The busy intersection of State Highway 5 and State Highway 28 Harwoods Road, east of Tīrau, will be made safer with the construction of a three-leg roundabout, set to begin soon.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said the new roundabout will significantly improve safety at this location.

“This roundabout is one of several safety improvements planned for the stretch of SH5 between Tīrau and Tārukenga Marae Road,” said Andy Oakley, NZTA System Manager Waikato.

The current T-intersection has a poor safety record, with one fatal crash and 17 serious injury crashes in the past 10 years.

Construction is scheduled to begin on Monday August 18, with traffic expected to be flowing through the roundabout by March 2026.

Some closures of SH28 (Harwoods Road) at the work site may be required at the end of spring. Detour routes and closure dates will be communicated once confirmed.

Click here for more information

Motorist safety innovation for Bay of Plenty

NZTA said a great innovation in motorist safety is on its way to the Bay of Plenty.

Later this year, two sets of point-to-point safety cameras will be activated - one on State Highway 2 along the Matatā straights, and another on SH5 between Rotorua and the State Highway 38 turn-off.

“If you’re wondering how they work: these cameras are placed at two strategic points along a stretch of road,” Oakley said.

“They record the time it takes a vehicle to travel between them and calculate the average speed.

“Unlike traditional speed cameras, they encourage consistent safe driving over longer distance - not just slowing down for a single checkpoint.

“Internationally, point to point cameras have proven effective, with data showing they can reduce fatalities and serious injuries by up to 48per cent on suitable roads. That’s a significant step forward in making our state highways safer for everyone.”

Click here for more information

 Bay of Plenty 

Tauranga 

• SH2/Fifteenth Ave: Major works to build the connection from SH2/Fifteenth Ave to SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Road are progressing as part of the Takitimu North Link project. Works are underway and include building a 120m long retaining wall and a 127m long single lane bridge. Piling is underway with 6 of the 9 piles already completed. Piling will take approximately 3 months, and construction of the bridge will take approximately 12 months to complete. One lane at SH2/Fifteenth Ave near Edgecumbe Road is closed while this work takes place, this is likely to remain in place until mid-2026.  More information. 

• SH36 Tauriko: The southern approach to the SH36/Taurikura Drive roundabout will be down to one lane on Monday 11 August, between midnight and 5pm. This is to allow concrete road construction outside BP Tauriko. Please follow the signage and take care when driving through the roundabout. This work is part of the Taurikura Drive upgrade project led by Tauranga City Council. More information.

• Tauriko Enabling Works – SH29/Redwood Lane: As part of ongoing construction in the area, temporary traffic management including shoulder closures, lane deviations, mobile operations, and reduced speed limits are currently in effect. Night works continue from Sunday 10 August (7pm - 5am, Sunday to Thursday night) for road surfacing between Gargan Road and south of Belk Road. Temporary traffic management will include 3-way stop/go operations and a 30km/h speed limit. From Wednesday 13 August a lane shift and reduced speed limit of 50km/h will be in place for one week on SH29, between south of Gargan Road and Redwood Lane, for construction of a median island on the approach to the Redwood Lane roundabout. Night works are scheduled for Sunday 17 August (7pm to 6am) to install lane separators on SH29 between Gargan Road and Redwood Lane, then from Monday 18 August (24/7) a lane shift with a 50km/h speed limit will be in place on SH29, from south of Gargan Road towards the Redwood Lane roundabout, to enable watermain installation work, progressing southbound along SH29. People are encouraged to be patient and drive carefully through the site while works are underway. More information.

• SH29/Tauriko Village: As part of ongoing construction, there are multiple active work sites along the northern side of SH29 in Tauriko Village and on Cambridge Road, with temporary traffic management including temporary reduced speed limits, mobile operations, shoulder closures, and lane shifts in place as required. Night works are planned for Thursday 14 August (7pm to 6am), with a reduced speed limit of 30km/h and stop/go operation in place on Cambridge Road for a large concrete pour. Additional night works are scheduled for Sunday 17 August to Thursday 21 August (7pm to 6am), to lay power ducting underground between 593 and 561 Cambridge Road, with a 3-way stop/go operation on SH29 and Cambridge Road near the intersection. People are encouraged to be patient and drive carefully through the site while works are underway. More information.  
• SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road: Ongoing works in this area for the Takitimu North Link project include the construction of a flyover bridge and southbound slip lane. A reduced speed limit of 70km/h remains in place while crews are working behind the barriers. Traffic is anticipated to be diverted onto the flyover bridge and southbound slip lane in the next year while works continue.  More information. 
• SH29A Maungatapu Bridge: Bridge maintenance is taking place underneath the structure with no disruption to traffic, but workers will be visible between 7.30am and 4pm Monday to Friday. The work is expected to be completed late September.
   
• SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): The Pāpāmoa East Interchange will hit a major milestone in August, when crews will be lifting 12 concrete beams in to place to form the connection across the (TELTR). The beam lift is scheduled to take place over 4 nights, between the hours of 8pm and 5am, from Tuesday 19 to 5am Saturday 23 August. To ensure peoples safety, SH2 will be closed between Domain Road Interchange and the SH2/SH33 Paengaroa Roundabout. A detour via Te Puke Highway will be in place for all vehicles. More information.  

·       SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road by Domain Road: The Domain Road off-ramp will be closed overnight on Wednesday 13 August between 8pm and 5am for road resurfacing. There will be a detour available via Sandhurst Interchange and back to towards Domain Road Interchange to get to Pāpāmoa.

Western Bay of Plenty 

• SH2 Apata Station Road: Road construction works are underway in preparation for the new roundabout. Lane shifts, speed restrictions and intermittent stop/go traffic management are in place. Follow the directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes.  Temporary speed limits will remain in place until final road surfacing can be completed in the warmer spring weather.
• SH2 Esdaile Road/Pahoia Road intersection: Road widening works are underway at this intersection with speed restrictions and intermittent stop/go traffic management in place. Follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes.
• SH2 Pahoia Road to Plummers Point Road: While services are being installed, lane shifts will be in place along with speed restrictions. Intermittent stop/go traffic management may cause longer delays. Follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes.
• SH2 Ōmokoroa Road intersection upgrade: A temporary single lane roundabout is operational at this intersection in preparation for the new roundabout. A traffic switch is scheduled for Sunday 10 August south of the roundabout to construct mid-carriageway lanes, weather permitting.  There will be no right turn in or out of Youngson Road during this time to enable a traffic split either site of construction works. Speed restrictions and intermittent stop/go traffic management are in place. Follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and expect delays, especially during peak times.  More information
• SH2 Minden Road – Takitimu North Link Stage 1: On Thursday 14 and Friday 15 August, between 7am to 5.30pm, traffic management will be in place between 14-20 Minden Road to allow for utility works to be completed. The speed limit will be reduced to 30km/h and stop/go will be in place while this work is being completed.

Rotorua

• SH30 Te Ngae Road-Wharenui Road:  A reduced speed of 40km/h is in place on SH30 Te Ngae Road approaching the Wharenui Road intersection and will remain in place until October when skid resistance surfacing is laid. The new signals and road layout are in place and Wharenui Road is open to vehicles. More information.
   
• Rotorua: The Nduro Run the Forest event takes place this Saturday 9 August between 8am and 5pm at the Redwoods, event participants will be using the SH30 Te Ngae Road underpass.

• SH5 Tumunui: Groundworks have started in preparation for the average speed cameras which will go live later this year. Two average speed cameras will be installed at either end of SH5 south of Rotorua. More information.

Eastern Bay of Plenty 

• SH2 Matatā:  Groundworks have started in preparation for the average speed cameras which will go live later this year. There will be a shoulder closure by Herepuru Road while crews clear vegetation, install a side barrier, culvert and concrete pad in preparation for the camera. A temporary speed limit will also be in place. More information

• SH2 Waimana Gorge: Following wet weather earlier in July, an underslip has developed southeast of Tāneatua on SH2. The road is currently under 24-hour traffic management, traffic lights will be installed soon. A repair solution is currently being worked on, potential future road closures may be needed to complete repairs due to how narrow the site is. More information.

• SH2/Wainui Road, Matekerepu, near Ōpōtiki: Roundabout construction continues at the intersection of SH2 and Wainui Road. A lane shift is in place for people traveling on Wainui Road towards Ōpōtiki, allowing work to continue on  the roundabout. People are asked to drive with care and stick to the temporary speed limit as they adjust to the new road layout, which is expected to be in place until later this year. All other road users travelling through the area should expect traffic management such as shoulder closures, speed restrictions and, at times, stop/go while work is taking place. The roundabout is expected to be completed by April 2026.
• SH35 Tōrere: Slip repairs are underway near Te Kura O Tōrere east of Ōpōtiki. Stop/go traffic management is in place. These works are expected to be completed in September, weather permitting.  More information.
    
• SH2 Waioweka Gorge: Ground investigation works continue in the Waioweka Gorge near Ōpōnae. Once contractors are confirmed, repair work is expected to begin and take approximately 4 months to complete. A shoulder closure remains in place.

Waikato  

East Waikato 

• SH25 Kūaotunu: Underslip repairs are underway and the state highway on Kūaotunu Hill is reduced to a single lane. While work is underway the road is expected to remain open with lane shifts, however some short-term closures may be needed.  Traffic management and speed restrictions will be in place and people are asked to watch out for directions from the traffic management team.  These works are expected to take 6 months to complete. 

Central Waikato 

• SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru Accelerated Road Maintenance Project
  The SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru Accelerated Road Maintenance Project is back for season 2, completing the final surface on 5 sections of SH1 where the project worked last season, plus doing road rebuilding and maintenance between Taupō and Tūrangi, the northern and southern ends of Tokoroa township and the southern end of Tīrau township. The main programme starts on Monday 1 September, but some structural asphalt work has been brought forward on the East Taupō Arterial (ETA) following recent rain. This work is in areas not completed last season. We will also complete the final surface on the ETA in February 2026.
   
  • East Taupō Arterial: Sunday 17 August for 11 nights, weather dependent. Stop/go traffic management, 7pm to 6am, Sunday to Thursday (no weekend work).  Expect some delays.
     
  • Taupō to Tūrangi: Road rebuilding starting Monday 1 September at Waitahanui. There will be stop/go traffic management, lane switches and temporary speed limits, at various times. Expect some delays. Sign-up to the newsletter.
• SH1 Putāruru: On Tuesday 19 August there will be an overnight southbound lane closure on SH1 at the Putāruru roundabout so crews can complete the wastewater upgrade. The work will take place from 4am to 6am. A detour for southbound traffic will be available via Neal Street, Commerce Street and Market Street.
   
• SH1/SH5 Taupō: A Commercial Vehicle Safety Centre is under construction at the SH1/SH5 roundabout. In-road weigh-in-motion scales, camera technology and electronic sign boards are being installed on 5 roads heading towards the safety centre, including SH1 and SH5. Work requiring lane closures has largely finished, apart from an occasional lane closure for a day, but continues on  the road shoulders. More information  
• SH5/SH28 Harwoods Road: Construction of a roundabout at this intersection east of Tīrau  starts on Monday 18 August. Traffic management will include some initial night-time stop/go, lane switches and speed restrictions. Motorists should expect delays. More information

West Waikato 

• SH1 Tamahere Interchange: The Southbound off-ramp at the Tamahere Interchange will be closed on Sunday 10 August to allow water cutting to take place. The closure will be between 9pm and 5am. Southbound vehicles will continue to the Victoria Road Interchange to return north to exit at the northbound off-ramp at the Tamahere Interchange.
• SH1C Te Rapa: The expressway slow lane will be closed between Horotiu and Lake Road interchanges including the northbound onramp at the Horotiu Interchange and northbound off-ramp at Lake Road to allow for water cutting to take place. Vehicles already travelling on SH1C northbound, will remain on SH1C (no detour required), the slow lane will be closed.  Northbound vehicles wanting to access the northbound on-ramp at the Horotiu Interchange will use Great South Road through Ngāruawāhia. Northbound vehicles wanting to exit at Lake Road off-ramp will continue Northbound and exit at the Taupiri Interchange and detour via Ngāruawāhia or SH1B.
   
• SH1/SH29 Piarere intersection: The bulk of the work on the new SH1/29 roundabout in Piarere is now complete and the finishing touches are being applied, including landscaping, which will see intermittent shoulder closures and reduced speed limits during off peak hours (9am to 3pm), as required. The project is on track to be completed in late August. More information.
   
• SH30 Te Kuiti:  On Tuesday 12 August and Wednesday 13 August between 8pm and 5am there will be stop/go traffic management in place on SH30 between SH3 and Rora place for water cutting.
   
• SH4 Mapara North: Drainage improvements will start on Monday 11 August taking 5 weeks to complete, weather permitting. Crews will be onsite between 6am and 6pm Monday to Saturday each week. Traffic management will be in place with a combination of lane switches and stop/go between Mapara North and Kopaki Road, with delays of approximately 10-15minutes.

North Waikato 

• SH1 Hampton Downs to Island Block Road: There will be a full northbound closure on Sunday 10 and Monday 11 August between 9pm and 5am for maintenance. Traffic will still be able to travel north using one of the southbound lanes.

Manawatū -Whanganui   

• SH4 Ōtoko: Work is underway to repair an underslip on SH4, near Ōtoko, where the road has been down to one lane. The road closure that was in place has now lifted and stop/go temporary traffic management is in place on weekdays 6am-6pm until 10 October 2025 while crews work to reinstate the northbound lane. Delays of up to 15 minutes are expected.

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. More information.

Taranaki

• SH3 Mt Messenger:  Repairs to the underslip at SH3 Mt Messenger began on Monday 4 August, with the aim of reinstating the road to 2 lanes. The work is expected to take approximately 6 weeks to complete, weather permitting. If conditions are unsuitable, work will be postponed to the next suitable day. Crews will be on site from 6am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Stop/go traffic management will be in place with delays of around 20 minutes expected.
   
• SH3 Tongapōrutu: SH3 at Tongapōrutu remains under a 70km/h temporary speed limit due to an underslip damaging the northbound lane. We are working to determine a long-term repair for the area pending further geotechnical assessment, details to come once confirmed.  
   
• SH3 Mangaotaki: SH3 at Mangaotaki, south of Piopio, remains under stop/go traffic controls after a rockslide and an underslip damaged the road after heavy rainfall. Crews are maintaining the site until a long-term repair can be undertaken, pending further geotechnical assessment. More details will be shared with stakeholders once confirmed. 

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. 

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