The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) summer road maintenance programme is in full swing across the Bay of Plenty, with crews scheduled to continue resurfacing and rebuilding roads through to the end of March 2026.

Road resurfacing plays a vital role in infrastructure upkeep, much like applying a fresh coat of paint to a house, it seals out water and protects the underlying layers, helping to prevent potholes from forming, NZTA said.

Most road resurfacing and rebuilds are done in the summer months when the temperatures are warmer and there is less rain.

NZTA Waikato system manager Andy Oakley said that while asphalt was a strong and durable material, ideal for roads with heavy truck traffic and a solid base, it’s not suitable for some urban areas.

“Many people assume asphalt is always the better choice because it’s stronger and longer lasting, but its durability depends heavily on the condition of the layers beneath it.”

Oakley said asphalt was manufactured by mixing various sizes of stone into a dense cohesive product that requires significant energy to heat and specialised machinery to apply.

In contrast, he said, chipseal was a simpler and faster method.

“The chipsealing method involves spraying bitumen [think of it as a waterproof glue] on to the road surface, then spreading stone chips over it and rolling them into place.

“Due to its complexity, asphalt is about five times more expensive than chip seal, factoring in manufacturing, energy, transport, and labour costs.”

To find out more about the upcoming maintenance season, sign up to receive your regional newsletter here.

State highway maintenance and renewals weekly update

Roadworks may be postponed due to rain or other factors that disrupt the weekly schedule, NZTA said.

Please be aware that there may be other, less disruptive state highway works

Bay of Plenty

Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty

Work starting next week:

SH2 near Te Manaia Bridge (by Claymark Sawmill): Tree clearing work will take place on Saturday, November 1 between 7am and 7pm by the Claymark Sawmill near Katikati. There will be periods of stop/stop traffic management to allow for the trees to be dropped.

SH2 Snodgrass Rd to Loop Rd: Road resurfacing will start on Sunday, November 2 for 5 nights, between 7pm and 5am, near Ainsworth Rd. There will be stop/go traffic management and a reduced speed limit in place while the work is under way. During the day there will be an uneven surface with a reduced speed limit of 50km/h.

SH29 Poripori Rd passing lane: Asphalt resurfacing will start on Sunday, November 2 near the passing lanes by Poripori Rd, taking 5 nights to complete between 7pm and 5am. There will be a reduced speed limit and stop/go traffic management in place for the duration of the work.

SH29 Tauriko: Night works are planned for Sunday, November 2, between 7pm and 6am, to install temporary safety barriers on SH29. Traffic management will include a 3-way stop/go and 30km/h temporary speed limit on the westbound lane of SH29 and Cambridge Rd. From Tuesday, November 4, between 7pm and 5am, the team will be installing new watermain pipes on Cambridge Rd for 3 nights. Traffic management will include a 30km/h reduced speed limit and a 3-way stop/go at the intersection of SH29/Cambridge Rd. Following this, temporary traffic management will be in place during off-peak hours (9am - 4pm) at the Tauriko end of Cambridge Rd for one week and will include stop/go on Cambridge Rd and a 30km/h reduced speed limit to allow watermain installation to continue. More information.

Work starting soon:

SH29 Kaimai Range - closure: The Kaimai Range will close for 5 nights, from Sunday, November 30 to Thursday, December 4, between 7.30pm and 4am each night (reopening early Friday morning). These closures are necessary to complete urgent rock scaling works on the Ruahihi Bluffs, along with routine maintenance, including drain clearing, and road marking and surfacing. Further closure details and more information on access and detours will be provided in the coming week.

SH29 Tauriko, Belk Rd to Redwood Lane: From Monday, November 10, there will be a lane shift and reduced speed limit of 30km/h in place for 2 weeks, between Belk Rd and Redwood Lane, to construct a new central traffic island on the Hamilton side of the SH29/Redwood Lane roundabout. More information.

Work under way:

SH2 Rogers Rd, Pukehina: A road rebuild is due to finish mid-December. Work is currently Monday to Friday from 6am to 4.30pm, with stop/go traffic management and a reduced speed limit throughout the site. The site is approximately 650 metres west of Rogers Rd and continues on SH2 for 1.3 kilometres. More information.

SH29 Lower Kaimai: A 1.5km section of SH29 near Valley View Rd is undergoing a full rebuild, with temporary traffic management and reduced speed limits in place until early 2026. The passing lane near Valley View Rd remains closed for the duration of the works. Work is scheduled Monday to Friday, with traffic management set up by 7am. Between 8am and 5pm, a system will be in place, allowing traffic in both directions. Overnight Sunday to Thursday, from 7pm to 6am, contraflow will be removed and traffic will operate under stop/go. Weekends will see both lanes open and no work scheduled. Due to the scale and duration of the project, delays are expected. More information.

SH29 near Ōmanawa Rd: Service relocation work is underway near Ōmanawa Bridge. A temporary speed restriction and contraflow system allowing traffic in both directions will be in place from just west of the Ōmanawa Rd intersection to Ōmanawa Bridge. This work is expected to take 4 to 6 weeks to complete and part of the Ōmanawa Bridge replacement project.

SH29 Tauriko: There are multiple active work sites along the northern side of SH29 in Tauriko Village and on Cambridge Rd. Temporary traffic management is in place as required, including reduced speed limits, mobile operations, shoulder closures, and lane shifts.

SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Rd: A reduced speed limit of 70km/h remains in place while crews are working behind the barriers on the construction of a flyover bridge and southbound slip lane works for the Takitimu North Link project. Traffic is anticipated to be diverted onto the flyover bridge and southbound slip lane in the next year while works continue. More information.

SH2/Fifteenth Ave: One lane at SH2/Fifteenth Ave near Edgecumbe Rd is closed while the new connection to SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Rd takes place, this is likely to remain in place until mid-2026. More information.

SH2/Pahoia/Esdaile intersection: Road widening works are underway at this intersection. Speed restrictions and intermittent stop/go traffic management will be in place, which may result in longer delays. Expect minor delays.

SH2/Apata Station Rd roundabout: Road construction continues for the new roundabout this week. A temporary speed limit will be in place with overnight stop/go traffic management. Motorists should expect delays when traveling overnight.

SH2 Ōmokoroa Rd intersection upgrade: Road construction and service relocation works continue in preparation for the new roundabout. A temporary single-lane roundabout is operational at this intersection with speed restrictions and intermittent stop/go. On SH2, overnight road construction starts later this week south of the roundabout. Stop/go traffic management will be in place and delays can be expected. More information.

Wairoa Rd: The area around the Wairoa Rd overbridge is under stop/go traffic management, weekdays between 7.30am and 6pm, for road construction. This work is due for completion mid-November.

SH2 Whakamārama, Te Puna: A programme of ground investigations is under way through to December, on key sites near Snodgrass, Ainsworth, Te Puna Quarry and Munro roads, Gill Lane and near Oturu and Te Puna streams. People travelling through this area may notice these activities alongside SH2, which are part of the Takitimu North Link Stage 2 project.