Otago planned state highway roadworks

15-21 November 2025

14 November 2025

Road sealing on SH8 near Ettrick in Central Otago.

Highway maintenance work 15-21 November

• SH1Glenavy to Invercargill at various locations
• SH6 Kawarau Gorge
• SH8 Millers Flat
• SH8 Cromwell to Tarras at Bendigo
• SH85 Palmerston Dunback Road
• SH86 Allanton to Dunedin Airport 
• SH93 Clinton to Mataura

Look out for extra traffic on roads around Arrowntown and Frankton  on Saturday 15 November, with the running of the popular Queenstown Marathon.

Work listed in this newsletter current as at 5pm Friday, 14 November 2025.

Dunedin to Christchurch

SH1 Dunedin to Maheno: Road surface repairs at various locations from 17 to 21 November, Monday to Friday, 6am to 7pm. Expect delays of around 5 minutes.

SH1 Kakaho Creek (north of Hampden): Road rebuild preparation work will take place from 17 to 21 November, Monday to Friday, 6am to 7pm. Expect delays of around 5 minutes.

SH1 south of Pukeuri: A road rebuild that continues until 19 December, Monday to Sunday, 6am to 4pm. Stop/go traffic management, lane shifts, and a 30 km/h temporary speed limit are operating. Expect delays of up to 15 minutes.

SH1 Studholme to Glenavy (south of Timaru): Two chip sealing sites will be worked on 20 November from 6am to 6pm. A single lane closure will be in place with stop/go traffic management and a 30 km/h temporary speed limit.

SH1 Evans Street / Grants Road intersection, Timaru: Taitarakihi Culvert replacement is underway from 9 September to 30 November, operating 24 hours a day. Intersection layout changes are in place, along with a 30 km/h temporary speed limit.

SH1 Waimataitai, Timaru: Watermain renewal is underway from 9 September to 28 November, from 7am to 6pm. Expect lane shifts and a 30 km/h temporary speed limit.

SH1 Temuka (Ewen Road intersection): Night works will take place from 9 to 18 November, Sunday to Thursday nights from 8pm to 6am. Crews will mill and pave asphalt on SH1 King Street at the Ewen Road intersection under stop/go traffic management with a 30 km/h temporary speed limit. Expect delays of up to 10 minutes. Ewen Road will be closed during night works. Light vehicles should use alternative local streets. Heavy vehicles to and from Clandeboye and Factory Road should access SH1 via Farm Road or Rise Road. Over-dimension transporters should notify travel to chctmpsc@ghd.com for assistance through the worksite. Read our traffic bulletin and view detour map traffic bulletin.

SH1 Temuka: Kerb and channel repairs will continue until 21 November, weekdays from 7 am to 6 pm. The site is reduced to a shoulder closure and footpath work, with a 30 km/h temporary speed limit. Please take extra care around the temporary pedestrian provisions in place.

SH76 Christchurch Southern Motorway: Night works will run from 29 October to 18 December, 7pm to 5am. Crews are adding 4.6 km of barrier and maintenance bays between Wrights Road and Halswell Junction Road. No delays are expected.

SH1 Rolleston at the intersection with Dunns Crossing Road and Walkers Road: Night works for underground utility trenching will take place from Sunday 9 November for about two weeks, between 7pm and 5am. SH1 will be reduced to one lane in each direction. Temporary traffic lights will be used on all four approaches to the intersection with a 30km/h speed limit, expect short delays. Note there will be no work on Friday or Saturday nights, or Thursday 13 November prior to Canterbury Anniversary Day.

SH1 Carmen Road: Between Main South Road and Waterloo Road. Asphalt resurfacing work will take place from 19 to 22 November. Night works will run from 9pm to 5am each night. SH1 Carmen Road will be closed during these hours. Local road detours will be in place. Please follow all route signage.

Dunedin to Invercargill

SH1 Dunedin to Balclutha: Road surface repairs at various locations from 17 to 21 November, Monday to Friday, 6am to 7pm. Expect delays of around 5 minutes.

SH1 Allanton: Road sealing on Saturday 15 November, from 6am to 7pm. Expect delays of around 5 minutes.

SH1 Allanton: Roadside enabling work from 17 to 21 November, 6am to 7pm. Expect delays of around 5 minutes.

SH1 Milton to Waipahi (various locations): High-pressure water cutting to improve road grip and skid resistance, will happen from 17 to 22 November, 6am to 7pm. Expect delays of 5 minutes.

SH1 Clarksville Milton Highway: Road surface sealing  from 17 to 21 November, 6am to 7pm. Expect delays of 5 minutes.

SH1 Benhar Road (north of Balclutha): Road sealing will be carried out from 17 to 21 November, 6am to 7pm. Expect delays of around 5 minutes.

SH1 South of Balclutha: Road sealing near Kakapuaka Road will be carried out from 17 to 21 November, 6am to 7pm. Expect delays of around 5 minutes.

SH93 Mataura to Clinton: A road rebuild is in progress  until mid-December, 7am to 7pm. Expect up to 10 minute delays.

SH1 Arthurton to Mataura: Road marking will take place from 17 to 21 November, 7am to 5 pm. Expect delays of up to 10 minutes.

Dunedin to Queenstown

SH1 Dunedin to Balclutha: Road surface repairs at various locations from 17 to 21 November, Monday to Friday, 6am to 7pm. Expect delays of around 5 minutes.

SH1 Allanton: Road sealing on Saturday 15 November, from 6am to 7pm. Expect delays of around 5 minutes.

SH1 Allanton: Roadside enabling work from 17 to 21 November, 6am to 7pm. Expect delays of around 5 minutes.

SH1 Clarksville Milton Highway: Road surface sealing from 17 to 21 November, 6am to 7pm. Expect delays of around 5 minutes.

SH8 Stableburn (south of Millers Flat): A 3 km long road rebuild is underway until 9 April 2026, weekdays  7am to 6pm. Expect delays of up to 10 minutes. To minimise traffic delays work will be completed in 5 stages, and when it's finished, significantly extend the life of the road. A full holiday break shutdown from 19 December to 12 January.

SH6 Kawarau Gorge (various locations): Emergency works following a weather event. As part of this work approximately 3000m3 of material  has been removed so far from a large slip near Roaring Meg within the Gorge. Work will be carried out  from 17 to 23 November, Monday to Sunday, 6am to 7pm. Expect delays of around 10 minutes. 

Work on other key Otago highways

SH8 Bendigo (between Cromwell and Tarras): Road rebuild to extend the life of this section of highway will take place from 17 to 23 November, Monday to Sunday, 8am to 6pm. Expect delays of up to 10 minutes. Stage 2 construction, and sealing next week – weather dependant. Stage 3 has been postponed until the New Year. 

SH85 Palmerston Dunback Road: A highway rebuild  continues through to 19 December, Monday to Friday, 6am to 7pm. Expect delays of up to 10 minutes.

SH86 to Dunedin Airport: Bridge maintenance from 17 to 21 November, Monday to Friday, 6am to 7pm. Expect delays of up to 5 minutes. Allow extra travel time if you are catching or meeting a flight to or from Dunedin Airport. 

For more information

Note that there may be other less disruptive state highway works not listed in this newsletter. Work is often weather dependant and can be postponed and rescheduled.

Remember for the most current information about highway works check the NZTA Journey Planner or phone 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 444 449)

Visit our website the Otago Highway Maintenance or contact us at OtagoMaintenance@nzta.govt.nz