Te Ara Tūtohu: Waitara to Bell Block

3 March 2025

Kia ora!

On 11 March the team constructing the Waitara Road roundabout will start on Stage 3 of works, which will see the southbound lane of the Waitara Road roundabout constructed.

Work on Stage 3 is expected to be completed in April.

Stage 3 follows the completion of Stage 2 of works, which stated in late 2024. Stage 2 has seen workers relocate underground services and complete pavement and stormwater work on Raleigh Street (between State Highway 3 (SH3) and Tate Road).

Traffic management

We are working with our contractor to ensure construction of the roundabout causes as little disruption as possible.

From 8pm 11 March to 5.30am 12 March, the SH3/Waitara Road intersection will be reduced to one lane to allow crews to move the temporary central barrier currently in place, complete temporary line marking, and reinstall the flexible hit sticks in preparation for work on Stage 3 to start.

Stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit will be in place at the intersection during this work. Delays of up to 5 minutes are possible.

During the day the traffic will flow in both directions.

From 12 March to mid-April, SH3 through the Waitara Road intersection will be open to southbound traffic only. Northbound traffic will be detoured on to Raleigh Street and the newly constructed section of Tate Road, which connects directly to SH3. Detoured traffic will have priority through the intersection of Tate Road and Raleigh Street. This detour will add less than 5 minutes to travel times.

Due to the limited amount of space available on the road, we are unable to provide a safe space for motorists to turn right into Raleigh Street from the southbound lane of SH3.

Access to all businesses and residential properties in the area will be maintained during Stage 3.

Waitara Road access

From 12-19 March, both lanes of Waitara Road will be open however motorists turning on to SH3 from Waitara Road will only be able to travel south towards New Plymouth. Motorists who want to travel north will be detoured along Richmond Road where they will be able to turn right and head north at the SH3/Richmond Road intersection. The detour is expected to add up to 5 minutes to travel times.

From 19 March to mid-April, access to SH3 from Waitara Road will be closed while crews complete work in the southbound lane between Raleigh Street and Waitara Road. Access for motorists turning into Waitara Road from the southbound lane of SH3 will remain open. Motorists on Waitara Road who need to access SH3 will be detoured along Richmond Road.

From 12 March to mid-April, northbound traffic on SH3 will need to use the Richmond Road detour to access Waitara Road.

Future work

Planning is underway for sections of SH3 either side of the Waitara Road intersection to be rebuilt and for some line marking and rumble strips to be installed near the Princess Street roundabout. We will provide updates on these once details are confirmed.

Traffic management from Wednesday 12 March 2025

Taranaki speed limit reviews

A reminder that NZTA is consulting to see if there is public support to retain the 80km/h speed limits on SH3 between Waitara and Bell Block at the following 2 locations:

SH3 Waitara. 430m east of Princess Street to 300m east of Bayly Street.

SH3 Bell Block East. From east of Mahoetahi Road to 400m west of Princess Street.

These sections of state highway have been included in the consultation because we want to test the level of support again to see if it has changed.

You can have your say on these speed limits by completing the form on our website.

nzta.govt.nz/speed-consultation

More information

For more information on Te Ara Tūtohu: Waitara to Bell Block, contact us at w2bb@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/w2bb