Category: Transport

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Later this week crews will resume work on a significant programme of summer maintenance on State Highway 29.

Work to rebuild and resurface the road across 9 sites began in October 2024, with 2 sites near Hanga Lane and Gargan Road now complete.

Starting this Sunday 12 January*, work will resume near Old Kaimai Road, with 2 night shifts required to complete asphalt resurfacing work at this site. Work will be completed between 7pm and 6am on Sunday 12 and Monday 13 January.

While this work is underway, temporary traffic management, including lane closures and stop/go will be in place, as well as a reduced speed limit of 50km/h during the day to ensure the safety of the community and our team.

Drainage and asphalt resurfacing work will get underway near McLaren Falls Road on Monday 20 January until Thursday 27 February.

The drainage work will be carried out first, with work occurring during the day, Monday to Friday.

Temporary traffic management will be in place including the closure of the entire passing lane starting at Poripori Road and finishing just after McLaren Falls Road (Monday to Friday only, opening at the weekends), plus a reduced speed limit of 50km/h through the site, and 30km/h at the intersection with McLaren Falls Road.

Once drainage works are complete, asphalt works are expected to get underway in late January/early February and will involve lane closures, a reduced speed limit of 50km/h and periods of stop/go at night.

Road users should be prepared for delays and allow extra time for their journeys.

Resurfacing work will get underway near Kaukumoutiti Stream bridge, north of Soldiers Road, on Sunday 19 January, from 7pm to 6am, until Friday 24 January. Temporary traffic management, including stop/go will be in place, as well as a reduced speed limit of 50km/h during the day.

These works form part of the government’s $2.07 billion investment into road and drainage renewal and maintenance across 2024-27 via the State Highway Pothole Prevention fund. 

Once complete, drivers will have smoother and safer journeys along this section of the SH29 corridor. 

In addition, the SH29 Tauriko Enabling Works project continues, with lots of activity along the state highway between Belk and Cambridge roads, including the temporary lane closure of a short section of Cambridge Road.

Tauriko Enabling Works

Meanwhile on the Waikato side, works are also ongoing at the SH1/29 intersection in Piarere.

SH1/SH29 intersection

People are encouraged to plan ahead and see where disruptive works are by using the NZTA Journey Planner.

NZTA Journey Planner(external link)

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi thanks road users and the community for their patience.

_{*All dates are subject to weather.}

View larger/downloadable map [PDF, 120 KB]

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

A reminder that work begins next week alongside Tutaekuri River Bridge on State Highway 2 (SH2) Hawke’s Bay Expressway as the 4 laning Roads of National Significance project continues.

From Monday 13 January, crews will begin work alongside Tutaekuri River Bridge, starting with vegetation clearance, before laying repurposed silt to raise the land alongside the bridge and create a wide, flat surface for construction of the 4 laning project to begin later this year, once the silt has compacted.

During this time, there will be a temporary 70km/h speed limit through this area and road users will notice a lot of activity off to the side of the northbound lane, including silt transportation and construction from the beginning of February.

In February, the Rotary cycle path and walkway will be slightly realigned and there will, at times, be work site trucks crossing a small section of it. There will be traffic management to ensure all truck drivers will be slowing to a stop before crossing the path for the safety of all users and there will be people on site keeping the path clear for users.

There will also be some upcoming road closures for a range of maintenance work, separate to expressway project work. The expressway project team will also use the closures to install temporary steel barrier to separate traffic from the Tutaekuri River Bridge work site.

From Monday 20 to Thursday 23 January, sections of SH2 Hawke’s Bay Expressway will be closed from 8pm to 5am each night for a range of maintenance work. The work will be finished by 5am on Friday 24 January.

• 20 – 22 Jan – Between Prebensen Drive and Taradale Rd roundabouts, closed for 3 nights. Local road detour suitable for all vehicles.
• 22 Jan – Kennedy Rd on ramp, closed for 1 night. Local road detour suitable for all vehicles.
• 22 – 23 Jan – Between Meeanee Rd and Pākōwhai Rd/Links Rd, closed for 2 nights. Local road detour not suitable for heavy vehicles.

The closures are expected to add 5-10 minutes to people’s journeys and detours will be clearly signposted. The closures are weather dependent and if required, contingency dates will be communicated.

Crews will be sealing the Kennedy Road onramp, sealing between Prebensen Dr and Taradale Rd, and between Meeanee and Pākōwhai/Links Rds, and other work including median barrier replacement and lane marking.

SH2 Hawkes Bay Expressway

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

A reminder there will be overnight closures next week on State Highway 51 at Clive for resealing work.

Crews will be onsite between 8pm and 5am each night, with work starting on Monday 13 January and finishing at 5am Saturday 18 January.

Outside the closure times, the road will be open, with a 30 km/h temporary speed limit in place.

During the work, southbound traffic will be detoured down Awatoto Road, into Meeanee Road and onto Hawke’s Bay Expressway. The reverse will apply for northbound traffic.

Access for residents within the closure points will remain open (please speak to crews onsite) and at times during the work, light vehicles will be able to detour down Farndon Road onto Pākōwhai Road.

The detour signs will show when this is possible, with updated messaging on the boards at the southern end.

This work is weather dependent. Please check NZTA Journey Planner for updates.

Journey Planner(external link)

It’s important this work is carried out during the drier, warmer weather. To allow the new seal to set properly and ensure its longevity, it is crucial that road users adhere to all temporary speed restrictions in place.       

NZTA thanks all road users and the local community for their support during this week of work.

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Work to resurface the State Highway 2 (SH2) Mohaka slow vehicle bay will begin from next Tuesday (14 January.)

The work is expected to take a fortnight to complete and stop/go traffic management will be in place along a stretch of the southbound lane which runs alongside the slow vehicle bay, south of Raupunga.

A temporary speed limit of 30 km/h will also be in place.

Please expect delays of approximately 10 minutes to your journey, as a result of the work.

Crews will be onsite between 6am to 6pm, every day except Sundays. Outside these hours the stop/go will revert to traffic lights and the 30 km/h temporary speed limit will remain in place.

The slow vehicle bay stretches 650 metres just after the Mohaka Rail Viaduct, about 2 kilometres from Raupunga. The slow vehicle bay is currently closed pending this resurfacing work and will reopen once this work is complete.

In the event of bad weather, work will begin on the next fine day and may extend the programme out.

The Mohaka slow vehicle bay is part of Connecting Tairāwhiti, which is a programme of projects providing more slow vehicle bays and more places to pull off the road safely to check messages or take a break on SH2 and SH35 across the Tairāwhiti and northern Hawke’s Bay regions.

Thank you to all road users for your continued patience while this work is carried out.

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

After the Christmas hiatus, road maintenance is back with a major closure of State Highway 1. The Desert Road, between Tūrangi and Waiouru, will close from 5am on Monday 13 January for approximately 2 months.

As well as reconstructing 16 lane km (3 sites) of road, improving drainage, and clearing about 15km of shoulders, the deck of the Mangatoetoenui Bridge will be replaced.

“The bridge, built in 1966, has a timber deck that is now in poor condition and in need of replacement,” says Roger Brady, Waikato Bay of Plenty Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

“This job alone would require the road to have been closed for about a month, so being able to do this at the same time as the other maintenance work due is a real win. It does mean there will be a period of up to 4 weeks from 22 January when SH1 is severed, during the time when the bridge has no deck at all.”

The new deck for the Mangatoetoenui Bridge has been designed and is being built in Napier, ready to be shipped once the SH1 closure begins on Monday 13 January. It consists of steel girders and a concrete slab, which will be transported in 2 sections and then ‘stitched’ together once on site. Once the new deck is in place, the Mangatoetoenui Bridge is expected to last another 50 years before it needs replacing.

“In our planning for this closure in January, the average ground temperatures were analysed, as we need this temperature to be a minimum of 13 degrees for the work to be the quality required.

Overnight minimum temperatures start to drop below zero across the Desert Road from March onwards meaning the possibility of ground frosts. Already the area has experienced snow flurries in January, and while these are rare in the summer months, there is more chance of lower temperatures from March onwards,” says Mr Brady.

The detour (from north to south) is via SH41, SH47, SH4, SH49 and back to SH1 in Waiouru. It is the usual recommended detour route whenever the Desert Road is closed and adds around 30 – 40 minutes to journeys. To encourage safe driving on the detours, the speed limit near and through Ohakune will be reduced to 50km/h while the detour is in place. Additional billboards and signage will be in place, and NZ Police have indicated they will have an increased presence on the detour roads.

South of the SH1/SH47 intersection (the “soft closure point” – shown in orange on the map) to the beginning of our first worksite (south of the Tongariro National Trout Centre) remains open for visitors to access the Trout Centre but not SH46. The detour needs to be advised earlier for those on longer journeys so they can use the appropriate state highways. 

The “hard closure” (black area on map) is from Tongariro National Trout Centre to the Desert Road gates near Waiouru. Within this hard closure where all the work is being done, there will be access for those travelling from the north booked with Kaimanawa Alpine Adventures, DOC sites and access roads such as Waipakahi Road or Tukino Access Road, except when the bridge deck is being replaced.

Those driving from the south (Waiouru) will have limited access up to the Mangatoetoenui Bridge. Traffic control staff will be posted at the 3 closure points (Tūrangi, Rangipo, Waiouru). Drivers will need to talk with the traffic controller at the closure point about where they want to access.

There will be further works required to put on the final surface later in the year. This work will, wherever possible, be done at night. The scheduling is still being worked through for when this final surfacing will be done.

This closure is part of a huge maintenance project which started in September 2024 near Tīrau. By doing this work under road closures, more invasive construction methodology can be used which would not be possible under stop/go traffic management. It means SH1 will be quickly brought up to a higher standard.

There is still much more to do before December 2025, flagged as the project finish date. Here are some statistics collected on what’s been done on SH1 in central and southern Waikato since September:

• Lane kms rebuilt: 45.9km (or 234,773m2)
• Re-seals completed: 52,828m2
• Foam bitumen sealing completed: 177,140m2
• Structural asphalt concrete: 7,870m2
• Tonnes of metal used: Approximately 114,000
• Truckloads of metal: Up to 145 loads per site per day
• Kms of line marking completed:  More than 240km
• Number of workforce hours to date (road crews): 54,053
• Number of lost-time injuries: Zero
• Number of contracting firms utilised: Up to 12 working at once.

This maintenance work forms part of the government’s $2.07 billion investment into road and drainage renewal and maintenance across 2024-27 via the State Highway Pothole Prevention fund.

View/download larger map [PNG, 437 KB]

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Crews have kicked back into gear following the holiday season with road renewal works underway in the Manawatū-Whanganui region.

From Wednesday 15 January, road rebuild works will begin on a section of State Highway 54 (SH54) Kimbolton Road, near the intersection with Ridds Road.

This daytime road maintenance and drainage improvement work will be carried out over 12 weeks, and is expected to be complete by Monday 14 April.

Crews will be working between 6am – 7pm Monday to Friday, including some weekends (weather permitting). During the work, temporary traffic management will be in place 24/7.

Between 6am and 7pm, a section of SH54 will be down to one lane under stop/go traffic management, with a temporary speed limit of 30km/h. Delays of up to 10 minutes are expected. Outside of working hours, temporary traffic lights and a reduced speed limit of 30km/h will be in place at the site.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi acknowledges this work will be disruptive for some road users and appreciates people’s patience while this strengthening work is carried out to make the road more resilient.

Rebuilds involve the removal of the existing road surface and underlying road structure and replacing them with new materials. Rebuilds help improve the overall condition of our state highway network, resulting in stronger, more resilient roads.

Crews will also return in about 12 months to add the second coat of seal on this section of SH54 which waterproofs and further strengthens the road.

The 2024/2025 road renewal season

During the course of the renewal season, which typically runs between October to March when the weather is warmer and drier, it’s anticipated that 17 lane kilometres* of state highway in the region will be rebuilt. Crews have already completed a number of rebuilds on SH1, SH2, and SH54 (Vinegar Hill) so far this construction season.

For more information about the 2024/2025 season:
Manawatū-Whanganui maintenance and operations webpage

Other renewal works currently underway

State Highway 1, Bulls asphalting: Work has begun on SH1/High St in Bulls. A short section of High St is closed each night between 6pm – 6am, with a detour via Criterion St. Stop/go is also in place.

Range of resurfacing road maintenance for SH1 Bulls starts next week

State Highway 56, Opiki rebuild: Work has begun on a section of SH56 in Opiki, between Alve Rd and the SH57 intersection. From 7 January to 7 March, daytime closures are in place each day between 6am – 6pm. The detour is via SH57 or SH1.

SH56 maintenance work at Opiki starting next week

_{*Lane kilometres are the total length of lanes to be resealed or rehabilitated. For example, resealing both lanes of a 10 kilometre stretch of two-lane highway results in 20 lane kilometres.}  

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

A reminder that work begins on Monday at the site of the new State Highway 57/Tararua Road roundabout as the first stage of construction gets underway.

During the first stage of work, there will be no access from SH57 to the western section of Tararua Road and a detour will be in place.

Northbound road users will be detoured onto Queen Street East, and those travelling south will be detoured to SH1 via Kimberley Road. This will allow for traffic to steadily flow through SH57, minimising disruption on the highway.

There will also be a 30km/h temporary speed limit on SH57 near the site for the safety of road users and crews.

Crews will be working Monday to Friday between 6am and 6:30pm. Outside these hours, the detour and temporary speed limit will remain during evenings and weekends while the work is completed.

The detour and temporary speed limit are expected to be in place until June. Completion of the roundabout is expected towards the end of the year.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and Horowhenua District Council (HDC) are working in partnership to build the new roundabout, which will improve safety at this busy intersection and provide a future connection to the new Ōtaki to north of Levin highway and Tara Ika growth area.

We acknowledge the traffic management in place is likely to cause delays and we want to thank everyone for their patience while we make the area safer.

View/download larger map [JPG, 246 KB]

SH57/Tararua Road roundabout project page

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Christmas has come and gone, and as we move rapidly into 2025, the State Highway summer maintenance season kicks back into gear in Nelson.

State Highway 6 Annesbrook Drive is next in line for resurfacing and repairs later this month, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

The highway will be closed between the Whakatu Drive Roundabout and Blackwood Street from 7:30 pm to 5 am between 19 and 27 January (no work on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 January) when asphalting work will be carried out.

Rob Service, NZTA System Manager Nelson – Tasman, says this is essential maintenance work and is crucial for ensuring the highway is up to standard for all road users.

“Annesbrook Drive is one of Nelson’s busier arterial routes and carries more than 13,000 vehicles daily. It is essential it is maintained in good order.

“Asphalting is a longer lasting solution that provides a stronger and more durable road, reducing the frequency of future maintenance. Doing this work now prevents problems and costlier repairs later,” he says.  

A local road detour will be in place for traffic in both directions via Parkers Road, Bolt Road, and Quarantine Road. This detour is expected to add up to 10 minutes to travel time.

Once asphalting work is complete, road markings will be reinstated under night works with stop/go controls and a 30 km/h speed limit.

Given the nature of the work and the fact Annesbrook Drive is a busy road, Mr Service says drivers and residents must expect some disruption.

“We will do our best to minimise it as much as possible. This is why it will be done at night when there are fewer cars on the road. We have also deliberately timed the work after the busy holiday period and before Nelson Anniversary weekend.”

However, he warns drivers must factor the work into their travel plans.

“This is still a main route between Nelson and Richmond. Don’t get caught out. Drivers must be aware the detours will mean slightly longer travel times.”

During the work, Whakatu Drive will remain open in both directions between Waimea Road and Quarantine Road.

Access for people travelling to and from Nelson Airport will remain in place via Quarantine Roundabout and Quarantine Road, or by using the detour via Parkers Road and Bolt Road.

The shared cycle and pedestrian path between Gracefield Street and SH6 Annesbrook Drive, opposite Manchester Way, will be closed while work is underway. An alternate route will be in place in both directions.

Works details

• Sunday, 19 January to Monday, 27 January. 7:30 pm to 5 am. No work on Friday, 24 January or Saturday, 25 January.
• Full road closure on State Highway 6 Annesbrook Drive, between the Whakatu Drive Roundabout and Blackwood Street.
• Local road detour in both directions for all vehicles, including heavies, via Parkers Road, Bolt Road, and Quarantine Road. This detour is expected to add up to 10 minutes to travel time.
• Access to and from Nelson Airport will be maintained via Quarantine Roundabout and Quarantine Road, or by using the detour via Parkers Road and Bolt Road.
• SH6 Whakatu Drive will remain open in both directions between Waimea Road and Quarantine Road.
• There will be no access between SH6 Annesbrook Drive and the Whakatu Drive Roundabout.
• Access to/from SH6 Annesbrook Drive and Douglas Road will be closed during the work. Douglas Road will remain accessible via Gracefield Street.
• There will be no left turn onto SH6, Annesbrook Drive from Maire Street during the closure times.
• Access will be available within the site for residents, businesses, and emergency services. There will be no access between Whakatu Roundabout and SH6, Annesbrook Drive.
• A 30 km/h temporary speed limit will be in place during the day outside of work hours. Road users must follow the instructions of contractors and obey all temporary speed limits and traffic controls.
• The shared pedestrian and cycle path between Gracefield Street and SH6 Annesbrook Drive, opposite Manchester Way, will be closed while work is underway. An alternate route will be in place in both directions via the Gracefield Street Overpass, Langdon Overbridge, the Quarantine Road Pedestrian Underpass and SH6 Annesbrook Drive.

Works location

More information

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Road users and residents need to be ready for night closures on SH58 Whitby/Paremata, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

“Work is starting this Sunday night, 12 January, for five nights through to Thursday,” says NZTA Wellington Transport Alliance Manager, Roxanne Hilliard.

Road crews will resurface areas of State Highway 58 between Joseph Banks Drive and Postgate Drive for five nights. “They will set up from 7 pm each night so drivers should expect delays from then,” says Ms Hilliard.

Postgate Drive to James Cook Drive – two nights

Resurfacing will be carried out on Sunday 12 January and Monday 13 January. SH58 Paremata Road will be fully closed between Postgate Drive and James Cook Drive, 9 pm to 4.30 am each night until the following morning.

James Cook Drive to Joseph Banks Drive – three nights work

Resurfacing will be carried out on Tuesday 14 January, Wednesday 15 January and Thursday 16 January. SH58 Paremata Road will be fully closed between James Cook Drive and Joseph Banks Drive, 9 pm to 4.30 am each night until the following morning.

“SH58 between Pāuatahanui and Paremata is a critical transport link.” says Ms Hilliard. “Regular maintenance is essential to ensure it remains resilient and accessible to road users and residents. We appreciate everyone taking care around crews and on the detour route while this work is happening.”

Road users and residents are urged to plan ahead for these works.

Works schedule and detour maps

SH58 Postgate Drive to James Cook Drive

• Sunday, 12 January and Monday, 13 January. Road closed 9pm – 4.30am the following morning.
• Local road detour available – see map below.

View larger map [JPG, 106 KB]

SH58 James Cook Drive to Joseph Banks Drive

• Tuesday, 14 January, Wednesday, 15 January and Thursday, 16 January. Road closed 9pm – 4.30am the following morning.
• Local road detour available – see map below.

View larger map [PNG, 89 KB]

More information

• Wellington Transport Alliance (sign up to roadwork mailing lists here)
• Wellington roadworks

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

The Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (SH2) eastbound lanes between Pāpāmoa and Paengaroa (towards Whakatāne / Rotorua) will be closed between 5.30am and 1pm on Saturday 18 January 2025 for the cycle-leg of the Tauranga Half Triathlon, which is part of the Mount Festival of Multisport.  

This is the fifth year the event has used the Toll Road lanes for the cycle leg and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is pleased to be able to support the on-going success of the event.  

The alternative route for motorists during this time is via Te Puke Highway.   

Minor delays may be experienced for Toll Road users during this time and traffic management will be in place at the Domain Road Interchange and Paengaroa Roundabout.  

The westbound lanes between Paengaroa and Pāpāmoa will operate as usual.    

For safety reasons, the Paengaroa Roundabout will be closed to spectators and traffic management will be in place. The best place to watch the event is along Marine Parade and Oceanbeach Road, Mount Maunganui.   

Road closures relating to the Mount Festival of Multisport(external link)

Detour information

View larger map [PNG, 631 KB]