The State Highway 1 Tīrau to Waiouru accelerated maintenance project is the largest and most ambitious maintenance and renewal project to be undertaken in New Zealand. It started in September 2024 on SH1 in central and southern Waikato.

The crew are currently working in the Tokoroa to upper Ātiamuri section, due to reopen this week – subject to the weather playing ball.

This is one of the larger and more complex sites, spanning 17km and encompassing four separate work areas.

To complete this large amount of work the road has been fully closed, which in the longer term, will cause less inconvenience for everyone.

Totally closing SH1 has enabled three trucks to be used at once to spray on the emulsified bitumen at a temperature of 80 degrees onto the foam bitumen underneath.

This is followed by the chip seal being applied. A final surface of asphalt is then applied in a few weeks. Road closures increase productivity, and this has meant three days’ worth of sealing could be completed in one day.

Closing the SH1 Tokoroa to upper Ātiamuri section has enabled three days’ work to be completed in one day. Photo: NZTA Waka Kotahi.

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.

The NZTA Journey Planner is the best place for information on the status of the state highway network. With live updates on worksites and other road hazards, Journey Planner (journeys.nzta.govt.nz) can help road users plot the best route to their destination.

Bay of Plenty

Tauranga

• SH2 Tauranga – overnight resurfacing works start 8pm Sunday 17 November on SH2 northbound lane in Tauranga. This work will take 2 weeks to complete, between 8pm and 6am from Sunday 17 to Monday 29 November and is weather dependent. During these works, traffic will be reduced to a single lane.
• SH2 Takitimu North Link Stage 1: Shoulder closures and stop/go traffic management on Minden Road continue until mid-December while utility works are completed, and earthworks get underway. There continues to be 24/7 traffic management on Minden Road with lane deviations and lane switching. Please take direction from staff on the ground and slow down through the work site.

·     SH2/Fifteenth Ave: Major works to build the connection from Fifteenth Ave to SH29/Takitimu Drive Toll Road are underway. Works involve the building of a 120m long retaining wall and earthworks, prior to the Fifteenth Ave bridge construction. One lane at SH2/Fifteenth Ave near Edgecumbe Road will be closed while this work takes place. This is likely to remain in place until mid-2026. Local residents and those passing through this area should be prepared for disruption over the construction season; there will be delays and changes to the road layout as we complete this work.

·     SH29 Takitimu Drive Toll Road: A reduced speed limit of 70km/h is in place while Takitimu North Link Stage 1 crews are working behind the barriers. More information

• SH29 Tauriko West between Redwood Lane and Cambridge Road: Project construction is ongoing at multiple sites on SH29, with shoulder closures, reduced speed limits and mobile operations in place. From Monday 18 November to Thursday 21 November (7pm to 5am each night), a 3-way stop/go with a temporary 30km/h speed limit will be in place on Cambridge Road and SH29 on all approaches to the SH29/Cambridge Road intersection for works to install safety barriers, modify traffic islands and line marking. Access to Cambridge Road and SH29 will remain open for the duration of the works. Following on from the night works, a shoulder closure and a lane deviation will be in place on Cambridge Road while works start to install sheet piling. A temporary 60km/h speed limit will be in place on Cambridge Road and SH29 on all approaches to the SH29/Cambridge Road intersection for the duration of these works. More information 
• SH29 Kaimai Range: A programme of night works has started with a road rebuild near Hanga Lane, taking 4 weeks to complete with a finish date in late November. The nightworks are between 7pm and 6am Monday to Thursday to minimise impact to traffic. When work is underway there will be stop/go traffic management in place. Over the coming 6-8 months there will be several significant worksites to complete. More information

·       SH2 Bay Link: SH2 Bayfair flyover will be closed overnight on Sunday 17 November and Monday 18 November, between approximately 8pm and 5am each night. A signposted detour via Maunganui Road and SH2/SH29A Te Maunga Interchange will apply. On Tuesday 19 November, from approximately 8pm to 5am, the northbound off-ramp at SH2/SH29A Te Maunga Interchange will be closed. For all vehicles heading northbound, a signposted detour via SH2 Bayfair flyover, Maunganui Road northbound, Golf Road Roundabout, Maunganui Road southbound and Bayfair Roundabout will apply. For all vehicles heading westbound, a signposted detour via Sandhurst Interchange, Mangatawa Link Road, Truman Lane and SH29A roundabout will apply, visit nzta.govt.nz/baylink-traffic

·       SH2 Tauranga Eastern Link Toll Road (TELTR): The Tauranga City Council led project continues. A 2km section of SH2, just past the Kaituna River Bridge continues to be reduced to a single lane in each direction to allow construction of the Pāpāmoa East Interchange to progress. This closure will remain in place for the duration of construction, with a temporary 70km/h speed limit in place. More information.

• SH2 TELTR: The Quayside Properties Ltd led Rangiuru Business Park Interchange project continues.  More information

Western Bay of Plenty

• SH2 Old Tauranga Road to Mathers Road: A road rebuild is underway on SH2 near Old Tauranga Road, from 6am to 6pm Monday to Saturday each week and a finish date of around Wednesday 4 December, weather dependent. There will be lane diversions and stop/go traffic management in place with a 30km/h temporary speed limit 24 hours a day. Motorists are advised to expect delays.
• SH2 Ōmokoroa Road: Road widening and service relocation works are underway in preparation for the new roundabout. Lane shifts are in place along with speed restrictions. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays. Follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes. Expect minor delays especially during peak times. More information

·       SH2 Apata Station Road: Road widening work is underway in preparation for the new roundabout. Lane shifts are in place along with speed restrictions. There will be stop/go traffic management in place from 9am to 4pm, Thursday 21 to Friday 22 November, and again from Monday 25 to Wednesday 27 November. People are advised this work may cause longer delays. Follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes. Expect minor delays.

·       SH33 Paengaroa: Resurfacing work on SH33 between Allport Road and Maungarangi Road is underway and expected to be completed early December. Hours of work are between 6am and 6pm each day. While the work is taking place there will be lane diversions and stop/go traffic management in place with a temporary speed limit of 30km/h. Outside of these hours there will be a temporary speed limit in place while the new chipseal is trafficked.

Rotorua

• SH36 Hamurana Road, north of Ngongotahā: A road rebuild is underway on SH36 between Central Road and Gloucester Road between 8am and 5pm, due to be completed in early December. While the work is underway a lane closure will be in place between Central Road and Gloucester Road each weekday. Temporary traffic management will remain in place until the road has been line marked.

Eastern Bay of Plenty

• SH2 Ōpōtiki: A suicide awareness march is taking place Thursday 21 November between 10am and 11am. Kindergarten and primary school students and teachers will be marching. Some of the march will be alongside SH2 in Ōpōtiki. The road remains open and traffic management will be in place to assist.
• SH38 Rangitāiki Bridge: Work is underway on bridge repairs near Murupara and is expected to be completed in early December. At times during the work there will be short periods of stop/stop traffic management in place and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h.
• SH35 Ōpape: Underslip repairs are underway and expected to be completed in late November. The work will take place between 7am and 5am Monday to Saturday. There will be stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h in place while work is underway. A temporary speed limit of 50km/h in place while the site is unattended.
• SH35 Te Kaha: A road rebuild is underway near the Tūtaki Marae and Te Kaha Hotel, between Copenhagen Road and Copenhagen Loop Road in Te Kaha between 7am and 5pm Monday to Friday. The work is expected to be completed in early December. While rebuild work is underway there will be stop/go, and at times stop/stop, traffic management in place and a temporary speed limit.
• SH35 Waikawa Bay: Repairs have started on the culvert at Waikawa Bay on SH35, work is expected to be completed by the end of November. Stop/go traffic management is in place with a temporary speed limit while the works are taking place.

Waikato

• SH1 Ātiamuri: Safety and network improvement works just south of the Waikato River Bridge continue. Stop/go traffic management is in place until early December. Average delay time is between 3-5minutes.

SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru

• Overall programme:

Check out upcoming closure dates nzta.govt.nz/projects/T2W   

Keep up to date - sign up to the e-newsletter

• East Taupō Arterial: From Monday 11 November to Friday 6 December, SH1 is closed between the Wairakei Roundabout and the Broadlands Interchange. The detour route for all vehicles is: southbound traffic on SH1 will turn left onto SH5, right onto Ohaaki Road, right onto Broadlands Road, and left back onto SH1. Northbound traffic will follow the same detour in reverse. Taupō will be very busy during November and 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. Those travelling to north or south destinations either side of Taupō may prefer to use other state highway routes such as SH3, SH4, SH32 and SH49.
• Tokoroa to upper Ātiamuri: Full closure is in place and will run until late-November (weather permitting). We will have more information on the actual opening date shortly, it may be adversely affected by the wet weather forecasted. This site is one of the larger and more complex ones, spanning 17km and encompassing 4 separate work areas, ranging from 2.9km to 5.7km in length. SH1 traffic heading to Taupō, and further south is being detoured via SH32 and SH30 (light vehicles only) and vice versa (also known as Maraetai Road in Tokoroa, Whakamaru Road and Ongaroto Road in Ātiamuri). This will add approximately 16 minutes (23km) to journey times. The road between the SH1/SH32 (Maraetai Road) and the hard closure (near Campbell Road) will be accessible for residents. Heavy vehicles are detoured via SH5 and SH30. Those wanting to access the Tokoroa Golf Club should use Old Taupō and Kinleith roads and then will have access on SH1 to the Club. The Oji Fibre Solutions Kinleith Mill is accessible for people who have been permitted by Forestry to use their private roads or use the SH30/32 detour. Those wanting to access business in southern Tokoroa within the soft closure (such as Subway or Robert Harris) are able to do so.
• Putāruru to Tokoroa: As soon as the Tokoroa work finishes through until Friday 20 December there will be closures on SH1 between SH1/Princes Street Putāruru and the SH1/SH32 Tokoroa intersection. All north and south bound SH1 vehicles will be detoured via Princes Street, Arapuni Street, Arapuni Road, Waotu Road, Old Taupō Road, SH32 - Tokoroa and vice versa. This will add approximately 15 mins and 11km to journey times (standard journey via SH1 Putāruru to Tokoroa is approximately 18 mins and 23km). A temporary speed limit of 70km/h will be in place along the entirety of the detour route. Heavy vehicles are asked to take SH5/30. There will be a soft closure in Putāruru, between SH1/Princes Street intersection and Vospers Road, Lichfield. There is also a soft closure at the southern end, up to Rollett Road.  These soft closures still allow access but are in place in order to send those on longer journeys down appropriate detours. The "hard closure" (the worksite) is approximately 13km long, from Vospers Road to Rollett Road. Within the hard closure, there are strict requirements before anyone can go into that area as there will be a multitude of machines and people working on the road at all times of the day and night. Pilot vehicles will be used and there may be delays going through the work site.
• South of Tīrau to north of Putāruru: This section will be closed at nights from Sunday 24 November until Thursday 5 December, working Sunday to Thursday nights only. The road will be closed from 7pm – 6am during this time. This closure is to lay the final asphalt surface to complete the 5.75km of road rebuilt. Detours will be via SH28 and SH5, adding approximately 8 minutes to journey times.

• Tūrangi to Waiouru: This section is scheduled to be closed from 6 January 2025 to late February 2025. Travelling from Hamilton to Waiouru or further south: An alternative route for those travelling longer distances, such as Hamilton to Waiouru is to take SH49, SH4 and SH3 (or vice versa). SH4 is now suitable for HPMV for the duration of the SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru renewal project.

East Waikato

• SH25 Waitakaruru: The eastbound single lane bridge at Waitakaruru is temporarily closed for a deck replacement. All traffic is using the other bridge for the duration of the project and temporary traffic lights are in place. The current completion date for this work is Friday 29 November.
• SH25 Thornton Bay: Seawall repairs underway between Thornton Bay and Ngarimu Bay are expected to be completed late November, depending on weather conditions. The road will be reduced to a single lane with stop/go traffic management in place on weekdays between 7am and 5pm.
• SH25 Te Rerenga (Whangapoua):  Road rebuilding works are underway between Quarry Road and Te Rerenga School. This work is weather dependent and an expected completion date of Thursday 5 December. The road will be reduced to a single lane with stop/go traffic management in place between 7am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. Temporary speed restrictions will be in place outside of these hours. 
• SH25 Tairua: Repairs to a large underslip at Pumpkin Hill near Sailors Grave Road, just north of Tairua, are underway. Work at this site will take about 6 months to complete. There are temporary speed restrictions and a shoulder closure through the worksite. Stop/stop traffic management will be required at times. More information  
• SH27 Matamata: A road rebuild at the SH27/SH24 roundabout in Matamata will begin on Monday 18 November. This work will be done in 2 stages with the northern side starting first and a road closure will be in place 24/7 from Monday 18 November to Friday 22 November. Traffic will be detoured via Waharoa Road East or Burwood Road. Work shifts to the southern side of the roundabout from Sunday 24 November until Friday 6 December. There will be closures each night from 8pm to 5am, no work will take place on Friday or Saturday nights. During the day there will be temporary speed limits in place. Further south, SH27 will be closed between Burwood Road and Puketutu Road for 2 nights for resurfacing from Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 November between 7am and 6pm. There will be a detour available via Hinuera Road. More information

Central Waikato

·       SH41 Hipaua: Work to repair an underslip is underway and expected to be completed by the end of 2024. The road is currently down to one lane under stop/go traffic management and a temporary speed limit. Contractors may also undertake weekend works on Saturday 16 November and Saturday 23 November.

·       SH41 Tokaanu: Works to repair the slip have been completed. The road has been opened to 2 lanes with shoulder closure in place while finishing works are completed.

West Waikato

• SH1 Karapiro: Overnight road repairs are underway near Kentucky Road and the completion date has moved due to wet weather. Work will continue Sunday 17 and Monday 18 November between 8pm to 5am each night, under stop/go traffic management. Delays can be expected.
• SH1C Te Rapa: Night closures are needed to complete line marking on SH1C Te Rapa expressway. The northbound lanes will be closed Monday 18 November and Tuesday 19 November between 7pm and 5am both nights, the southbound lanes will be closed Wednesday 20 November from 7pm and 5am Thursday morning. Traffic will be detoured via Te Rapa Road and Wairere Drive, in both directions.
• SH1 Waikato Expressway - Ngāruawāhia section: Safety improvements and remedial works required to get the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway up to 110km/h standard are expected to be completed by Christmas. There are currently night closures in both directions, 7pm-5am, Sunday nights to Friday mornings until Friday 22 November.
  There will then be 2 full closures from 7pm Sunday 24 to 12 noon Friday 29 November and again 7pm Sunday 1 December to noon on Friday 6 December. The closure schedule is listed at  nzta.govt.nz/projects/waikato-expressway/expressway-surface-works/
  Meanwhile, outside the closures, there are 2 other detours in place until completion next month. The southbound on-ramp at the Gordonton Road interchange is closed until mid-December. While the ramp is closed people need to use the detour route to go south. And northbound SH1C traffic is required to exit at Lake Road, head south on SH1 to turn around at Resolution interchange and proceed north.
• SH31 near Raglan Road: Road resurfacing is underway west of Raglan Road and will be complete early December. There will be stop/go traffic management in place while the work is underway.
• SH1/SH29 Piarere intersection: Traffic is now using the new roundabout at the intersection of SH1 and SH29 in Piarere. NZTA asks all road users to adhere to the signage and take extra care when travelling through the area as it’s still a work zone. This arrangement is expected to remain in place until late 2024. View a map here. 
• SH30 Bennydale: A road rebuild has started on Ellis Road in Bennydale near Ohirea Road and is expected to take 6 weeks to complete finishing in early December. A second site near Kiwi Place will start in January 2025. Enabling works will be done first between 7am and 7pm each day with stop/go traffic management in place. Once the site has been prepared the road rebuild will start, with stop/stop traffic management in place and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h. Delays of up to 20 minutes can be expected.
• SH39 Kakaramea Road: SH39 Kakaramea Road will be closed overnight, near the Mangataoma Bridge, between 6.30pm Sunday 24 November to 6.30am Monday 25 November for road maintenance. Access remains for residents. Local road detours will be signposted. HPMV vehicles will be held and released every hour.

North Waikato

• SH2 Between Heaven Road and Steen Road: Stop/go traffic management will be in place between 9pm and 5am on Sunday 17 November for stormwater maintenance.
• SH2 Between Monument Road Dimmock Road:  Stop/go traffic management will be in place between 9pm and 5am on Tuesday 19 November for stormwater maintenance.
• SH2 Between Kopuku Road and Coalfields Road: Stop/go traffic management will be in place on Thursday 21 November for resurfacing.

Tairāwhiti Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay

·       SH5 Napier to Taupō: Recovery alliance Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) continues to progress safety improvements, as well as repair, recovery and maintenance activities at multiple sites on SH5 between Eskdale and Waipunga. More information

Taranaki

• SH3 Waitara Road, Bell Block: A small section of Waitara Road is closed until late November to progress safety improvement work on SH3 in Taranaki, this work includes stormwater improvements, the relocation of underground services, and pavement works. During the closure a detour will be in place along Richmond Road, the detour will add an extra 5 minutes to journeys. SH3 through the intersection will remain open to traffic with a 50km/h temporary speed limit in place. More information
• SH3 Mount Messenger:
  On Friday 15 November to Monday 18 November, the road will be closed 24/7 with openings between 12-1am, 5-7am, 12-1pm and 5-7pm and again from Monday 18 November to Friday 22 November between 8pm and 5am, with an opening time of 12-1am to allow traffic to pass through. The road is very windy and narrow, the closures are required to allow the volume of work to be completed. More information
• SH4 North of Taumaranui: Road rebuilding started Monday 11 November at the Paroparowhero Stream, north of Taumaranui, taking 5 weeks to complete. The road has been held with a temporary seal over the winter months, but now we’re heading into the warmer summer months, crews are returning to site to complete a permanent rebuild of the road. During this time there will be traffic light stop/go in place 24/7 with a temporary speed limit of 30km/h. Expect delays of up to 15 minutes.
• SH3 Ōnaero: Due to pavement repairs on SH3 between Waiau Road and Kapikari Road, there will be stop/go traffic management at 2 sites with a 30km/h speed restriction until Friday 22 November between 6am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday. Delays of 5-10 minutes are expected.

The above information is accurate at the time of release. Many of the above works are dependent on a number of factors, particularly weather, and may be postponed at short notice. For up-to-date information on road works, traffic, detours and delays, motorists are encouraged to visit the NZTA Journey Planner website (journeys.nzta.govt.nz).

NZTA thanks motorists for their patience while we complete this essential work to keep the state highway network safe, accessible and resilient.

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

·       Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic

·       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nztawbop

·       Twitter: https://twitter.com/nztawbop

·       Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz

·       Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)