Road Works Ramp up on State Highway 2

The drive to Ōpōtiki will be filled with roadworks again from next week as construction resumes on the Matekerepu roundabout and starts on two new roundabouts at the Waiōtahe River Bridge.

Construction on the Matekerepu roundabout was going well before Christmas, says NZTA’s Bay of Plenty Director of Regional Relationships Andrew Corkill.  

“We had a really good November and December in terms of progress and I think the weather really helped with that.” 

Berms were finalised, culverts replaced, plants were put in swales - leaving only resurfacing to go before construction is complete, he says. This will begin on Monday next week.  

“We're just waiting on some of the resource labor and asphalt components to come together. “ 

“So, the line markings that are there currently are temporary until we get that final surfacing work done, which is the final piece of the puzzle.”  

A temporary speed limit of 50km is in place until the work is completed, which Corkill expects will be over in March. Another temporary speed limit will be in place as construction begins on the two teardrop roundabouts at Waiōtahe Bridge.  

The two roundabouts will be at the intersections of Ōhiwa Beach and Waiōtahe Valley Back Roads, where work has already begun in paddocks either side of the bridge, Corkill says.

A shoulder is closed and a 70km speed limit in place but “you'll still be able to move through the site. It will just be at a reduced limit,” he explained.  

Starting next week, there is a twelve-month plan to complete construction for the two new roundabouts. 

“So people will see the contractor setting up the site and starting those early works like removing fences, putting up temporary fences, trucks starting to cart materials to the site,” he explained.

Resource consents have been obtained for working beside the river, work to protect it will go through out the project will be ongoing he says. 

“We have a really good working relationship with both the Ōpōtiki and Regional Council who govern those kind of matters with regard to waterways, and we'll continue to liaise with them over the course of the project as well,” says Corkill.  

These projects will make the drive from Ōpōtiki to Whakatāne safer, and Corkill hopes it prevents future accidents.  

“The whole aim of it is to reduce the number of people that were being killed and seriously injured on that road, but also to help improve the efficiency of the road because of the key connection that it does perform for Gisborne, the Taranaki region, the Bay of Plenty region, Hamilton, Auckland, for tourism, for fuel, for food supplies, for local products.”

Once the Matekerepu work has finished and work on the teardrop roundabouts has concluded, the safety improvements on that stretch of road will be complete. Corkill expects final work to wrap up in early 2027.