Thousands of motorists are facing delays on State Highway 2 around roadworks at Papamoa this week after heavy rain opened up large cracks in the road.
Contractors have been forced to rebuild part of the highway and reduce a 100m section between Kairua Rd and Domain Rd to one lane.
They are using stop-go signs to regulate traffic and have reduced the speed limit to 50km/h - causing headaches for motorists as vehicles bank up. Ruts appeared in this section of the highway after Tuesday night's deluge, resulting in emergency repairs that will not be finished until Sunday.
NZ Transport Agency's Bay of Plenty state highway manager Brett Gliddon said it had been anticipated that some cracking of sections of this road surface would occur as construction of the Tauranga Eastern Link takes shape.
The Eastern Link project requires pre-load material (sand) to be laid next to the highway where the new road will be built. This sand compacts the ground beneath and provides a firm base for the road. Mr Gliddon told the Bay of Plenty Times the weight of this sand fill was always expected to drag the road down causing cracking and surface problems.