Category: Transport

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

A stretch of State Highway 57 (SH57) Fitzherbert East Road at Aokautere, near Palmerston North, will be closing for 2 days next week while resealing takes place.

The work will take place between 9am and 7pm next Monday 4 November and Tuesday 5 November.

During this work, SH57 will be closed between the turnoff to Pahiatua Track and intersection of SH57 and SH3, just before Ashhurst Bridge.

The alternative state highway is SH3.

Access to all local properties and businesses will be available throughout these works – please talk to the crew onsite about access.

Access to the Pahiatua Track / Pahiatua Aokautere Road and to Te Apiti – Manawatū Gorge walkway will remain open during these works.

During the closure, crews will be resealing this stretch of road, to improve the resilience of the road and ultimately the safety and efficiency for all road users.

For 2 to 3 days after these works, the road will be under a temporary speed limit of 30km/h and will be swept and line marked.

Please adhere to the temporary speed limit and follow any instructions from crews on site.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi thanks all road users for their support during this closure period.

For more information about the 2024/2025 road maintenance season, please visit:

NZTA’s Manawatū-Whanganui maintenance and operations webpage.

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

A reminder that a stretch of State Highway 2 at Devil’s Elbow north of Napier, will be closed overnight for 5 nights from this Sunday as the rebuild of the cyclone damaged Devil’s Elbow continues.

See this previous media release

The state highway between Tūtira and Aropaoanui Road, north of Napier, will be closed from 9pm to 5am each night between Sunday 3 November and Thursday 7 November. The road will be open as normal from 5am on Friday 8 November.

Next week’s work is weather dependent. The contingency period is Sunday 10 November to Thursday 14 November, 9pm-5am each night.

During daytime hours, the road will be under traffic management through the Devil’s Elbow section.

Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) alliance crews, on behalf of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, will spend the 5 nights undertaking preparation works at Devil’s Corner.

Devil’s Corner, which has been labelled Project I, will be the largest, and last, of the recovery projects in the SH2 Devil’s Elbow section. Cyclone Gabrielle caused a significant underslip that damaged the southbound lane of SH2 at the corner.

TREC Hawke’s Bay project spokesperson Chris Mahoney acknowledges these overnight closures will be frustrating.

“It enables us prepare for work at Project I and ultimately restore two lane access in the area. Thank you to road users for their continued support,” says Mr Mahoney.

“We’ll be using the whole width of the single lane road to do the preparation works including widening the single lane, putting down new pavements, drainage, new barriers, and clearing the slopes above the road. This will create more space for the crews and machinery to safely access the worksite as the project progresses.

Two-lane access was temporarily restored over the long Labour weekend to the lower section of the elbow including the elbow itself.

The lower section of Devil’s Elbow is reduced temporarily to a single lane this week while a final layer of asphalt is laid. It’ll be back to two lanes long-term from mid-November.

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Safe, resilient, reliable state highways are the priority across Tairāwhiti, as the summer maintenance season ramps up in addition to cyclone recovery work.

The 2024/25 summer maintenance season is now underway.

During the course of the maintenance season, which typically runs from now until March when the weather is warmer and drier, it’s anticipated that approximately 11.8 lane kilometres* of state highway in the region will be renewed.

Renewing the road involves removing the existing road surface and underlying structure and replacing it with new materials.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations Rua Pani says this summer is set to be one of the biggest roadwork seasons the region has seen.

“Summer, with its warmer, drier, calmer weather, is always a better time to renew and reseal roads.

“This year, the annual renewals programme includes major road renewal work on both State Highway 2 and State Highway 35.

“Renewing a road is the best way to boost the resilience and durability of a road. When we talk about renewing a road during the summer maintenance season, it’s not redesigning the road, rather it involves removing the existing road surface and underlying structure and renewing it with new materials.

“Undertaking a higher number of road renewals is a key priority in the region. This is how we improve road conditions long-term,” says Ms Pani.

NZTA crews will be working alongside Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) alliance crews who are currently carrying out other cyclone recovery work throughout the region, alongside local contractors.

TREC project spokesman Richard Bayley says there’s a whole raft of activity underway, in addition to the summer maintenance programme.

“Crews are continuing repair and recovery work on cyclone damaged sections of the highway – stabilising areas to help prevent slips,  restoring the Rotokautuku (Waiapu) Bridge and other bridges, and preparing to start larger projects such as replacing Hikuwai Bridge No.1.

“Work to finish Connecting Tairāwhiti programme sites is also continuing – installing slow vehicle bays, laybys and other resilience work,” says Mr Bayley.

“It’s a busy time of year for the region as a whole, with lots of different events planned.

“We all like to get to our destination as quickly and safely as possible. We’re mindful that this work is going to be diusruptive for local communities, for road users and businesses.

“It’s the support from the region’s communities since the cyclone which has helped us get to this point. We’re doing what we can to schedule work in a way that minimises delays. However, road users will notice longer travel at times, as a result of the summer works.

“We’re strongly urging people to expect those delays and plan ahead.

“Ultimately all this work will lead to more efficient travel and safer, more resilient roads,” says Mr Bayley.

Connecting Tairāwhiti

Some of the planned work

State Highway 35

• Seven road renewals are scheduled for SH35 until January, starting in Hicks Bay and working towards Mangatuna.
• Resealing is also planned, with the majority of sites between Te Puia Springs and Gisborne.
• On other parts of the highway, crews will be working on recovery projects designed to safeguard the road and bridges from erosion and repairing several underslips. Key areas include Awatere Gully, Rotokautuku Bridge, Jeru Straight, Makarika Valley, Kopuaroa Hill, Ihungia Road, and Whakaari Bluff.
• Subject to consents and design, work on enabling works for Hikuwai Bridge No.1 is expected to start by early 2025. People may notice crews carrying out investigation works in the area and on the highway through the Mangahauini Gorge.

State Highway 2

• Two road renewals are scheduled on SH2 north of Gisborne. One near Matawai in mid-November and one near Waihuka in early-January.
• Two road renewals are scheduled on SH2 south of Gisborne, one near Tarewa (starting late November) and the other near Bartletts Hill (mid-January).
• Almost half of SH2 north of Gisborne will also be resealed this summer.
• Drivers will see a lot of activity around the Otoko Hill area where TREC crews are working to upgrade drainage and culverts and strengthen and stabilise areas around the highway.

The season’s work is funded through the State Highway Maintenance and Pothole Prevention activity classes in the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Wellington’s state highway summer maintenance programme will be coming to Upper Hutt next week, with road resurfacing and safety barrier repairs planned for the route.

The work will require one southbound and two full closures of State Highway 2 Upper Hutt, weather permitting.

Roxanne Hilliard, Wellington Alliance Manager, it is needed for road resurfacing and other maintenance works to be carried out on the highway from Silverstream to Totara Park Road between Wednesday, 6 November and Wednesday, 13 November.

“This is a busy section of State Highway 2, which carries around 19,000 vehicles daily. It must be kept well maintained for road users.”

Ms Hilliard says that in addition to resurfacing works, around six median barriers and traffic signal sensors between Whakatiki Street and Gibbons Street will be repaired on Sunday, 10 November. It will mean a longer detour for this night only.

“Median barriers are essential for preventing head-on crashes, which are the leading cause of death on state highways. Keeping the barriers in good condition means they can do their job effectively and help protect drivers.”

“The traffic signal sensor works will make traffic flows more efficient at the State Highway 2/Gibbons Street intersection,” Ms Hilliard says.

Work will happen at night between 9 pm and 4.30 am. Scheduling works at night when there is less traffic on the road keeps disruption to a minimum. Traffic management will start at 8 pm, so drivers may experience delays while this is underway.

Ms Hilliard says three separate local road detours will be available via Fergusson Drive.

“They will take longer to travel, so drivers must allow extra time for their journeys.

“This is especially important for people with escorted crossings booked for the State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill night closures. Please make sure you get there on time,” Ms Hilliard says.

Works schedule and detour routes

Road resurfacing – Silverstream to Whakatiki Street

• Wednesday, 6 November, 9 pm – 4.30 am
• SH2 CLOSED to southbound traffic between, Whakatiki Street and Fergusson Drive at Silverstream
• Detour via Whakatiki Street and Fergusson Drive
• Riverstone Terraces residents will need to detour via Whakatiki Street, Fergusson Drive, take the Silverstream exit to turn right back onto SH2 towards Riverstone Terraces.

View larger image [PDF, 254 KB]

Road resurfacing – Gibbons Street to Totara Park Road

• Thursday, 7 November, Monday 11 November, Tuesday 12 November and Wednesday, 13 November, 9 pm – 4.30 am
• SH2 CLOSED between Totara Park Drive and Gibbons Street
• Detour via Gibbons, Fergusson Drive, and Totara Park Road

View larger image [PDF, 234 KB]

RRoad resurfacing, median barrier repairs and traffic signal repairs – Whakatiki Street to Totara Park Road

• Sunday, 10 November only, 9 pm – 4.30 am
• SH2 CLOSED between Whakatiki Street and Totara Park Road
• Detour via Whakatiki Street, Fergusson Drive, and Totara Park Road

View larger image [PDF, 240 KB]

More information

• Research shows median barriers virtually eliminate head-on crashes and reduce deaths and serious injuries from run-off-road crashes by around 40 to 50 percent.
• Head-on crashes are the leading cause of death on state highways and account for approximately half of all deaths recorded. Safety barriers offer a second chance. They help reduce the chance of a simple mistake costing lives and destroying families.

Useful links:

State Highway Summer Maintenance information:

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

Wellington drivers are reminded to be ready for upcoming roadworks on State Highway 1 on the Kāpiti Coast next week.

The Raumati Straights on State Highway 1, north of Mackays Crossing, will undergo significant improvements from Sunday, 3 November, until early December.

A road rebuild will be carried out on two kilometres of the left northbound lane, making this section of the highway smoother and safer.

Road crews will be working at nights when traffic volumes are lower and to minimise disruption as much as possible.

A single northbound lane will remain open at night, and southbound lanes will be open as usual.

During the day, both northbound lanes will be open but under a temporary speed limit.

The scope of the work involved means some traffic delays are likely. 

Drivers are asked to obey the speed limits and traffic management in place. This protects the road work site, keeps drivers safe, and prevents vehicle damage.

NZTA/Waka Kotahi and the Wellington Transport Alliance thank drivers for their patience and understanding while this essential state highway maintenance is completed.

Works schedule and location:

• Sunday, 3 November to Thursday, 6 December. Sunday to Thursday nights, 9 pm to 4:30 am (these works are weather-dependent, and schedules may change)
• SH1 Raumati Straights between the Paekākāriki interchange and Raumati South
• Northbound will be down to one lane at night under a temporary speed limit of 30 km/h
• During the day, both northbound lanes will be open under a temporary speed limit of 50 km/h.
• The southbound lanes will be open at all times
• Traffic management will be set up from 8 pm, so drivers may experience delays from then. Two lanes will be open again by 5.30 am

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

A major change in the scheduling of the maintenance on SH1 between Tīrau and Waiouru has seen the closure of the East Taupō Arterial section of SH1 brought forward to Monday 11 November until 6 December 2024. 

The work required on the East Taupō Arterial road includes rebuilding 2.5km of the road, adjusting median barriers, clearing the shoulders, repairing signs and adding in new line marking.  

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations for Waikato and Bay of Plenty, Roger Brady, says this change in scheduling has a range of benefits for road users and the wider Taupō community.  

“There are a number of large events planned in November and December in Taupō, including the Cycle Challenge and Ironman 70.3 World Championship(external link). Changing the sequence of our work on SH1 means we avoid causing considerable disruption to competitors and spectators during the lead up and at the events. 
   
“We had originally planned on a second SH1 closure between Ātiamuri to Wairakei to happen before this Christmas, but the work on that section will now take place in spring 2025. As a result we can fit in the work on the East Taupō Arterial section of SH1 before Christmas.  

“Once completed, we would only need to come back for the final surfacing early next year, minimising the overall impact of motorists. 

“We’ve worked closely with Taupō District Council (TDC) to understand the best timing for closing the various sections and believe together we have come up with a solution that is best for the wider Taupō community. TDC are able to incorporate road works they need to do into our closure, and they have helped to shape our traffic management to minimise disruption as much as possible. We’d like to extend our thanks to TDC for working so collaboratively with us.  

“We’d also like to thank the Taupō community and businesses for their understanding and patience. We know that we haven’t been able to provide much notice, but this short-term disruption will be worth it in the long run.” 

Taupō will be very busy during December and there will be pressure on the highways and local roads in the area due to the various events as well as the road works. Motorists are encouraged to use the official detour via Broadlands Road and Ohaaki Road to SH5, and vice versa. The recommended detour adds an extra 45.5 km and approx. 32 min to journeys.

Those travelling to north or south destinations either side of Taupō may prefer to utilise other state highway routes such as SH3, SH4 and SH49.  

Putāruru to Tokoroa closures in December 

SH1 between Tokoroa and upper Ātiamuri is currently closed, with the road rebuilding work progressing well.  Subject to this work being completed as planned by the end of November, the crews will then start work on the Putāruru to Tokoroa section in the last week of November. SH1 will be closed for approximately 4 weeks until Friday 20 December with all north and south bound vehicles being detoured 24/7. 

“Crews are working hard to finish work on the Tokoroa to upper Ātiamuri. We are also depending on good weather. Once completed, over 24 lane kilometres, or nearly 130,000 square metres of road, will have been upgraded,” Mr Brady says.

“As soon as crews are finished there, they will be moving north to the next section. We’re unable to work on both sections as it’s too disruptive to have both sections closed to the public at once.” 

Specific work sites and final dates are expected to be confirmed in the coming week. Keep an eye on nzta.govt.nz/t2w for the latest updates.  

This 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.