutes can be expected.

Some of the above works are weather dependent and may be postponed in the case of poor weather. For up-to-date information on road works, traffic, detours and delays, motorists are encouraged to visit the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz).

Waka Kotahi thanks motorists for their patience while we complete this essential work to keep the state highways safe and resilient.