New technology coming for State Highway 1, Mackays Crossing - work now deferred

Update 25 July: The timing of this work has been deferred and it will no longer proceed as originally scheduled.

It means highway and offramp closures originally planned for late July and August won’t happen.

New dates for the work are still to be confirmed and an update will be provided when the new schedule is known.

However, contractors will be doing line marking in the area from next week:

• Paekākāriki Interchange northbound on-ramp will be closed between approximately 7 am and 12 noon on Monday, 29 July. 
  • All vehicles will be diverted via SH59 to the Mackays Crossing interchange. The onramp will be re-opened once this is complete. 
• SH59, south of the on-ramp, will have stop/go traffic management in place between approximately 12 noon and 5 pm on Monday, 29 July.
  • The SH59 extension road will also be closed during this time. Please use SH1 if travelling between Paekākāriki and Mackays Crossing. 
• Mackays Crossing Interchange southbound off-ramp will be closed between 9 am and 4 pm on Tuesday, 30 July.
  • A detour will be in place for those wanting to get to Paekākāriki/SH59/Queen Elizabeth Park and Whareroa Farm. 

Work is dependent on a number of factors (including weather) and may be extended to Wednesday 31 July. 

22 July 2024

New technology is set to improve the monitoring and management of State Highway 1 Te Aranui o Te Rangihaeata/Transmission Gully motorway.

New equipment will be installed along the state highway later this month.. 

The traffic monitoring equipment is being added to the overhead gantry at Mackays Crossing. It will help collect of travel data and help Transport Operations Centre teams better manage this stretch of motorway – making it safer and  more efficient.

This work is happening from Sunday, 28 July until Friday, 30 August. It is part of stage two works for the Transmission Gully motorway project. The work is timed to happen at night when traffic volumes are lower to ensure disruption to drivers is minimised.

It will require highway and off-ramp closures. Detours will be available via the Mackays crossing interchange and drivers can expect short travel delays. Road users should allow extra time for their travel while the work is underway.

Works schedule

Traffic management set up will start at 7 pm, with closures in place from 9 pm. The highway will be fully reopened by 5 am.

• SH1 at Mackays Crossing (southbound lanes) closed: 28 July - 1 August  
• Mackays Crossing Interchange northbound off-ramp closed: 4-8 August 
• SH1 at Mackays Crossing (southbound lanes) closed: 11 August 
• SH1 at Mackays Crossing (northbound lanes, SH59 between Paekākāriki and Mackays Crossing) closed: 12 - 15 August 
• SH1 at Mackays Crossing (north/southbound lanes, SH59 between Paekākāriki and Mackays Crossing) closed: 18 - 22 August 
• SH1 at Mackays Crossing (northbound lanes, SH59 between Paekākāriki and Mackays Crossing) closed: 25 - 26 August 
• SH1 at Mackays Crossing (southbound lanes) closed: 27 - 28 August 

(Additional directional lane closures may be needed overnight 29 - 30 August) 

Detour maps

Southbound closures

Northbound closures

Full closure

Important information 

• Drivers must detour via the off and on-ramps at this interchange (approximately a two-minute detour). The detour for off-ramp closure (4-8 August) will be via the Poplar Ave Interchange (approximately a six-minute detour). 
• The state highway will be reduced to one lane for those passing the worksite in the opposite direction to the closures. There will also be a 30km/h temporary speed limit in place. This is for your safety and the safety of those working on or above the road.  
• These will be short closures between the off and on-ramps at the Mackays Crossing Interchange.

This work is dependent on various factors (especially wind or wet weather) and could be postponed at short notice. If this happens, work will continue the next night or the next suitable weather window.   

It can be frustrating to get held up at roadworks, however crashes can happen when drivers ignore roadworks warning signs and temporary speed limits. Traffic management is there to keep drivers and road crews safe.

More information about this work can be found on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website:

Transmission Gully Motorway