Road rebuilds and resurfacing the focus of maintenance season in Manawatū-Whanganui

People travelling throughout Manawatū-Whanganui over the next few months can expect to see a lot of activity rebuilding and resealing the region’s state highways.

The 2024/25 summer maintenance season for the Manawatū-Whanganui region is now underway, with crews starting road rebuilds on State Highway 1 in Levin and State Highway 2 near Dannevirke.

During the course of the maintenance season, which typically runs between October to March when the weather is warmer and drier, it’s anticipated that 17 lane kilometres* of state highway in the region will be rebuilt.

Over the summer months, about 74 lane kilometres are expected to be renewed in total (rebuilt, resealed and resurfaced) throughout the region, which is a bumper increase from the previous 2023/24 season.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations Rua Pani says the focus this season is on more road rebuilding.

“We’re working to improve the overall network condition through more intensive treatments, increasing pavement quality.”

These works are underway:

• State Highway 1, Levin rebuild: Work has begun and is expected to run for about 12 weeks, with crews working mostly at night. Stop/go will be in place, with some drainage improvement works also expected during the day.
• State Highway 2, rebuild: Work has begun on a section of SH2 at Matamau, north of Dannevirke. Stop/go will be in place each day for about 4 weeks.
• State Highway 2, resurfacing: Night-time asphalting works are underway on SH2 near the Mangatera Stream Bridge, north of Dannevirke. Stop/go will be in place at night, with works expected to be complete on Saturday 12 October.

These works are coming up:

• State Highway 3, resurfacing: From 16 – 18 October, resurfacing will take place on SH3 Carlton Ave, Whanganui, with a single-lane closure and southbound detour in place. Light vehicles will detour via Purnell St, Guyton St, Heads Rd and back to SH3. Heavy vehicles to detour Montgomery Rd, Mosston Rd, Heads Rd and back to SH3.
• State Highway 2, resurfacing: From 29 October – 1 November, day-time resurfacing work will take place on SH2 Stanley St in Dannevirke. A single-lane closure and northbound detour will be in place via Rawhiti St, Queen St, Allan St, Cole St and back to SH2.
• State Highway 2, rebuild: From 31 October - 28 November, road rebuild work will take place on SH2 in Papatawa, north of Ball Road, between Woodville and Dannevirke. Day-time stop/go will be in place.

Other areas with planned works:

• Further road rebuilds are expected on SH1 near Bulls, SH1 near Rata, SH1 north of Mangaweka, SH54 near Vinegar Hill, SH54 Kimbolton Road and SH56 Opiki.

• Some significant asphalt resurfacing sites planned this season include the SH1/3 intersection in Bulls, SH2 Pahiatua CBD, SH2 Woodville CBD, SH2 Eketāhuna CBD and SH2 near Oringi Rail Bridge.
• A range of reseals are planned across state highways throughout the region over the summer months, especially on SH2 between Norsewood and Eketāhuna.

Please keep up to date with high impact works via Journey Planner(external link).

The season’s work is funded through the State Highway Maintenance and Pothole Prevention activity classes in the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).

Ms Pani says planned rebuilds help improve the overall condition of our state highway network as they lead to stronger roads that need fewer repairs and less maintenance.

“We’re drivers too and we know there will be long term benefits, but the short-term disruption can be frustrating. We are working hard to minimise the impact of works on road users, but some level of disruption is unavoidable. We appreciate the patience of all road users throughout Manawatū-Whanganui as we complete this necessary maintenance work on the region’s roads.

“It’s also important that drivers plan their trips accordingly, follow the temporary traffic management in place, adhere to all speed restrictions in place and respect our crews while travelling through the roadworks site.

“Our road workers will do their best to complete their work safely and efficiently and keep you moving this summer. Temporary traffic management is there to make everyone’s journey safer. Please be respectful to our crews and follow their advice and instructions," says Ms Pani.

Further information

• More information on works will be shared with stakeholders once confirmed. Locations may be subject to change ahead of work starting on site.
• Please note, the lists above are not complete, and NZTA will continue to communicate with local communities as soon as possible before work begins at various sites.
• For more information about the 2024/2025 road maintenance season, please visit
  NZTA’s Manawatū-Whanganui maintenance and operations webpage

*Lane kilometres are the total length of lanes to be resealed or rehabilitated. For example, resealing both lanes of a 10 kilometre stretch of two-lane highway results in 20 lane kilometres.