Upcoming roadworks between Taupō and Turangi

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advises State Highway 1 at Te Pōporo/Bulli Point south of Taupō will be down to one lane for five days from today for completion of the retaining wall project started earlier this year.

There will be Stop/Go traffic management in place 24 hours a day until the job is finished this Friday, 2 October. Motorists are advised to expect delays and use alternative routes where possible.

This is the final stage of the project at Te Pōporo/Bulli Point which began earlier this year and was delayed by the Covid-19 lockdown. The rock face between the new retaining walls will be stabilised and new kerb and channel will be built, with the old kerbing having subsided.

Overnight closures for asphalting from 12 October

Once this work is complete a new layer of asphalt will be laid on the road, both at Te Pōporo/Bulli Point and further north at Te Toki point.

This will involve closing SH1 overnight, from 7pm to 5am, between Taupō and Turangi. This is scheduled to start on the night of Monday 12 October and be finished on Friday 16 October.

Access south of the Taupō Airport roundabout, or north of the SH1/SH41 intersection will be for residents only while the road is closed. Emergency services will have full access through the work site if required.

Outside of the closure hours the road will be open for traffic in both directions as normal.

Detour information:

• From Turangi, the northbound detour will be via State Highway 41, on to State Highway 32 and then Poihipi Road to Taupo. Through traffic heading north should use SH32 to Tokoroa. The southbound detour will be in reverse.
• For a journey between Turangi and Taupo the detour will add an extra 40 to 45 minutes over and above the normal 45-minute journey time via SH1 Turangi to Taupo. The total travel time is approximately 1.5hrs.
• While the road closure will be in place from 7pm we would encourage motorists to complete their travel well before then as the contractors will be setting up traffic management from 6pm and this may cause delays.

New speed limits from 12 October

Motorists on SH1 between Taupō and Turangi are reminded that new speed limits will come into effect from 12 October.

SH1 Taupo Airport to Turangi speed limits 

Waka Kotahi thanks motorists for their patience while we undertake these important works.

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

• Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic(external link)
• Facebook: facebook.com/NZTAWaikatoBoP(external link)
• Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahiWaiBP(external link)
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz(external link)
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)