Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
State Highway 28-Harwoods Road will be closed for approximately 5 weeks while work continues on a roundabout at the SH28/State Highway 5 intersection east of Tīrau.
The roundabout has been under construction since August this year and the upcoming closure is necessary to safely complete the next phase of work and to keep the project on track.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Regional Manager Infrastructure Delivery, Darryl Coalter says that work has been progressing well and that people can expect to be using the new roundabout in March next year.
“To get this completed safely and on time we need to close the SH28-Harwoods Road part of the worksite for 5 weeks.”
”During the closure there will be no access into or out of Harwoods Road at the SH5 intersection, apart from emergency vehicles and a school van. SH5 traffic will continue to flow through the worksite under the current speed restrictions.
“The closure will affect interregional traffic and SH28 is a well-used freight route. That traffic will be detoured along State Highway 27 and State Highway 29. Travel times are about the same” Mr Coalter says.
“All of Harwoods Road will remain open except for the 600m section between Tapapa Road and SH5. Local roads will all remain open, but we ask people to plan alternative routes to access their homes, farms and businesses during this closure period.”
Road closure details:
- Where: SH28-Harwoods Road at the SH5 intersection.
- When: 6am Thursday 13 November to approximately Wednesday 17 December 2025.
- Detour: SH27 and SH29. Local roads will remain open, but with no access from the worksite. Emergency services and the local school van will be provided with access through the worksite.
Corridor works:
The roundabout project is part of the wider safety improvements being made along SH5 between Tīrau and Tārukenga, on the Rotorua side of the Mamaku Range.
The improvements include:
- SH5/SH28-Harwoods Road roundabout. Under construction, completion expected in March 2026.
- Shoulder widening and wide centrelines:
- Whites Road to Waimakariri Road: In construction, completion expected next month.
- Waimakariri Road to Harwoods Road: Construction likely spring 2026, depending on funding being confirmed.
- SH5/SH28-Whites Road roundabout: Completing detailed design works. Construction when funding confirmed.
- SH1 Tirau to SH5/SH28-Whites Rd intersection: Detailed design underway for shoulder widening and wide centrelines. Construction when funding confirmed.
For more project information, visit: