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

Important information for drivers.

Waitangi Day Holiday Traffic:

• With Waitangi Day next Tuesday, it is expected many people will take an extended weekend and make the most of the public holiday. Drivers can expect there to be more traffic on the roads this weekend and on 6 February as people travel to and from their holiday destinations.
• Our Holiday Journey Planner has all the details about when and where traffic is expected to be the busiest and when drivers can expect the longest delays. If you are heading away this weekend, please  check it before you go and plan your travel accordingly.
  • Waitangi Holiday Journey Planner(external link)
• While our contractors won’t be working on Waitangi Day (Tuesday), work sites will be operating as normal on other days. Driver must take care when driving through roadworks areas, observe posted speed limits, and follow instructions from contractors. Please, be patient and share the road with care. We want everyone to get to where they’re going safely.

Lower North Island

• Wellington drivers need to be preparing for night-time urban motorway closures on State Highway 1 between the Terrace Tunnel and the Ngauranga Interchange. Three weeks of night closures for maintenance and resurfacing work begins from Sunday, 11 February.
  • Major road works planned for the Wellington Urban Motorway
• If you are travelling to Martinborough this weekend, be aware SH53 will be closed near Memorial square all day on Saturday for the Martinborough Fair. The closure will run from 5am to 6:30pm. Local road detours will be available.
• Closures are also planned for SH59 near  Pāekakariki from Saturday to Friday for asphalt resurfacing. Work will be carried out on the southbound lane of SH59 between Mackays Crossing and Paekākāriki and also at the SH59 and SH1 Transmission Gully interchange northbound onramp.

Top of the South Island

• There are three major pieces of work happening across the top of the South in the coming weeks that will affect state highway travel. Two involve night closures which drivers must factor into their travel plans.
  • Night closures coming for State Highway 1 Weld Pass
  • Night closures planned for State Highway 6 Whangamoa Saddle
  • Median barrier installation about to begin on State Highway 60 Ruby Bay Bypass

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

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

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

View/download the planned state highway roadworks for the Lower North Island/Upper South Island [PDF, 360 KB]