SH2 Waihī to Tauranga Corridor

Project update

19 February 2025

The team working on the southbound approach to Apata Roundabout.

Roundabout round-up

The recent settled summer weather has seen our teams making good progress and the 2 new roundabouts being built at Ōmokoroa and Apata are making good progress.

Road users can expect see big changes at Ōmokoroa from the end of February which will impact their journeys -there is more detail in the story below. We thank you for your patience as you travel through these worksites.

Apata Station Road

With the installation of large culverts under the road in January our teams are now beginning earthworks and pavement construction on the area that will become the southbound side of the new roundabout.

Road users will continue to see regular layout changes at this site over the coming months with the new roundabout beginning to take shape from later in the season.

Work on the new southbound approach to the roundabout is nearing completion with chip-sealing now underway.  Earthworks are also underway on what will become the Apata Station Road approach.

Two-way traffic will be maintained during the day other than occasional short-term lane closures during off-peak times. Speed restriction will remain in place for the duration of the project.
Some night-time lane closures with stop/go traffic management in place will be required as the new roundabout begins to form.

Ōmokoroa

Work is progressing well on the Western Bay of Plenty District Council-led project.  

From the end of February, initial work on the State Highway 2 (SH2) stage of the roundabout will begin.  

There will be speed restrictions and lane changes on the state highway during the day and stop/go in place overnight to allow our teams to work on the northbound entry to the new roundabout. This work should take around 6-8 weeks.  

In the first week of March, road users on SH2 will begin using a temporary roundabout. 

During this stage of works, traffic travelling through the site will be impacted. Please be prepared for changes in the road layout and follow all speed restrictions while this important piece of work is done.

Keep an eye out for our friendly traffic management teams who will help guide you through safely. 

Over the past couple of months our teams have been busy , relocating services such as power, water, streetlight cables and stormwater pipes all now complete.  

Most of the earthworks in the northeast corner are finished and we’re now working on pavement construction and road surfacing. 

You might also notice work happening on the southern side of Ōmokoroa Road. This is to relocate telecommunications services alongside the road.  

 Pictured below: Ōmokoroa Roundabout takes shape.

Community input sought for SH2 Katikati to Te Puna speed review

People have until 13 March to give feedback on what speed limits should be in place for SH2 between Katikati and Te Puna.
A new approach to setting speed limits on New Zealand roads came into force on 30 October 2024. This  sets out how speed limits on New Zealand roads will be managed in a way that supports economic growth, boosts productivity, and enables people to get to where they are going efficiently and safely. 

As the state highway Road Controlling Authority (RCA), NZTA is responsible for implementing the rule’s requirements on our state highway network.

Information can be found  here: Speed Consultation - Bay of Plenty

Takitimu North Link – progress, progress, progress!

Construction of Stage 1 of the new 4-lane expressway connecting Tauranga and Te Puna has passed the halfway point with half the earthworks achieved, 4 bridge structures complete, another 6 in construction and impressive visual progress this season across the site. 

The project is being delivered in 2 stages, with Stage 1 having started construction in December 2021, employing around 200 people, and with more than 2000 working on different aspects of the project. Last year we shared an update that more than 2 million hours hard mahi had been completed on the project.

Check out the gallery of progress shots of works underway, and sign up for our project newsletter, at nzta.govt.nz/takitimunorth

Tolling was confirmed for the project in December 2024. The Minister of Transport’s full announcement can be viewed here: Beehive.govt.nz.

A summary of the consultation findings for Takitimu North Link can be viewed here: SH2 Takitimu North Link tolling proposal

Caption - 4 of 10 bridges are already completed. Traffic is using the new bridges at Minden, Wairoa and Cambridge Roads, the Minden Gully off-ramp is being used as a haul road for construction vehicles.

Takitimu North Link Stage 2 update

Early 2024, Takitimu North Link Stage 2 between Te Puna and Ōmokoroa was identified as a Road of National Significance (RONS). Following this we have been working to determine the best consenting pathway for the project, as well as alignment with GPS 2024. 

In October 2024 the NZTA Board endorsed the project’s scope, enabling the project to proceed to lodge notice of requirement and resource consent applications in early 2025, giving partners, landowners, and the community certainty of the route.

In addition to this, we have now recommenced engagement with directly affected landowners and are progressing to acquire 73 properties impacted by the project.

Ongoing engagement with local hapū is progressing, with input into historical and environmental aspects of the project, as well consideration of cultural aspects in the project design.

NZTA is working towards being construction ready by end of 2027.

Road widening north of Pahoia

We expect to begin work later in the season on road widening north of the SH2/Pahoia/Esdaile intersection. There will be temporary speed restrictions in place, with shoulder closures, and some lane shifts while this is done. During off-peak times road users may experience occasional short-term lane closures, with stop/go traffic management in place.   

Our team is continuing to work through other aspects of this project and the community will be kept updated as these are confirmed.

Our hardworking team completed the work ahead of schedule, minimising disruption for road users.

SH2 Tauranga, Snodgrass Road rebuilt 2 weeks early

Work to rebuild a section of SH2 at night near Snodgrass Road  finished 2 weeks ahead of schedule.  

NZTA would like to thank people for their patience and our contractor Fulton Hogan for their hard work in getting this quality job completed in less time.  

Over the past month, contractors dug up 510 metres of existing road surface, rebuilt each layer, then finished it off with a smooth asphalt surface and brand-new line marking.

Chip-sealing work for this season is now completed between Te Puna and Ōmokoroa but later this season, we will be installing rumble strips in some sections through this area. Look out for this change, currently programmed for March/April.   

At Turners Road, with the completion of the rebuilt southbound lanes, traffic will be shifted to allow construction of the northbound lanes. To manage this phase safely, the work will done in stages so road users should expect some lay-out changes as it is completed.  

Due to the sensitive nature of this stretch of state highway, and increasing traffic volumes, any work on SH2, day or night, causes disruption. NZTA appreciates the impact this has on motorists as crews work hard to maintain and renew this important route. 

More information

For more information on the SH2 Waihī to Tauranga Corridor project, contact us at bopprojects@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/sh2-waihi-to-tauranga-corridor