We are heading in to winter, and while it’s darker and often wet, it’s a good time to consider how the change of season can affect driving conditions by maintaining greater following distances between your vehicle and the one in front, slowing down and being prepared for unexpected hazards.

“Whether you’re hitting the road for a Kiwi winter holiday or just trying to stay warm getting from A to B, winter trips can be safe trips by planning ahead and doing the simple things right,” says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Waikato Bay of Plenty regional manager maintenance and operations, Roger Brady.

“Check the latest weather and travel conditions before you start your trip and remember to have breaks throughout your journey. ”

You can find the latest information at Journey Planner or by calling 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49). If extreme weather or treacherous road conditions are forecast, consider whether you really need to travel, or if you can delay your trip.

Driving on roads that are exposed to winter weather conditions can be tricky at the best of times. Conditions can change rapidly and often the safest speed to drive at will be much lower than the actual posted speed limit. 

Check the NZTA website for a range of basic checks to perform on your car before hitting the road. Car safety basics 

For up-to-date travel information please check the Journey Planner.

Please note that from Friday 31 May 2024 and over the winter months, the traffic bulletin will move to fortnightly updates. 

Bay of Plenty

Tauranga 

·       Takitimu North Link Stage 1: Earthworks are underway across a number of sites. There will be stop/go in place and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h. The temporary haul road, separated from SH2 in the Te Mete Valley area, will be disestablished over the next couple of weeks. The temporary speed limit in this area is 60km/h. Traffic management will be out on Minden Road over the next few weeks for utility works. More information. 

·       SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road (TDTR): A reduced speed limit of 80km/h is in place while Takitimu North Link crews are working behind the barriers. More information

·       SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road (TDTR): On Wednesday 22 and Thursday 30 May the southbound lane (from Tauranga to Tauriko) on the toll road will be closed to all traffic overnight from 8.30pm to 5am each night. There will be no work on Friday and Saturday nights and the road will be fully open. Then, from Sunday 26 May through to and including the night of Thursday 30 May, the southbound lane will be closed again overnight, 8.30pm to 5am. Motorists should expect uneven surfaces and a 30km/h reduced speed limit during the day. A detour is available for all traffic via SH2, Moffat Road then Cambridge Road. 

·       Cambridge/Moffat roads: A section of Cambridge Road East from Moffat Road to St Andrews roundabout will be closed while the new intersection joining onto Moffat Road is constructed. Detours and temporary speed limits are in place for the closed section of Cambridge Road East. More Information 

·       SH2 Hewletts Road, Mount Maunganui: Road rebuilding and resurfacing on SH2 Hewletts Road will finish Tuesday 21 May. This work is being carried out at night between 8.30pm and 5.30am from Sunday to Thursday each week. There will be detours or lane closures in place for different phases of this work. More information.

·       SH2 Bay Link: On Friday 17 May (from approximately 7pm to 5am each night), an overnight road closure will apply on SH2 Hewletts Road flyover southbound, Maunganui Road southbound (between Golf Road roundabout and Concord Avenue) and Maunganui Road northbound (between SH2/SH29A Te Maunga interchange and Bayfair roundabout). Vehicle and pedestrian access for Maunganui Road residents and businesses between Golf Road and Concord Avenue will be maintained. nzta.govt.nz/baylink-traffic 

·       SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road: Construction of the Pāpāmoa East Interchange, a Tauranga City Council-led project, is progressing. To keep crew and drivers safe, a 2km section of the eastbound left lane, just ahead of the Kaituna River bridge is closed, with a 70km/h speed limit in place on the single available lane. The new interchange is scheduled to complete mid-2026. More information.

·       SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): The Quayside Properties Ltd-led Rangiuru Business Park Interchange project continues. Temporary barriers are in place until approximately August 2024, with 1 lane available in either direction. A temporary speed limit of 70km/h applies through the site. More information.

Western Bay of Plenty

·       SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Flexible median barrier is being installed in Athenree Gorge (north of Katikati) due to be complete by the end of May. There will be lane shifts in place with speed restrictions and intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause some delays. Service relocations are underway between Sharp Road and Wright Road, with lane and shoulder closures are in place, and daytime temporary speed restrictions. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management which may cause longer delays. Please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes.

·       SH2 Apata Curves: Road widening works underway. Contra flow in place with speed restrictions. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays. 

·       SH2 Ōmokoroa Road: Shoulder closures and speed reductions are in place near the SH2/Ōmokoroa Road intersection as early works take place ahead of the Western Bay of Plenty District Council-led Ōmokoroa intersection upgrade project. More information. 

·       SH29 Kaimai Range: The Kaimai Range will be closed overnight from Sunday 19 May to Wednesday 22 May (4 nights), from 8pm to 3.30am to allow road resurfacing and maintenance to take place. The closure points on the western side of the Kaimai Range are at the SH29/24 and SH29/28 intersections and on the eastern side of the Kaimai Range at the SH29/Cambridge Road intersection. Detours are available for all vehicles southbound via Rotorua and northbound via the Karangahake Gorge. Emergency services will have access at all times, residents can access their property from the relevant side of the closure. More information. 

·       SH29 Tauriko/Redwood Lane: Work continues on Redwood Lane and on SH29 south of Belk Road and north of Redwood Lane as part of the SH29 Tauriko Enabling Works project. Traffic management including a mobile operation will take place during off-peak hours for oversized truck movements, minor traffic delays are expected and this work has been aligned with the Kaimai Range closure.  
From Sunday 19 May to Thursday 23 May, from 8pm to 5am (approx.) each night, there will be works to install semi-permanent guardrails and barriers. Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h on SH29 (between south of Belk Road and north of Redwood Lane), and on Redwood Lane and Belk Road at the intersection with SH29 will be in place. Access to Redwood Lane and Belk Road will remain open for the duration of the works. This work is weather dependent.  
Once the guardrail and barriers are installed, a temporary 70km/h speed limit will be in place. One lane in each direction will be available at all times, shoulders will be closed, and the lanes will operate at a reduced width. Access in and out of Redwood Lane will remain available, the left turn slip lanes into Redwood Lane and Belk Road will be closed, the right turn bay into Redwood Lane will remain open. Delays are expected for SH29 traffic and minor delays for Redwood Lane traffic.  More information.

·       SH2 Ōtamarākau: Work is expected to begin shortly on SH2 near the intersection of Old Coach Road, Ōtamarākau, to install median barrier and additional safety improvements through this section of state highway. This work will be completed in stages across 3-4 weeks, depending on weather. Road users should expect minor delays through this area while the work is completed. Temporary speed restrictions will be in place and at times parts of SH2 and Old Coach Road will be reduced to a single lane with stop go traffic management to enable this work to be done safely. 

Rotorua

·       SH30 Eastern Corridor Stage Two: Linemarking will take place overnight on Saturday 18 May under a mobile operation/rolling block on SH30/Te Ngae Road. After this, temporary traffic management will be reduced until the final resurfacing later in the year during the warmer, summer months. The bus stop outside 473 SH30 Te Ngae Road will reopen next week. Until then, the nearest operational bus stop is on SH30/Te Ngae Road – 50m towards Basley Road. More information.  

·       SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa: Approximately 6km north of Ōkere Falls on SH33, pavement construction is underway and minor traffic delays can be expected. Other work includes road widening, installing safety barriers and improving drainage. Temporary traffic management is in place including stop/go, lane shifts, shoulder closures and reduced speed limits. More information

·       SH30/33 Te Ngae Junction: Minor remedial works will begin this week on the SH30/33 Te Ngae Junction roundabout. Temporary traffic management will be in place, including a stop/go, shoulder closures and reduced speed limits. We expect these works to take up to one week (weather permitting). Minor delays are expected.

Eastern Bay of Plenty

·       SH2 Waioeka Gorge: Work to repair 2 underslips in the Waioeka Gorge is ongoing until late May. Crews will be on site between 7am and 6pm each weekday. The worksites are at Oponae and near Goldsmiths Reserve (approximately 4 kms north of Oponae). Once the slip work has been completed the road surface will be repaired and asphalted and a section of guard rail will be installed, this work is expected to take 3 weeks to complete with a finish date of mid-June.

·       SH34 Kawerau – Tarawera River bridge walkway: Upgrades to the walkway over the Tarawera River in Kawerau continue until the end of June. The old walkway is being demolished and a new steel walkway will be built. There is stop/go in place between 6.30am and 5.30pm Monday to Saturday, when there is no work taking place on site traffic signals will be operating. Scaffolding will be in place under the bridge, so the waterway can be protected, and workers can be kept safe during construction. More information

Tairāwhiti Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay:

·       SH5 Napier to Taupō: Recovery alliance Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) continues to progress safety improvements, as well as repair, recovery and maintenance activities at multiple sites on SH5 between Eskdale and Waipunga. While this work takes place, there will be stop/go traffic management, traffic reduced to one lane, and temporary 30km/h and 50km/h speed limits from 7am to 6pm. Temporary speed restrictions will also remain in place at night in some areas. Overall, please expect cumulative delays of up to 40 minutes if travelling the whole of SH5 (Napier to Taupō) and on SH2 from Napier to Tūtira. More information.

Manawatū-Whanganui

·       SH3 Whangaehu: Bridge strengthening and painting works are taking place on SH3 at Whangaehu River bridge, south of Whanganui between 7.30am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit will be in place until late June. Delays of up to 10 minutes are expected. This bridge strengthening work requires traffic vibration to be minimised and it’s crucial all temporary speed limits are adhered to. More information. 

Waikato

·       A variety of safety improvements across the Waikato have started, these will contribute towards making the roads safer. The programme of works includes a mixture of new and modified signage, new hazard warning signs, roadside safety/barrier guard rail, road widening, improved road lines and improved road markings. It is expected there will be minimal disruption for motorists while this work is completed. The works will take place until the end of June 2024. More information.

East Waikato

·       SH25 Coromandel: Ongoing recovery works to repair damage caused by last summer’s severe weather. The road is reduced to a single lane at Ruamahuna Bay, as slip stabilisation continues. Further worksites include Te Kouma, Pumpkin Hill and Whiritoa Hill. Stop/go traffic management will be in place at these locations. More information. 

·       SH25A: New signage and hazard warning signs, improved road markings and audio tactile profiles (rumble strips) are being installed along SH25A to make the road safer. This work will be completed in late May with stop/go traffic management in place. 

·       SH25 Hikuai: SH25 will be closed overnight to all traffic from Sunday 19 May, for 5 nights between 8pm and 6am each night, to allow for essential maintenance and repairs to the single lane Hikuai Stream bridge, just south of Tairua. Affected road users will need to detour via SH25, looping through Coromandel township. Work includes digging out and replacing capping beams - components that span the full width of the road at each end of the bridge. Steel plates will be placed over these excavations, and a temporary speed restriction will be in place, to allow traffic to cross safely during the day. Other work being done includes resurfacing the eastern approach to the bridge and repairs to the bridge deck. This work is weather dependent, and dates may need to change if there is wet weather. More information

·       SH2 Karangahake Gorge: Work will resume next week to repair an underslip opposite Victoria Battery. Road users should allow extra time as delays can be expected. The road will usually be reduced to a single lane with stop/go traffic management and a speed restriction in place while work is being done.  Work will take between 4 and 6 weeks, depending on the weather. 

·       SH27 Kaihere: Work is underway to repair an underslip, this is expected to take between 4 and 6 weeks to complete depending on weather. While this work is underway the road will be reduced to a single lane with stop/go traffic management and a speed restriction in place.

Central Waikato

·       SH1 Ātiamuri: Road widening is underway for safety barrier installation, from the Waikato River bridge south to Thorpe Road. There is currently stop/go in place for asphalt works, from Monday to Friday, 8am-5pm finishing on Friday 24 May. 

·       SH1 Maroa Road: Finishing works are underway on the 4.8km site where safety barriers were installed last year. There will be no traffic management for the week commencing 20 May. 

·       SH1 East Taupō Arterial: Road widening continues ahead of flexible safety barrier installation, between SH5/Napier Road and the airport roundabout. One lane is open in each direction with speed restrictions in place. Completion is expected mid-2024. More information.  

·       SH41 Tokaanu: Due to a washout, the road is down to one lane under temporary traffic lights, with a 30km/h temporary speed restriction in place. Works to repair the washout are due to begin in June and will take 3-4 weeks to complete.

West Waikato

·       SH1C Waikato Expressway - Te Rapa Bypass: Drivers are advised to plan ahead for ramp closures as resurfacing on the Te Rapa section of SH1C expressway continues. The northbound on and off ramps at Koura Drive will be closed until late May to allow for resurfacing on the ramps and northbound lanes. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction and shifted on to the southbound lanes with speed restrictions in place.  More information.

·       SH1C Cobham Drive – ramp closures: From Monday 27 May the on and off ramps at the intersection of SH1C Cobham Drive and Wairere Drive near the Hamilton Gardens will be closed from 9am to 7pm for up to 5 days. The ramps are being closed to allow for asphalt surfacing and other minor works. Traffic wanting to access Wairere Drive from the Expressway are advised to use Galloway Street and Naylor Street if heading east and Cambridge Road if heading west. The same detours apply in reverse for traffic wanting to join SH1C from Wairere Drive. In the event of bad weather further closures may be required from Tuesday 4 June.

·       SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia section: Safety improvements and remedial works continue with traffic managed through the site with single lanes and 50km/h speed restriction. There will be night-time closures and a detour in place for northbound traffic 19-23 May, 7pm-5am. More information.

·       SH1 Karāpiro (Hickey Road): Construction of the fifth turnaround bay in the SH1 Cambridge to Piarere safety improvements project, just north of Hickey Road, is underway. Along with constructing the turnaround bay, we’re widening the road at the weigh station on SH1, between Hickey and Hydro Roads, and installing median and side safety barriers. Temporary traffic management is in place, including a shoulder closure. More information

·       SH1 Karāpiro: SH1 Karāpiro: Work continues on a section of SH1 between Keeley’s Reserve and Moana Roa Road, where median barrier is being installed. Motorists are advised to prepare for possible congestion when travelling through the site. Night shifts are currently occurring from 7pm to 6am, Sunday to Thursday, with stop/go traffic management in place until late May. However, due to wet weather, additional night shifts are likely to be needed this Friday 17 and Saturday 18 May under stop/go traffic management. Day works continue from Monday to Friday, with a temporary speed limit of 50km/h in place. Work is on track to be completed by late June 2024. More information

·       SH1/SH29 Piarere intersection: A key focus at present is the construction of the southern (Tīrau side) approach road. To safely accommodate this work, traffic south of the roundabout has been moved onto a newly constructed section of road adjacent to SH1. This is a short bypass road which rejoins SH1 before the intersection and continues to operate as normal. This arrangement is expected to remain in place until September 2024. Motorists are asked to drive with extra care through the site, while people adjust to the new road layout. A temporary speed limit of 60km/h will be in place around the project site to protect road workers and ensure the safety of everyone travelling through the area. More information

·       SH23 Raglan: Daytime stop/go traffic management is in place just outside Raglan, at the corner of Greenslade Road and SH23. This is to allow an embankment adjacent to the road to be stabilised and is expected to be completed by Monday 20 May. The weekday stop/go traffic management will be in place between 9am and 3pm, with delays of up to 10 minutes expected. Outside of these times and over weekends the road will be fully open, with shoulder closures and speed restrictions in place. 

·       SH3 Te Kūiti: Drivers on SH3 are advised to expect delays, with work taking place to build a retaining wall and culvert on a stretch of highway between Te Kūiti and the SH3/SH4 junction. Stop/go traffic management will be in place at night, with lane shifts in place during the day. Traffic management will be in place until the end of May 2024. 

North Waikato

·       SH1 Pioneer Road (North): The Pioneer Road northbound off-ramp remains closed. Motorists should continue on SH1 and exit at Pōkeno northbound off-ramp, turn around at McDonald Road and head south using Pōkeno southbound on-ramp on SH1 to get off at Pioneer Road (South). Slip repairs will be ongoing until Friday 31 May.

·       SH1 Pokeno: The installation of removeable barriers to improve network reliability and help keep traffic moving in the event of an incident or breakdown on the motorway will take place from Sunday 19 to Thursday 23 May from 9pm to 5am each night. While the work is being carried out there will be a full northbound closure between the Pokeno northbound off-ramp and Pokeno northbound on-ramp. There will also be a full southbound closure between Pokeno southbound off-ramp and Pokeno southbound on-ramp on Tuesday 28 May between 9pm and 5am.

·       SH1 Nikau Road to Bombay Interchange: From Sunday 19 to Tuesday 21 between 9pm and 5am  there will be a full northbound closure with the following ramps closed: Nikau Road Northbound, Beaver Road Northbound, Mill Road northbound.

·       SH1 Hampton Downs: On Sunday 19 and Wednesday 22 May between 8pm and 5am the northbound on-ramp and off-ramps will be closed. This is to undertake streetlight maintenance. A detour will be available via Mercer or Rodda Road.  There may be an increased levels of noise as the crew carry out the maintenance.

·       SH1 Dragway Road to Island Block Road: On Sunday 19 and Monday 20 May between 10pm and 5am there will be a full northbound closure, to carry out resurfacing. The Dragway Road northbound ramp will be closed. 

·       SH1 Rangiriri interchange to Hampton Downs: On Tuesday 21 May between 8pm and 5am there will be a full northbound closure with the Te Kauwhata and Hampton Downs northbound ramps closed for line marking.  A detour will be available via Te Wharepu Road, Rodda Road, Hall Road, Summertime Lane, Paddy Road and Whangamarino Road.

Taranaki

·       SH3 Te Ara Tutohu Waitara to Bell Block: Until mid-June, Princess Street will be closed between SH3 and Armstrong Avenue to everyone except residents while roadworks continue. Crews are now ready to start on the final pieces of work for the roundabout and pedestrian underpass. This will include completing the roundabout itself, installing streetlights on SH3, and laying down asphalt. To allow this work to take place safely and efficiently, the temporary roundabout at the SH3/Princess Street intersection has been removed and the road reduced to one lane until mid-June 2024. During this time stop/go traffic management will be in place, road users are advised to expect delays of up to 5 minutes. A temporary 30km/h speed limit will be in place at all times. The roundabout is expected to be complete by mid-2024. More information. 

·       SH3 Waitara Road, Bell Block: From Monday 13 May there will be a 50km/h temporary speed limit in place on SH3 through the intersections with Waitara Road and Raleigh Street and on Raleigh Street from the intersection of SH3 through to the intersection with Tate Road. SH3 will remain open to two lanes of traffic at all times. There will be no right turn into Raleigh Street. Tate Road, from the intersection with Raleigh Street through to SH3, will be closed to everyone except residents. This will allow workers to complete necessary work on the road in preparation for it connecting with the roundabout. All properties on SH3, Raleigh Street and Tate Road will be accessible for residents during these works.

·       SH4 Paroparowhero Culvert Replacement: Work to repair damage from heavy rainfall on SH4 north of Taumarunui, between the intersection of SH43 and Okahukura Bridge Road will continue until June 2024. The repair work involves a temporary road to maintain traffic flow under 24/7 e-light stop/go controls, while crews install a 3.5 x 4 metre box culvert. Please drive carefully and follow all temporary speed restrictions in place. Oversize loads are asked to take alternative routes where possible. Road users are asked to plan ahead for delays of up to 15 minutes in this area.

The above information is accurate at the time of release. Many of the above works are dependent on a number of factors, particularly weather, and may be postponed at short notice. For up-to-date information on road works, traffic, detours and delays, motorists are encouraged to visit the NZTA Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz).

NZTA thanks motorists for their patience while we complete this essential work to keep the state highway network safe, accessible and resilient.

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)