Connecting Hawke's Bay

28 March 2025

Tēnā koe,

Welcome back to Connecting Hawke’s Bay, our newsletter that provides you with updates about our work across the region’s state highway network.

In our first newsletter for 2025, you’ll find out about the Waikare Gorge realignment, progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway project, how the summer renewals are going, and a speed consultation update.

Waikare Gorge realignment funding confirmed

On the second anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle last month, Minister of Transport Hon. Chris Bishop confirmed funding for the Waikare Gorge realignment project.

The new 4-kilometre stretch of State Highway 2 (SH2) will help unlock the East Coast’s economic potential through stronger, safer and more resilient transport connections. The project includes a 160-metre-long network arch bridge over the gorge – at more than 60 metres tall, it could be one the country’s highest single span road bridges.

We are developing the tender documentation for the design and construction contract. We expect to award the contract in the second half of this year.  In the meantime, we are progressing with consenting and working through property requirements. Construction will begin as soon as these steps are completed.

Once underway, we expect construction will take about 4 years. The temporary Bailey bridge will remain on the current road realignment until the realignment is ready, and we are undertaking regular maintenance and monitoring to keep it safe and fit for purpose.

Read more about the Minister's announcement.

Minister Bishop announced the funding for the realignment alongside local leaders next to the Bailey bridge in the gorge. L to R: Martin Williams (Chair of Regional Transport Committee), Wairoa Mayor Craig Little, Hon. Chris Bishop and Katie Nimon MP for Napier.

Update: Hawke’s Bay Expressway project

Check out our latest video update on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS) project.

Enabling works north and south of the Tutaekuri River Bridge are progressing at pace, and workers are busy raising the ground to the level of the existing road. This will enable construction of the additional lanes and structures.

You can see the approaches to the planned new additional Tutaekuri River Bridge taking shape. Project manager Jacob Laird shares insights about what the community can expect to see next.

Visit the project webpage to see the latest SH2 Hawke’s Bay Expressway | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

Waipawa road rebuild finishes ahead of plan

Earlier this month, roadworkers completed the rebuild of a 500m section of SH2 through Waipawa township, more than 2 weeks ahead of schedule.

The road between Tamumu Road and Victoria Street had new kerbs and channels installed and the road was rebuilt.

The rebuild work began in early January and was initially planned to take about 10 weeks, but our contractor completed it in 8. Crews worked at nights and some weekends, and were able to complete more work, more quickly than if they were working during the day.

This project was part of the wider summer renewals programme in the region, as we continue to work to create smoother and safer journeys on our state highways.

Read more about this work.

Drone photo taken mid-February looking toward the Collins Street intersection. The new kerb and channels have been installed, and the road surface rebuild is underway at night. During the day, crews were on site with a water cart to manage dust.

Summer renewals season nearly complete

The busy 2024/25 summer maintenance and renewals programme is nearly complete in the region.

At time of writing, we have completed most of the renewals programme, which includes:

• 10.2 lane kilometres of road rebuilds (where the road surface is replaced)
• 87 lane kilometres of reseals.

In addition, 18 drainage sites (including 5 culverts) have been upgraded.

The maintenance and renewals season typically runs between November and March, when the weather is warmer and drier. Our priority this season is ensuring a safe, reliable and resilient state highway network - the high number of road renewals is key to achieving this.

Crews are now focused on installing 34 lane kilometres of rumble strips over the next month and completing line marking.

Speed consultation update

The government's new Setting of Speed Rule 2024 (the Rule) requires some speed limits to automatically reverse by 1 July 2025 unless there is local support to retain them.

We recently consulted to understand if local road users, councils, communities and iwi support keeping a number of state highway locations across the country at their current speed limits, rather than seeing them automatically reverse.

While the open road section of State Highway 5 (SH5) between Rangitaiki and Eskdale and State Highway 51 Napier to Clive will revert to 100km/h, we consulted on keeping the 80km/h speed limits through the rural settlements of Te Tarawera, Turangakuma to Te Haroto and Te Pohue on SH5.

Thanks to everyone that made a submission. We are currently assessing all feedback and will share the outcome of this consultation in May this year.

Download the NZTA App

We’ve developed a mobile app to provide a digital platform with simple and secure ways for you to access your driver licence and vehicle information, as well as make payments, with more capabilities to be added in the future.

Download the NZTA App for free from the Google Play store or Apple App Store.

While the app shows driver licence information, the app does not replace your current physical licence. You must always have your driver licence with you when driving.

Recovery updates

The Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) alliance are completing recovery work on our region’s state highways. If you’d like to receive updates from TREC, sign up here.