Waikato : National Road Carriers

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 June 2024. More information.

East Waikato

SH25 Coromandel: Ongoing recovery works to repair damage caused by last summer’s severe weather. The sites 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.

SH25 Ruamahunga: Slip stabilisation continues. Equipment and supplies are being delivered to the top of the slope by helicopter on a regular basis with the next delivery on Tuesday 14 May. This will require a series of short road closures so the helicopter can safely operate over the road and will be done across the middle of the day.

SH2 Karangahake Gorge: Work is now underway 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. Two-way traffic will be in place for this weekend, to allow for holiday traffic volumes. 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 Wednesday, 8am-5pm finishing on Wednesday 15 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 13 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 Te Rapa Bypass: Drivers are advised to plan ahead for ramp closures as resurfacing on the Te Rapa section of SH1C expressway continues. From Monday 13 May the northbound on and off ramps at Koura Drive will be closed for up to 2 weeks 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.

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: 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 mid to late May. 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 incident or breakdown on the motorway will take place from Sunday 12 May to Tuesday 28 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 both Sunday 12 May and Tuesday 28 May between 9pm and 5am.

SH1 Dragway Road to Island Block Road: There will be a full northbound closure on Thursday 16 May between 9pm and 5am to allow line marking to take place.

SH1 Nikau Road: From Sunday 5 to Thursday 9 May between 9pm and 5am there will be a full northbound closure to undertake barrier work between the Nikau Road northbound off-ramp and on-ramp, however the ramps are still open A detour between ramps is available via Ridge Road. There will also be southbound lane restrictions, however traffic will still be able to travel south under traffic management supervision. Work will be ongoing until 16 May.

SH2 Maramarua: From Dimmock Road to Steen Road stop/go traffic management will be in place on Thursday 16 May between 9pm and 5am for line marking to take place.

SH2 Maramarua: From Steen Road to the SH25 Roundabout top/go traffic management will be in place on Wednesday 15 May between 9pm and 5am to allow for road inspections to take place.

+-SH1C Waikato Expressway, Te Rapa section - resurfacing works

From Monday the northbound on and off ramp at Koura Drive will be closed for up to two weeks to allow for resurfacing on the ramps and the northbound lanes. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction and shifted on to the southbound lanes with speed restrictions in place.

When the ramps are closed northbound traffic wanting to exit at Koura Drive will stay on the Expressway and use the Horotiu Interchange to rejoin the Expressway and access Koura Drive using the southbound offramp. This will add around five minutes to a trip.

Traffic wanting to access the Expressway from Koura Drive will be advised to use the southbound onramp and turn around using the SH1C roundabout at Crawford St/Avalon Drive. This will add around 10 minutes to a journey.

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