SH1 closed at 5am on Saturday, 23 November 2024 and reopened ahead of schedule on 16 December 2024 between Putāruru and Tokoroa.
From 5am Monday 3 March, we are returning to do work between Domain and Pinedale Roads. SH1 will be closed from the SH1/Princes Street intersection in Putāruru to the Vospers Road/SH1 Lichfield intersection. This work will take approximately four weeks (weather dependent).
We couldn’t do this work during the first closure as we wanted to avoid having major disruption on SH1 during Christmas. We will also be back in the southern section in early April doing the final surfacing, but that work will be under stop/go traffic management and at night.
The local detour for light vehicles (ie all vehicles you can drive on a Class 1 licence) is:
We are encouraging all heavies (including all over-demension, HPMV and 50 tonne maximum) to use SH5 via Rotorua.
Road closure between Putāruru and Lichfield.
We are using an access pass system for businesses and residents within the work zone. Visitors, customers and service providers can access properties within the closure. We recommend using the detour route to avoid delays through the work site. Traffic entering this area will experience delays, so please add this to your journey time.
The 'hard closure' point is south of the Transfer Station. Entry from Putāruru to the Transfer Station remains unchanged, but travelers from the south must take the detour.
Those visiting VTNZ and the Timber Museum/Redwood Café should speak to the traffic controller for access.
