SH3 Mt Messenger asphalting works frequently asked questions

What dates will the road works take place?

There are planned road closures from 7pm on Friday 5 April to 4am on Monday 8 April.

During these closures, we will have scheduled openings to clear traffic queues and make sure people can get through. Please refer to the closure schedule attached.

Additionally, you can expect stop/go traffic management at night between 6pm and 6am from Tuesday 2 April and Friday 19 April.

Work will not take place over Easter weekend, and SH3 Mt Messenger will remain open during this time.

What if you can’t do the work?

While we do our best to stick to the programme as best as we can, we cannot asphalt during wet weather, so the work is subject to change.

In the instance of wet weather, machinery breakdown, or an unforeseen closure of another state highway south of New Plymouth e.g. SH3 or SH45, we may need to postpone the works and closure at SH3 Mt. Messenger.

Should the weather forecast for the 5-8 April look unfavourable, a decision to postpone will be made and an update distributed as soon as possible.

Once the work is underway, the NZTA Journey Planner will have up to date information on the status of SH3, so please also refer to this when planning travel.

NZTA Journey Planner(external link)

Is it normal for resurfacing work to be done this time of the year?

SH3 is a key access corridor for Taranaki, and the work is necessary to improve its resilience until construction of the Mt Messenger Bypass is complete.

This work helps to waterproof the road surface, preventing further deterioration during wet weather.

Resurfacing usually takes place over the summer months as it is better suited to warmer temperatures and dry weather. However, given the urgent nature of these repairs, we’re prioritising this work to take place as soon as possible.

Why does the work require road closures?

Stop/go traffic management isn’t possible in some areas, as crews will be working across both lanes at once. These areas are too narrow and winding for vehicles to safely travel around the machinery and workers that will be onsite, so we need to close the road to keep everyone safe and complete the work efficiently.

The work will be completed under a combination of stop/go traffic management where we can, and road closures where it is too narrow to do otherwise.

Most of the work will be completed at night when traffic volumes are lower to minimise disruption as much as possible for road users.

How do I travel north when there are full road closures in place?

As the only state highway north, there will be scheduled openings to clear traffic queues and minimise disruption as best as we can. Please plan ahead and travel outside the closure times if you can. Please refer to the closure schedule for more information.

We recommend you plan ahead and delaying travel where possible during this time.

Will I be able to get in and out of my driveway if work is taking place outside my house?

Should our work impact access to/from your property and you need to travel, please speak with one of our onsite crew and they will assist you.

Will emergency vehicles be able to travel through site?

Yes. Emergency services travelling on emergency/priority response will be assisted through the site safely and promptly at all times.

What should I do if I arrive at the closure and want to get through – is there a detour?

No. There is no detour for this route. However, we will open the road from time to time to clear traffic queues. Please wait with your car and await directions from our crew. The best option is to plan ahead and delay travel if you can. Check NZTA Journey Planner for up to date details.

Will the closures take place over Easter weekend?

No. We’ve worked hard to try and minimise the disruption to everyone who uses this road. This includes keeping SH3 Mt Messenger open over the Easter long weekend so that people can travel through. We’ve also planned a stop/go traffic management approach where the road is wide enough to safely do so and are only closing the road where it’s too narrow or winding for people to safely pass our machinery and crew.

Where can I get more information?

If you have any queries regarding this work, please contact NZ Transport Agency:

phone 0800 4HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49) or
contact us online