Taranaki Road Report

Roadworks – SH45 South Road, Ōmata: 5-12 March
Crews will complete drainage improvements at SH45 South Road, Omata between Beach and Sealy roads from Thursday 5 March for approximately 4-5 days, weather permitting.
The work is to complete drainage and enabling works, in preparation for chipseal resurfacing that will take place in the coming weeks. The site is shown in purple on the attached map.    
Here is what you need to know:    
  • Work is scheduled to start Thursday 5 March and will take approximately 4-5 days to complete (weather permitting).    
  • Work will take place between 9am and 3pm each day.  
  • The site will be run under stop/go traffic controls with delays of approximately 10 minutes.   
  • We will notify stakeholders of the date for resurfacing works once confirmed.
LANE CLOSURE – SH45 Surf Highway, Spotswood: 22 March (7am-7pm)
Crews will resurface State Highway 45 in Spotswood between Pioneer and Blagdon roads on Sunday 22 March for approximately 1 day, weather permitting.  
The work involves resurfacing the road with MicroPave, a specialist treatment to improve the road surface and its longevity. The site is shown in yellow on the attached map.  
To complete this work as efficiently and safely as possible, it will be done under a single lane closure to northbound traffic.
Here’s what you need to know:
  • Work is scheduled to take place on Sunday 22 March and will take approximately one day to complete (weather permitting). Work will take place between 7am and 7pm.
  • During this time, SH45 South Road between Pioneer and Bayly Roads will be CLOSED to northbound traffic.
    • Northbound traffic will be detoured via Pioneer, Breakwater (SH44) and Bayly Roads before returning to SH45, as shown in blue on the attached map, with additional travel times of approximately 5-10 minutes.
    • Southbound traffic will continue to use SH45 as usual with no detour.
  • This work cannot be completed under contraflow (two-way) traffic controls as two lanes of traffic cannot safely travel around the machinery required for this work, in this section of SH45. 
  • We also cannot use stop/go traffic controls as the high traffic volumes in this area would create long and unsafe queuing along this road.
  • This treatment needs to be completed during the day as it requires warmer, drier conditions to set.
  • In the event of unsuitable weather, work will be postponed to the following Sunday 29 March.
  • Access to and from some side roads adjacent to SH45 may be impacted temporarily while crews work across intersections. Please take alternative routes where possible.
  • Pedestrian and property access within the site will be maintained, however vehicles will need to access their properties from the northern end of the site. Should you require assistance, please speak with one of our onsite crew.
NIGHT CLOSURES – SH3 Mountain Road, Tariki: 28-29 March (7pm-5am)
Crews will complete asphalt patch repairs on State Highway 3 (SH3) Mountain Road between Johns and Surrey roads from Saturday 28 March for approximately 2 nights, weather permitting. 
The work is to repair patches of damaged pavement to maintain the road before crews can return next summer to undertake drainage improvements and rebuild the road. The site is shown in orange on the attached map.
To complete this work as safely and efficiently as possible, it will be completed under nighttime road closures from 7pm-5am.
The closures will be at night, in the weekend, when traffic volumes are lowest, to minimise disruption to road users. 
Here’s what you need to know:  
  • SH3 Mountain Road will be CLOSED between Johns and Surrey roads on Saturday 28 March and Sunday 29 March between 7pm and 5am (weather permitting).  
  • Road users are asked to plan ahead and take alternative routes where possible. The alternative state highway route is State Highway 45 (SH45). 
  • The road will be open outside of these hours, however a temporary speed limit will remain in place for the safety of road users, until the work is complete. 
  • If you need to travel and require assistance, please speak with one of our onsite crew. 
  • In the event of unsuitable weather, work will be rescheduled to take place on the nights of Saturday 11-Sunday 12 April.  

ROAD CLOSURES – SH43 Whanganui River Road Nevins Hill: 9-28 March

Crews will rebuild a section of SH43 Whanganui River Road between Mangaparo and Mangatarata roads, Nevins Hill from Monday 9 March for approximately 2-3 weeks in total, weather permitting.
Due to the narrow and winding nature of the road, work will be completed under a combination of stop/go traffic management where possible, and scheduled road closures where it is too narrow to do otherwise. The site is shown in purple on the attached map.  
SH43 Whanganui River Road between Mangaparo and Mangatarata roads will be CLOSED from 9am-12pm and 1pm-3pm, Monday to Saturday. 
Here is what you need to know:  
  • Work is scheduled to start on Monday 9 March and will take approximately 2-3 weeks to complete (weather permitting).  
  • Work will take place between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday.  
  • The road will be closed from 9am-12pm and 1pm-3pm each working day.  
  • Outside of these closure times, the road will be open under stop/go traffic controls with delays of approximately 20-30 minutes.  
  • During the closures, access to property within the site may be limited, but residents can speak with one of our onsite crew for assistance.  
  • Please plan ahead and take alternative routes or consider delaying travel where possible.   
Nightworks – SH44 Breakwater Road: 4-14 March 2026  
Work to rebuild a section of SH44 Breakwater Road between Lawry Street and Pioneer Road was rescheduled due to a machinery breakdown. This work will now commence on Wednesday 4 March and will now take approximately 2 weeks to complete (weather permitting).
The work involves rebuilding a section of the road with new asphalt to improve its condition. The site is shown in orange on the attached map.  
Here is what you need to know:      
  • Work is scheduled to commence on Wednesday 4 March and will take approximately 2 weeks to complete (weather permitting).
  • Work will take place between 7pm and 6am each night.
  • The work will be completed under stop/go traffic controls with delays of approximately 5-10 minutes. 
  • Access to and from sideroads, may be impacted temporarily while work is taking place. Road users are asked to plan ahead and take alternative routes where possible
  • All roads will be open during the day (6am-7pm) however a temporary speed limit will remain in place for the safety of road users until the site is complete.  
  • There will be some disruption while crews complete this work, however we will do our best to keep noise to a minimum.  
Crews will return in the coming weeks to rebuild an additional section of SH44 Breakwater Road between Peace Avenue and Ngamotu Road. We can’t complete this section at the same time as the first because the road material is different and needs an additional type of treatment. More details will be shared with stakeholders once confirmed. 
Road resurfacing – SH4 Hakiaha Street, Taumarunui: Week starting 15 March 2026 
Crews will resurface State Highway 4 (SH4) Hakiaha Street between Katarina Street and the intersection of State Highway 43 (SH43) Kururau Road the week starting Sunday 15 March for approximately 6-7 days, weather permitting.   
The work involves resurfacing the road with new asphalt to improve the condition of the road. The site is shown in yellow on the attached map. 
Here is what you need to know:  
  • Work is scheduled to commence the week starting Sunday 15 March and will take approximately 6-7 days to complete (weather permitting).  
  • Work will take place between 11am and 6am each day/night. 
    • We’ll be working with multiple crews over longer hours to complete the work as efficiently as possible
  • The work will take place under stop/go traffic controls with delays of approximately 5-10 minutes. 
  • Access to and from sideroads, such as River Road and Short Street, may be impacted while work is taking place. Road users are asked to plan ahead and take alternative routes where possible.   
  • All roads will be open outside of working hours (6am-11am) however a temporary speed limit will remain in place for the safety of road users until the site is complete.   
  • There will be some disruption while crews complete this work, however we will do our best to keep noise to a minimum.  
Ongoing
Expect Delays – SH3 Urenui to Piopio: January to April
We’re still completing a large volume of work along SH3 between New Plymouth and Piopio to improve the resilience and safety of this key access route. A range of renewals and improvements are being carried out at the same time to make the most of the construction season and condense ongoing disruption to road users.
Road users can expect additional travel times of 40-60 minutes between New Plymouth and Piopio until April. 
Our maintenance crews are rebuilding several sections of SH3, alongside maintenance and resurfacing activities also in this area. Additionally, a range of improvements are underway including at SH3 Ahititi with the SH3 Mangapepeke Culverts Replacement project until 17 April. Please expect changing temporary traffic management at Ahititi due to other nearby improvements, with longer delays expected at busy peak travel times.
All sites will be run under stop/go traffic controls to maintain access for road users. However, with multiple sites in the area, there will be cumulative delays when travelling.  
SH3 Awakino Gorge also remains under stop/go traffic controls after a rockslide last month. Crews are monitoring the site closely and are planning to undertake long term repairs in the coming weeks. More details will be shared with stakeholders once confirmed.
Other work across the region:
The below works are being completed during the day under stop/go traffic controls with delays of approximately 5-10 minutes.
  • Scour and erosion repairs at SH43 Tāngarākau Gorge: 9 February-7 March
  • Road rebuild at SH4 Tuhua Road, Te Mapara: 23 February-21 March
  • Road rebuild at SH45 South Road, Manaia: 23 February-21 March
We’re also undertaking a road rebuild at SH45 South Road, Ōkato between Leith and Lower Pitone roads from 2-21 March, however this site will have 15-20-minute delays due to the site being longer than usual.
Summer reseals: October 2025-March 2026
Downer crews are resealing Taranaki state highways until the end of March 2026. Resealing is to improve the surface layer of the road for the safety of those who travel on it. Resealing also helps to waterproof the road, increasing its longevity especially during the wetter months in Taranaki.   
  • During the sealing works, most sites will be managed using stop/go with delays of approximately 5-10 minutes.  
  • The site will then be swept and line-marked during off-peak hours.     
  • It is important that drivers follow the temporary traffic management in place and adhere to all speed restrictions for the safety or road users and crews.    
  • It’s important to stick to the speed limits. Driving too fast on freshly sealed roads can flick up loose stones, which can damage your car or others. If the new seal is damaged by speeding vehicles, crews may have to return to the area to complete repairs to the damaged road surface.    

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