Hawke’s Bay – Planned state highway roadworks  

 A reminder that overnight closures for asphalting on State Highway 2 at Devil’s Elbow have been extended until Friday 20 March.

 The work was originally planned to finish next Friday morning (13 March) but will be extended.

 Work takes place Sunday to Thursday nights, 9pm-5am each night (5 nights a week).One 30-minute convoy will be available at 2.30am each night.

 Below is this week’s list of upcoming planned works on state highways in the region. If a state highway is not included in this update, there are no major or disruptive works planned for that corridor. 

Dates in this update may change at short notice due to weather or other unforeseen factors. 

State Highway 2 Hawke’s Bay Expressway 

Work is ramping up on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS) project, with multiple worksites active across the expressway. Here’s what to expect: 

SH2 Kennedy Road northbound offramp 

The offramp will remain closed until mid-2027 to allow for construction of the new overpass at Kennedy Road. A temporary speed limit of 70km/h will be in place and clearly signposted, but this may change. Northbound road users can exit the expressway via Taradale Road during the closure. Construction vehicles will use the closed Kennedy Road offramp to reduce disruption to traffic flow. 

SH2 Tutaekuri River Bridge 

Piling work for the new bridge is underway. Crews are working 9am-3pm, Monday to Friday, and sometimes on Saturday at the same times. Expect up to 10 minute delays during these times. 

On Sunday 8 March, stop/go traffic management will be in place overnight from 7pm-5am while protective screening is installed and line marking completed. This work is weather dependent, the following night Monday 9 March, is the back up. 

Meeanee Road roundabout 

One lane is closed until late March to create a safe work zone under the overpass. Expect delays, especially at peak times. People walking and cycling will use temporary paths, and crossing points at the ramp will stay open with some changes for safety. 

Take extra care when driving on the Expressway. Your patience helps keep everyone safe – thank you. 

State Highway 2 Central Hawke’s Bay  

SH2 Tukituki River (Waipukurau) Bridge 

Bridge inspection on Monday 16 March, 9am-3pm. Stop/go traffic management with a pilot vehicle will be in place, with short delays. Emergency services will be prioritised.  

State Highway 2 North 

SH2 various locations 

Road resealing in various locations. Stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place, with up to 10 minute delays. This work is weather dependent and may be changed at short notice. 

SH2 Mōhaka 

Underslip repairs and stormwater drainage improvements will be underway this month, near the intersection of Mōhaka Township Road. From Monday 9 March, minor temporary traffic management is expected for investigative works, with stop/go to follow in the coming weeks once construction begins.  

SH2 Whirinaki 

A temporary diversion road at Whirinaki is in use as part of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s flood protection project. Please take care, stick to the 50km/h temporary speed limit and follow all signage instructions. 

State Highway 5 Napier to Taupō 

SH5 various locations 

Road resealing, barrier repair, pavement maintenance and surface repair works in various locations. Stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place, with up to 10 minute delays. This work is weather dependent and may be changed at short notice. 

SH5 Dillons Hill, between Glengarry Road and Ellis Wallace Road  

Road rebuild using the foam bitumen stabilisation technique is underway until Tuesday 17 March, 7am-5pm, Monday to Friday and over this weekend. Stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place, with up to 5 minute delays.  

SH5 Mohaka River Bridge  

Bridge inspection on Tuesday 17, Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 March, 8:30am-5:30pm. Stop/go traffic management with a pilot vehicle and temporary speed limits will be in place, with up to 5 minute delays.  

SH5 near Harapaki Wind Farm, Te Haroto 

Road rebuild using foam bitumen stabilisation starting Monday 9 March until mid-April, 7am-5pm, Monday to Friday. This site has three lanes, and crews will rebuild one lane at a time. Two lanes will remain open with temporary traffic management and speed limits in place. Minimal delays expected. 

SH5 Tarawera 

Overnight closure just north of Tarawera from 9pm Saturday 28 March to 7am Sunday 29 March for asphalting. A full closure is needed as there is not enough room to work under stop/go traffic management. 

Preparation work will take place the night before under stop/stop (stopping of traffic across both lanes) traffic management with delays of up to 20 minutes from 6pm Friday 27 March to 6am Saturday 28 March. There is no detour, so please plan travel accordingly. 

State Highway 38  

SH38 between Lake Waikaremoana Holiday Park and Tuai  

Day closures for underslip repairs by TREC are underway, from Monday 2 March to Friday 5 June, between 8am-12pm and 1pm-5pm, Monday to Saturday (6 days each week). The road will be open from 12pm-1pm to allow traffic through. 

SH38 various locations 

Pavement maintenance is underway in some locations until end of March, Monday to Friday, 7am-5pm. Stop/go traffic management with up to 10 minute delays. 

State Highway 51 

SH51 Taradale Road between Alpers Terrace and Hyderabad Road roundabout 

Southbound lanes are closed until at least May for the duration of Napier City Council’s culvert upgrade project. 

Detour is via SH50 Prebensen Drive and onto SH2 HB Expressway. Alternative routes on local roads are via SH51 Georges Drive, Kennedy Road, Riverbend Road, Taradale Road; and via SH50 Prebensen Drive, Ford Road, Austin Street, Taradale Road. 

Please follow the signs and allow extra time for your journey. 

SH51 Tutaekuri Bridge (Waitangi) 

Repair work by TREC on Rail Bridge 217 continues until June, with crews working from 7am to 6pm. Truck movements may affect traffic flow at times. Traffic lights will operate during these movements to allow safe truck entry and exit. A temporary speed limit of 60km/h will be in place, with expected delays of up to 5 minutes.