Category: Transport

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Construction of the new 4-lane expressway connecting Tauranga and Te Puna continues to make great progress with the team racking up 2 million hours of work on the Takitimu North Link project so far, as the third year of construction draws to a close.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Acting Regional Manager of Infrastructure Delivery, Bruce Waugh says, “Reflecting on the significant progress is a great way to wrap up 2024. It’s been a cracking year for the crews on site. 4 out of 10 bridges have been built, 1.5 million cubic metres of dirt has been shifted, and local roads are finished in the Bethlehem/Tauriko area.   

“It’s exciting to see the new road alignment really begin to take shape. The expressway will bring strong safety benefits and increased productivity for people travelling through the western Bay of Plenty.”  

“Being an “offline” project, with much of the work happening away from the road, it’s not always visible to the public, but people can get regular progress updates through drone footage and our newsletter,” says Mr Waugh.   

Takitimu North Link project(external link)

View the aerial video over Wairoa Valley, at the centre of the project site here –

Takitimu North Link – Wairoa Valley comparison May 2022 to November 2024(external link)

“In the Wairoa Valley, bookended by the newly constructed Cambridge Road and Wairoa Road bridges, there is a heap of activity happening with earthworks and environmental controls each side of Wairoa Awa (river), and the construction of the 355m bridge which spans the valley flood plains. The road will provide the community with opportunities to enjoy the awa in ways not experienced for a very long time, providing access to the riverbanks in this area.”   

This Road of National Significance project is more than building great infrastructure, with wider benefits such as providing jobs and career opportunities, contributing to local economy and upskilling communities.  

“It’s well understood in the industry that these major infrastructure projects have far reaching benefits to the communities they are in. With Takitimu North Link more than 200 people are employed, and more than 2000 have worked on various aspects of the project to date,” says Mr Waugh.  

“Projects of this size and scale need a range of skills throughout the project life and, to date, we’ve worked with nearly 200 sub-contractors with half of those being local businesses based here in the western Bay. Some of the types of businesses we work with that people might not realise are occupational health, security, cleaning, energy, signage, shade and ecology.”   

There’s a high level of interest in the site from an environmental perspective, with several industry groups visiting site and knowledge sharing through the project’s extensive environmental programme.   

Fast facts  

• Over 200 people working on the project 
• More than 2000 people inducted and worked on various aspects of the project to date
• 2 million hours worked since project started
• 200 subcontractors engaged with half of those local businesses
• 4 bridges built 
• 5 million cubic metres of dirt moved
• 9km of piles driven 
• 11,000 cubic metres of concrete poured
• 800,000 linear metres of wick drains, to reduce settlement time
• 70,000 plants in the ground, of more than 900,000 required
• Estimated completion 2028

Key sites for the 2024/25 construction season: 

• SH2/Fifteenth Ave – Major works to build the connection from Fifteenth Ave to SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Road (TDTR) are underway. Works involve the building of a 120m large retaining wall and earthworks, prior to the Fifteenth Ave bridge construction.
• SH29/TDTR – Work is underway to build a major interchange between Tauriko and Tauranga CBD. 
• Minden Road, Te Puna – Major works for the new Minden Road roundabouts and bridge tie in works are underway. This work is to form the diamond interchange at the western end of the project. 

Work continues at several other locations on site with remaining bridges under construction at Smiths Farm, Wairoa Awa (River), and Minden Gully. At SH2 Loop Road a large culvert is being constructed. 

The Takitimu North Link Stage 1 project is a Road of National Significance supporting economic growth and productivity in the western Bay of Plenty, by providing a reliable, resilient and safe expressway connection between Tauranga and Te Puna. People can keep up to date with traffic impacts through our regular bulletins and on the NZTA Waka Kotahi Facebook page. Take extra care by following signs and instructions from our traffic management team.   

For more information about the project go to:

Takitimu North Link project(external link)

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Drivers travelling on highways in the lower North and Upper South Islands need to be ready for bad weather driving conditions.

The Metservice has issued weather watches for both regions for this afternoon and overnight, meaning drivers must take extra care on the roads.

Top of the South:

A Heavy Rain Warning has been issued for Tasman west of Motueka, and the Grey and Buller Districts. They apply until early tomorrow morning (Monday). A Heavy Rain Watch is also in place for Marlborough west of Havelock.

Wind Warnings and Watches are in place for Marlborough, the Kaikoura ranges and Kaikoura coast.

This bad weather will affect State Highway 1 in Marlborough, State Highway 6 Blenheim to Nelson, State Highway 63 Wairau Valley to St Arnaud, State Highway 60 Tākaka, and State Highway 6 Buller Gorge

Lower North Island:

For Wellington and Wairarapa, a Strong Wind Warning is in force from late afternoon to early Monday morning, and a Heavy Rain Warning has also been issued for the Tararua Ranges.

This weather will affect all regional state highways. State Highway 2  and State Highway 53 in Wairarapa. State Highway 1, 2, 58 and 59 in Wellington, the Hutt Valley, Porirua, and the Kāpiti Coast.

Driving Advice:

Drivers of high-sided vehicles, light vehicles, and motorcyclists should exercise caution when travelling on exposed routes such as State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill and Wainui Saddle on State Highway 1 Transmission Gully. Be prepared for hazards such as wind gusts, wind-blown debris, and potential tree falls.

Where heavy rain is forecast, drivers must be alert to the increased risk of slips, rockfalls, and localised flooding.

The poor weather will also coincide with peak traffic on Monday morning. Commuters must drive to the conditions – if the roads are wet, increase your following distance, avoid sudden braking, and use your headlights if visibility is poor.

Weather warnings and watches  have also been issued for other regions in the South Island, including the West Coast, alpine passes, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland.

Roads can be closed at short notice in severe weather. Drivers should check road and weather conditions before they travel.

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is warning people planning on travelling through South Westland throughout Sunday and overnight that SH6 could be closed at short notice if heavy rain sets off fresh slips or rockfall.

The highway was closed for 12 days after the 9 November deluge as rockfall, slips and flooding were cleaned up.

Although the route has since re-opened, ongoing rockfall protection work is underway and intense rain could still trigger rockfalls and slips, says Mark Pinner, System Manager for NZTA, Central South Island.

“We are monitoring the area around Epitaph Slip this weekend and if rainfall does intensify on Sunday, we may close that section of route on Sunday, 8 December, either because of fresh activity, or as a precautionary approach. This will be the largest rainfall since we had the original issues there.”

The latest MetService forecasts include an orange heavy rain warning for Westland District (Hokitika south to South Westland/ Haast), potentially up to 280mm from the early hours of Sunday morning.

There is a heavy rain watch in place for Grey and Buller Districts from late Sunday morning into Monday, which may lead to surface flooding, slips and difficult driving conditions.

Canterbury side of the main divide – strong winds forecast

Canterbury headwaters and lakes may also catch the West Coast rain on Sunday with strong winds (up to 150 km/hour in exposed places) forecast for the Canterbury Plains, including SH73 (where the fire is burning between Flock Hill and Castle Hill), Banks Peninsula, the Kaikōura coast and Top of the South Island/Wellington (SH1).

The SH73 route between Springfield and Arthur’s Pass could get strong winds. While SH73 is currently open, traffic is being piloted between Flock Hill and Castle Hill daytimes to 9pm while Fire and Emergency helicopters and ground crews are working to put out the fire. Overnight, this section of highway will have a speed limit of 50km/hour until warning signs are restored after the Thursday/ Friday fire.

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Drive to the conditions – if they change, reduce your speed. That also applies to these long, hot summer days.

With an increase in temperatures in both Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay over the past few days, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is aware that some roads in the regions have shown signs of ‘bleeding seal’ or sticky surfaces.

The first onset of hot weather in a season can create issue with newly constructed chip seals especially on uphill inclines but settles down as we move through the summer.  Even some older seals can “liven” up with the first flush of hot weather. Saturated road surfaces can sometimes also exacerbate ‘bleeding seal’ as water is released from the road.

NZTA Hawke’s Bay / Tairawhiti system manager Martin Colditz says road temperatures are typically significantly hotter than the air temperature on any given day, given the road surface retains the sun’s heat for a lot longer.

“For example, when the air temperature reaches the high 20’s or early 30s, the temperature of the road may reach 55 degrees Celsius or higher.

“Bleeding seal isn’t an East Coast-specific occurrence.

“NZTA currently has crews out actively monitoring the East Coast state highway network for signs of ‘bleeding.’

“Water carts are also on standby and being used to spray water at sites which have previously been known for bleeding. Spraying water helps the road cool and prevents bleeding in the first place.

“A water cart and chip spreader have been used on previous occasions to successfully address bleeding seal.

Our crews are also using trucks to spread sealing chip at sites which have already started bleeding. This has a number of benefits, including protecting the road surface and preventing soft bitumen from running off the road; and improves traction especially for heavy vehicles.

“If there is loose chip at sites, we’ll have warning signs in place reminding road users.

“The biggest thing road users can do to help avoid bleeding and minimise the disruption at sites which are already bleeding, is to drive to the conditions. If there are speed restrictions in place, please respect them. It’s crucial to follow the traffic management in place and the speed limits.

“By respecting those speed limits, we can prevent further damage at other sites, while also minimising the chance of crashes and possible injuries to people.

At a glance

What is being done about the sticky highway surfaces?

• Monitoring: NZTA crews are actively checking the state highways for signs of ‘bleeding.’
• Cooling: Water carts are on standby to spray water on hot spots, helping to cool the roads and prevent bleeding.
• Chip spreading: Crews are spreading sealing chips on affected areas to protect the road surface and improve traction.

What can you do?

• Drive to the conditions: If the road is sticky or there are speed restrictions, slow down and follow the traffic management signs.
• Respect speed limits: This helps to keep people safe, minimise damage to the roads and prevents further issues.
• Report issues: If you see bleeding seal or have safety concerns, call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS.

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Essential road repairs mean there will be a week of closures on State Highway 2 between Masterton and Carterton from mid-December.

The highway will be closed to southbound traffic between the East Taratahi Rd roundabout and Hughes Line from Sunday 15 December for up to one week. The closure will be in place 24/7, with a detour via East Taratahi Road and Hughes Line

The highway will remain open for northbound vehicles.

These works weather-dependent and may be rescheduled at short notice.

Roxanne Hilliard, Wellington Alliance Manager, says  a rebuild is the most effective way fix the short section of road.

“It is deteriorating and has significant cracking that needs urgent repairs. A pavement rebuild will make the road safer for drivers and reduce the risk of further damage.”

“This is best done while the weather is warm and dry and before the holiday season and expected busier traffic around Christmas and the New Year,” Ms Hilliard says.

Because it is a rebuild, Ms Hilliard says the work is complex, and is why a road closure is essential.

“Road crews need to excavate to a depth of at least 700 millimetres. They need to make sure the new road has a proper and solid foundation for the new surface.”

“A full closure means we can complete the repairs quickly and have the highway back to two lanes in time for peak holiday traffic,’ Ms Hilliard says.

She says the work will affect about 130 metres of the highway’s southbound lane near Ravensdown and will create disruption and travel delays.

A local road detour will be available via East Taratahi Road and Hughes Line. Drivers must allow for extra travel time.

More works planned

Further work is also planned for this section of State Highway 2 in early in the New Year.

Road resurfacing will be done mid-January and the community can expect to see an improved road surface once it is finished.

As well as improving sections of the road between Masterton and Carterton, The Wellington Transport Alliance are making a huge investment in rebuilding sections of State Highway in Wairarapa that most need repair. This includes road rebuilds in Greytown, Carterton and Masterton. 

Works schedule and detour map

• Sunday 15 December for up to one week. 24/7.
• SH2 CLOSED to southbound traffic between East Taratahi Road and Hughes Line.
• Detour available via East Taratahi Road and Hughes Line.
• A temporary speed limit of 70km/h will apply on the detour route.
• Northbound traffic will be under a temporary speed limit of 30km/h.

View larger image [PNG, 188 KB]

More information

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is seeking feedback on changes to the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Exhaust Emissions 2007.

The proposed changes will ensure that New Zealadn’s light vehicle emission standards continue to align with Australian standards. 

Sharing the same standards allows vehicles to enter the New Zealand market without modification and added complexity for importers. 

The proposed changes follow 2023 amendments to the rule where the new Australian Design Rules (ADRs) for heavy vehicles were added along with Euro 6d standards for light vehicles. 

“We share our new vehicle market with Australia so sharing the same standards makes sense. The new Australian Design Rules are robust and will help realise benefits like reducing harmful nitrogen oxide emissions from diesel vehicles,” says NZTA Infrastructure and Stewardship System Policy Manager Darren Baars.  

The light vehicle emission limits in the new ADRs are the same as Euro 6d standards already included in the rule.  

NZTA encourages the public, vehicle importers and industry to have their say on the proposed changes to the rule.  

Further details on the consultation, including how to make a submission, can be found at: 

NZTA consultation hub 

Feedback gathered in the consultation process will inform final decisions about the amendments. 

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Here’s to smoother travelling over the holiday season with people driving on a number of newly sealed roads! Contractors across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty are continuing to make steady progress as the holiday season approaches. .

We’re nearly halfway through the maintenance season and a lot of work has already been completed. This includes road rebuild sites on SH29 Kaimai Range, SH26 Eureka (near Morrinsville), SH27 at the Matamata roundabout, and 2 sites on SH2 near Paengaroa in the Bay of Plenty. 

Now is also the time to start planning for your trip, says Andrew Oakley, Waikato System Manager at NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).   

“As with other years, we expect traffic to be busy from the weekend before Christmas, right through until early in the New Year. It’s been a long year, and everyone deserves to relax and unwind. Consider planning ahead so you know what to expect when travelling. Key routes will be busier than usual, and ensuring you have everything you need for a longer journey can make things much more enjoyable. 

“We encourage people to use the NZTA Journey Planner, it’s the best tool to use on the day of travel, as this provides real-time updates on worksites and other road hazards on the network.”  

Journey Planner(external link)

This work forms part of the government’s $2.07 billion investment into road and drainage renewal and maintenance across 2024-27 via the State Highway Pothole Prevention fund. 

Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway works as at 6 December 2024 [PDF, 286 KB]

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

SH73 has re-opened to traffic from midday, using Stop/Go and escorted convoys between Flock Hill and Castle Hill in the Canterbury high country.

People will need to factor in extra time for the journey as the convoy covers 20 km between the two straights, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

The convoys will take place simultaneously from each end, but there will be inevitable delays given the length of highway involved.

SH73 was closed yesterday morning and overnight as a fire spread out of control in the area requiring evacuations of school pupils at camps and residents.

Fire and Emergency NZ is leading the response with Police and NZTA support.

“The escorted convoys are necessary while Fire and Emergency have choppers operating over this area to put out the fires,” says Mark Pinner, System Manager for NZTA in Canterbury and the West Coast.

Drivers and vehicles will be queued at Flock Hill and Castle Hill between convoys.

Overnight situation – open, but slower

Once the choppers have stopped for the day – likely to be later tonight – drivers will be able to travel the 20km section of highway at a reduced speed limit, says Mr Pinner.

This weekend/Saturday – weather dependent

The convoys are likely to re-start Saturday morning again once the choppers are in the air.

The change to a southerly, cooler wind over Canterbury today is likely to help the situation with lower day temperatures and some rain forecast for this afternoon and Sunday.

The Lewis Pass route is open

People travelling between the West Coast and Canterbury today can also take the Lewis Pass route via Waipara and Reefton (SH7), says NZTA. Although it normally adds up to an hour to the SH73 journey time, today and Saturday times may be comparable to SH73 with convoys operating.