Lower North Island/Upper South Island - Planned state highway roadworks

Important information for drivers.

Weather warnings

Drivers will need to take extra care on the roads this weekend with bad weather forecast for both the lower North Island and upper South Island.

The MetService has issued a Heavy Rain Watch for Tasman west of Motueka for Saturday night and Sunday. This will affect traffic on State Highway 60 and Tākaka/Golden Bay.

A Heavy Snow Watch also applies to inland Canterbury north of Waipara though to Marlborough south of State Highway 63 on Sunday afternoon and evening. Periods of heavy snow are forecast.

A Heavy Rain Warning is in force in the North Island for the Tararua Ranges for 24 hours from 9 pm Saturday night.

Road users must drive to the conditions and be prepared for weather-related hazards such as wet and slippery roads, slips, rockfalls, and localised flooding. Reduce your speed, increase your following distances, and use your headlights if visibility is poor.

It also pays to check weather and road conditions before you travel.

• Highway conditions(external link)
• Metservice weather warnings(external link)

Lower North Island

• Work continues on a new shared pathway on the Ōtaki River Bridge on old State Highway 1.
  • Work begins this month on Ōtaki River Bridge shared path

• Resurfacing work is planned in Masterton later this month for the roundabout at the intersection of State Highway 2 and Queen and Dixon Streets.
  • Roundabout repairs planned for Masterton

Top of the South Island

• Electricity line works are planned for State Highway 60 north of Motueka between River Road and Lodder Lane on Friday, 23 August. This will require a southbound lane closure and a local road detour. The highway remains open to northbound traffic. Drivers can expect short delays.

• Stop/Go traffic management and a 30 km/h speed limit will be in place on weekdays,  7am to 5pm, on Korere Straight near Motupiko on State Highway 6. Contractors are carrying out drainage maintenance. Drivers travelling can expect short delays when travelling from Kohatu to Kawatiri Junction between 21 August and 30 August.

The details below outline the main planned state highway roadworks occurring in the greater Wellington region and the top of the South Island over the coming week (from Saturday, 17 August).

View/download the planned state highway roadworks for the Lower North Island/Upper South Island [PDF, 271 KB]

NOTE: Roadworks are dependent on weather and other factors. Bad weather can see work postponed to the next suitable night in the works programme.

Further details about regional state highway conditions and roadworks are also published on our website:

• Wellington roadworks(external link)
• Wellington Transport Alliance
• Nelson/Marlborough traffic updates(external link)
• Tasman traffic updates(external link)