Ngongotahā SH5/SH36 roundabout.

Ngongotahā Western Road detour starts Monday

For the next phase of the roundabout upgrade we need to close a short section of SH36 and put in a detour for northbound traffic.

People travelling from Rotorua to Ngongotahā Village, Hamurana and Tauranga will need to travel via State Highway 5 and Western Road.

The detour will be in place from Monday 10 May for up to six weeks.

The detour does not affect southbound traffic heading into Rotorua.

To help with traffic flow the new SH5/SH36 roundabout free flow (slip) lane will be opened and two temporary roundabouts installed - one at the SH5/Western Road turnoff and one in Ngongotahā Village at the SH36/Western Road intersection. Manual traffic control may also be in place at times.

We ask people to take extra care, especially at the Ngongotahā Village end.

You can view the design of the upgraded roundabout. Timing-wise, the new roundabout is expected to be complete by the end of July 2021. 

State Highway 33, Ōkere Falls.

Road layout changes for State Highway 33, Ōkere Falls

A new slow vehicle bay will replace an existing passing lane on State Highway 33 (SH33), just north of Ōkere Falls, making it safer for residents of Ōkere Falls.

Prior to construction starting on the SH33 safety improvements project Waka Kotahi sought feedback from iwi, stakeholders and the local community and concerns were raised about the passing lane starting at the SH33/Taheke Road intersection. Drivers regularly use the Taheke Road right turn bay as the start of the passing lane, which is unsafe and illegal. 

During the engagement phase people made it clear the passing lane was still important as this is the first northbound passing opportunity on SH33 after leaving Rotorua.

Slow vehicle bays are like passing lanes, they help reduce driver frustration and unsafe passing manoeuvres by allowing slower vehicles to pull over to the left so other vehicles have the opportunity to pass.

Changes to the road layout are expected to take place next week on Wednesday 12 May, weather dependent.

Drivers are encouraged to take extra care, reduce their speed and follow directions of the traffic management staff and signage. Minor delays can be expected.

Waka Kotahi is committed to Vision Zero, a vision for Aotearoa New Zealand where no one is killed or seriously injured on our roads. Road and roadside safety improvements have been underway since late 2017 as part of the SH33 Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa safety improvements project. This road was identified as a high-risk rural road, and the safety improvements are part of the Safe Network Programme.

The SH33 safety improvements also include a wide centreline from Te Ngae Junction to Paengaroa, flexible roadside safety barriers at high risk locations, safety improvements in Mourea, Ōkere Falls and Paengaroa, rumble strips and a south-bound passing lane between Paengaroa and Ōkere Falls.

The 34km long route is being completed progressively in stages. The next stages, including the shared path between Mourea and Ōkere Falls, are due to start in the next month.

The $34.5 million project is expected to be finished in the 2021/2022 construction season.

For more information visit nzta.govt.nz/tnj2p  or Using Slow Vehicle Bays.

Let's keep our workers safe, make sure you follow temporary speed limits.

Keep our workers safe

Speeding through our work sites is a common issue and poses a significant safety risk for our workers. We're encouraging everyone to stick to the posted speed limits to help make sure our workers get home safe at the end of each day.