SH2/Ōmokoroa Rd Roundabout Upgrade Works to Begin

Road-widening work is set to get under way within the next few weeks at the State Highway 2 and Ōmokoroa Road roundabout, on the Tauranga side of the current temporary intersection. The project is expected to take around three months in total and will be carried out in two phases, according to Western Bay of Plenty District Council.

During the first phase, southbound traffic heading towards Tauranga will shift further left while the central median is widened. Right-hand turns in and out of Youngson Road from SH2 will be suspended, though left turns will remain available. The temporary roundabout will also move slightly, though the change is unlikely to be noticeable to most drivers. This phase should take up to six weeks, weather permitting.

In the second phase, the northbound lane will move towards the centre of the road to allow further widening on the left side. During this stage Youngson Road will be fully closed to both entering and exiting traffic, with a detour in place. Residents on Youngson Road will be notified before works begin.

WBOPDC infrastructure growth and delivery manager Annelie Badenhorst described the widening as a key step towards delivering a safer and more efficient network supporting growth in Ōmokoroa. The SH2/Ōmokoroa Road intersection upgrade is considered a minimum 10-year interim solution until funding is secured for a full interchange. Once finished, the upgrade will include a new interim roundabout, four-lane tapers, and highway improvements, with the full intersection upgrade expected to be completed by mid-2026.

Originally published in Katikati News (Sun Media).