Bay of Plenty State Highway maintenance programme – summer season
The Bay of Plenty will benefit from its share of more than $2 billion in funding for nationwide pothole prevention and maintenance over the next 3 years, with a significant volume of road renewals planned for the region.
Approximately 110 lane kilometres in the Bay of Plenty will either be rebuilt or resealed over coming summers, with a significant portion of this planned to take place over the next 6 months.
People can expect disruption across the network. Road rebuilding can often involve replacing all or most of the structural road layers, it’s intensive work with some sections under construction for extended periods of time.
While there will be various maintenance worksites across the Bay of Plenty this summer, there is a focus on State Highway 29 (SH29), specifically near Hanga Road, the Kaimai Café and the Kaimai School. To minimise impacts to traffic, this work will be done at night and starts at the end of the October.
Some renewal sites have kicked off early, crews are making the most of the weather now with 2 worksites on State Highway 2 (SH2) between Paengaroa and Ōtamarākau already halfway through construction.
As much work as possible will be completed before Christmas, then there will be a short break over the holiday period. Workers will then get back into it until autumn sets in.
The sites that will be the most disruptive over the summer months are indicated on the maps attached.
Media release - Summer maintenance on State Highway 29 to deliver smoother journeys(external link)
How to be safe around roadworks
Our contractors carry out the maintenance work across Northland on behalf of NZTA, so you will likely see their crews when you’re out travelling through the region.
Kia Tupato Ki Nga Kaimahi – please watch out for any road workers. We care about our team and believe everyone has the right to return home to their whanau at the end of the day.
Always reduce your speed, adhere to the temporary speed limits and follow the traffic management directions at our work sites.
It’s important to slow down through newly sealed sections of road because small chips can be flicked up from the road surface and damage vehicles – especially windscreens. That’s why we often keep temporary speed limits in place even after it looks like the work has been completed. As well as safety, the temporary speed limit also helps ensure the quality of the reseal. Travelling at the posted temporary speed limit allows for the chips to be embedded into the road surface and for them to remain in place as the seal cures.
Please be patient with our crews as they set up and pack down work sites including placing or removing cones and signage. Overtaking these working vehicles can be dangerous to our teams on the trucks but also to vehicles travelling in the opposite direction.
If you have any concerns or require information about works in your area call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 444 449).
Tips for driving on freshly laid chipseal
Watch our video with advice for driving on freshly laid chipseal
Frequently asked questions
View our highway maintenance frequently asked questions(external link)