Frequently asked questions

Latest update 22 February 2024.

General FAQs

When will SH1 Brynderwyn Hills be closed?

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency will close SH1 Brynderwyn Hills from 26 February to 13 May 2024. During the closure, the road will reopen for 6 days (28 March to 2 April) for Easter travel and will close again on 3 April to complete the remainder of the works that will take place under the full closure.

Closed – 26 Feb (12:01am) to 27 March 2024 (11:59pm)
Open – 28 March (12:01am) to 2 April 2024 (11:59pm) – 6 days
Closed – 3 April (12:01am) to 12 May 2024 (11:59pm)
Open – 13 May 2024 onwards

What contingency planning do you have if there are storms in February and March?

We have allowed for extra time in our programme for rain days based on historical data and predicated weather patterns for this time of year. The work schedule will be monitored to ensure we can open the road by the indicated time, provided there are no unforeseen issues.

What is the extent of the closure?

The closure will extend from SH1/SH12 intersection on the south side of the Brynderwyn Hills through to the bottom of the hill on the north side (adjacent to Waipu Gorge Road). Clear signage will direct vehicles along the detour routes.

Before travelling, check out the state highway travel information on our Journey Planner website(external link)

Why is a full closure necessary?

SH1 Brynderwyn Hills may not withstand another severe weather event such as Cyclone Gabrielle.

Since the cyclone, work has focused on the short-term emergency response including temporary walls and retaining systems.

This was necessary to restore the route for people and freight, however additional repairs are now urgently needed to return the road to pre-weather event conditions.

Why not have one lane of traffic open?

Retaining an open lane would be unsafe for workers and road users for the following reasons:

There is a risk of material falling onto the lanes below when we cut into the hill.
We need to allow enough time for the earth to stabilise before we reopen the road.
The number of underslips means there is not enough should width for equipment to safely work with the lanes open.

What does the work involve?

We need to shift the road further towards the hill and widen the shoulder. This will allow future work to take place behind a barrier to minimise disruption to traffic. Approximately 150,000 cubic metres of earth will be excavated. This soil will be placed within the site to minimise the spread of Kauri dieback disease.

Will you create another traffic lane by widening the shoulder?

No. However, the widened shoulder does create space so that in the future we can work behind a barrier and maintain two lanes of traffic.

Why not just fix the road as the damage occurs?

If we only complete reactive works, SH1 Brynderwyn Hills will be susceptible to further weather events and disruptions. By scheduling these works, we reduce the need for future unplanned disruptions and maintain the vital connection to and from Northland.

Will access be maintained for people who live and work on the Brynderwyn Hills?

There are a small number of residents who need direct access to properties in the closure area. We are working closely with the residents to understand their needs and help to minimise disruptions as much as possible.

How much will the immediate recovery and enabling works cost?

$61 million has been approved for recovery and enabling works for the immediate to medium term. This is to ensure that the key route can withstand future weather events this coming winter and the immediate years to follow. This funding will be used to complete the works during the closure and the ongoing works for the following 8-12 months.

Who is doing the work?

Fulton Hogan will lead the recovery works with additional subcontractors as required. We are making use of key staff from SH25A works to take lessons learned and apply them to the SH1 Brynderwyn Hills closure.

How will emergency services access be maintained during the closure?

We are working with emergency services and will make sure that they will have the right levels of service throughout the closure.

What are the hours of work?

Day and night crews will be working in shifts, including weekends, to complete the works as quickly and safely as possible.

Heavy earthworks will be done during daylight from dawn to dusk. It is not safe to do this work over night because the risk of material falling down banks and the cliffs where people are working.

During the night, planning, and logistical work, such as refuelling, and getting the site ready will be undertaken to ensure the crews that start at dawn can work quickly, efficiently, and productively. Lower risk construction activities can also be done at night (ie drainage).

Will there be any work required after the closure?

Following the closure there will be an 8-to-12-month period of works which will not require any planned full closures. Some temporary traffic management may be needed but this would have minimal disruptions, if any, for road users.

What are the long terms plans to improve the resilience and reliability of SH1 to Northland?

The long-term plan for the section of SH1 from Port Marsden to Te Hana is in our strategic investment programme. The new government is currently writing the Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport. This will give Waka Kotahi direction to what projects will be prioritised. Once a project is priortised and funding is allocated, a business case will be developed. This business case will include exploring a range of options, including those suggested by the Northland community.

The recovery and enabling works completed during the closure will ensure the connection for the short to medium term, while the business case is developed for a long term solution.

Alternative scenic routes into Northland

SH1 Brynderwyn Hills planned closures for February – May 2024

Map showing planned closures and suggested detour on State Highway 14 and State Highway 12

Download larger map of the SH1 Brynderwyn Hills planned closures for February – May 2024 [PDF, 213 KB]

How will the detour routes affect my journey time*?

Route	Approximate time difference	Distance	Difference	Details
Closed route: SH1	-	156km	-	-
SH12/14 detour route	1 hour	227kim	71km	HPMVs must use this route, suggested route for heavy vehicles.
Cove Road detour	20 minutes	170km	14km	Suggested route for light vehicles: turn off at Kaiwaka, use Kaiwaka Mangawhai Road, Garbolino Road and connect back to Cove Road. Truck-with-trailer-units not permitted on Cove Road between Waipu Cove (at McLeans Road) and Mangawhai (at Mangawhai Heads Road).
Paparoa Oakleigh Road detour	20 minutes	177km	21km	Trucks and trucks with trailers up to 50 tonnes can use this route.

*Detour route times and distance Auckland to Whangarei (average car journey) actual times may vary.

What are you doing to get the detour routes ready?

We are working with our partners at Northland Transportation Alliance (NTA) to finalise the details of the local detours and have these routes as high quality as possible. This work has started, and we have brought forward related work programmes to make sure we complete as much as we can before the closure starts.

This work includes work on SH12 and SH14:

Repairs to 11 sites – this work is underway.
Applying 23,000m of new chipseal.
Applying 500m of thin asphalt concrete.
Working on eight slumping repair sites.

We are also working with the freight industry and Heavy Road Users Association to educate companies and drivers about the types of vehicles that can use the different alternative/ detour routes and where there are restrictions.

Waka Kotahi and NTA will regularly assess the condition of the roads on alternative/detour routes and will fund repairs on the Mangawhai-Waipu-Cove route and Paparoa-Oakleigh Road.

Will there be any restrictions on the Cove Road like previous closures?

Cove Road is a local road under the authority of Northland Transportation Alliance (NTA). Truck- with-trailer units will be restricted on Cove Road between Waipu Cove (at McLeans Road) and Mangawhai (at Mangawhai Heads Road). Restrictions will also apply to Gorge Road and Waipu Gorge Road.

What monitoring or enforcement will there be of the detour routes?

Clear signage will be in place and a map uploaded to the website showing detour routes when these are finalised. We are working with freight associations, NTA and the NZ Police to educate drivers so they know the routes they are legally allowed to take. Enforcement will be managed by NZ Police, Kaipara and Whangarei District Councils.

Can I drive my car / ride my bike / tow my boat or caravan on all the detour routes?

It is suggested that you use Cove Road for light vehicles (up to 3.5 tonnes). We ask all road users to share this route with care.

What happens if there is a crash on any of the detour routes?

If a detour route is closed due to an incident or event, heavy vehicles will not be detoured via the Cove Road route. Live travel times will be communicated via various platforms, as well as on digital message boards at key locations on SH1 to enable motorists to make informed decisions.