Road and Highway Conditions

Schick Civil Construction will return to Hetherington Road in the week ending 10 April to begin the second phase of the Stormwater Improvement Project.

This stage will complete the upgrade of the existing stormwater network, replacing pipes with a new 900mm pipeline that will significantly improve drainage capacity and help reduce surface flooding in the area.

During construction, traffic management will be in place. There will be periods of single‑lane traffic on the northern side of the road, and a temporary detour may be required at times.

Work is expected to be completed by mid‑June 2026.

Thank you for your patience as we finish these important upgrades.

See more about this project here

After five months, Hopper Construction is close to completing earthworks and infrastructure upgrades for a new subdivision at 925 Purangi Road Cooks Beach.

Work has taken place in two separate areas:

• the primary works area at 925 Purangi Road
• secondary works on Purangi Road, between edge of road to boundary with the tennis courts and community centre.

Project completion is just waiting on resealing when the weather improves. 

Traffic lanes are open with shoulder closures in place.

A section of the Tapu-Coroglen Road, around the square kauri, will be under stop-go traffic management until work is completed about 1 May 2026.

The works consists of earthworks, drainage, bench and backfill, batter trimming and pavement reinstatement.

• Our contractor Hopper Construction will be doing site development earthworks and infrastructure upgrades for a new subdivision at 2a Pohutukawa Grove in Whitianga (the cul-de-sac end).
• This is a long-term project that is scheduled to run from 5 January to 31 August 2026, with works taking place from 6:00am to 6:00pm.
• Work will be done using a combination of shoulder closures, truck crossings and road closures, as required.
• Affected residents have been notified by letter and they will have access to their properties at all times.

Artist's impression

Enabling work to replace Tairua’s ageing one-way Pepe Bridge will start in mid May, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says.

Stage 1 of the project involves the construction of a temporary footbridge to the side of the current bridge and relocation of services in the area. There will be some overnight closures of the road bridge for piling work to take place. On the following dates, the road bridge will be closed for long periods overnight from 7pm-6am:

• Tuesday 12 May - Thursday 14 May
• Monday 18 May – Thursday 21 May

The bridge will reopen for 5 minutes during these times on the hour (or 15 minutes either side) at 8pm, 9pm, 10pm, 12 midnight, 2am and 4am.

The agency says the piling work will cause some noise and vibration and apologise for any inconvenience.

Tairua Community Hall and car park is being used as the construction base and hall users are being accommodated to alternative venues around Tairua ahead of the mid May works.

Subject to consents, NZTA contractor Fulton Hogan should be starting the construction work proper in July on the new two-lane bridge and pedestrian walkway to replace the single-lane Pepe Stream Bridge on the southern side of Tairua. 

In the first stage, a temporary pedestrian bridge will be built upstream of the current single-lane bridge. Services like water, sewerage and telecoms, will be relocated to this bridge and the existing pedestrian bridge will be removed.

Fulton Hogan will build one lane of the new bridge and the shared path on the downstream (seaward) side of the old bridge. Traffic will then use the new lane while the old bridge is dismantled, creating room to build the other half of the new bridge and a footpath.

The current narrow 3-span bridge opened in 1943 - it crosses a tidal stream on SH25 south of the Tairua town centre.

The $22 million bridge replacement is being funded as part of a wider bridge programme to improve safety, efficiency and resilience on the state highway around the peninsula.

SH25 through Tairua will remain open while the new bridge is built and the old one is demolished, with occasional brief closures at night.

The new two-lane bridge is expected to be open by December 2027.

Community Liaison Group

NZTA has set up a Community Liaison Group to help keep local stakeholders informed as the project moves into construction. Attendees will be reporting back on any queries or issues raised by their memberships and communities.

Key dates ahead in 2026

• Consents granted by end of April
• Detailed design finalised by end of June
• Early works (services etc) May-July
• Subject to consents being granted, construction scheduled to start July
• Bridge completed by December 2027

Read more here

Get the latest NZTA project news for our district

State Highways are controlled by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. Check their website for State Highway status updates. 

With work still underway at sites along SH25, it's important that motorists drive to the conditions.

To keep contractors and road users safe, signage is in place to give advance warning of worksites and potential hazards such as slippery or uneven surfaces. Please follow any temporary speed restrictions and reduce your speed as you approach these sites.