Canterbury state highway planned roadworks

Tuesday 10 to Monday 16 March 2026

9 March 2026

Kia ora

Welcome to the latest Canterbury state highway planned roadworks update.

As we head into the end of the chipsealing season, the changing weather begins to have a bigger impact on when and where we can work. Over the coming weeks, our crews will be moving around the network to make the most of suitable weather windows and complete the remaining programmed sites.

For updates and real time travel information check Journey Planner before you travel

Information current as at 1.30pm 9 March

SH1 Christchurch to Picton

SH1 Hapuku: A road rebuild is underway between Factory Road and Skevingtons Road until 31 March. Work will take place on weekdays from 6am to 6pm, with some weekends as needed to keep the project moving. Stop/Go traffic management will be controlled manually and by temporary traffic lights, with delays of up to 15 minutes.

SH1 Peketa: Seawall repairs will now continue until 11 March from 6am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, with delays of up to 15 minutes expected. Twice a day, the road will be held in both directions for up to 20 minutes so an excavator can be lowered or raised below the road during low tide. 

SH1 Waipara at Church Road: Road rebuild day works will continue until 13 March, Monday to Friday, between 6am and 6pm. A lane will be closed under Stop/Go traffic management with a temporary speed limit in place.

SH1 at the Gulch Road intersection, Ward: Culvert replacement work will be carried out from Monday 9 to Friday 13 March between 6:30am and 6:30pm. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, and delays of up to five minutes are expected. 

ATP (rumble strips) installation at various sites on SH1 in Marlborough. 10 and 11 March.
• SH1 Riverlands to Redwood Pass intersection from 6pm to approximately 9pm on Tuesday 10 March.
• SH1 between Kaparu Road (Lake Grassmere) and Kaka Road (north of Ward) from approximately 10pm to midnight on Tuesday.  Also, on Wednesday 11 March from 6pm to approximately 8pm.
• SH1 Mirza Creek Bridge (south of Ward) to the southern boundary (south of Wharanui) from approximately 9pm until 11pm on Wednesday 11 March.
Stop/go traffic management will be in place at these sites while crews are working. Expect delays of up to five minutes. Please note work times may change due to the nature of this mobile operation.

SH1 north of Spring Creek: Work is underway to rebuild a one kilometre section of highway with construction due to be completed by the end of March. Both lanes reopened 20 February, but a 30km/h reduced temporary speed limit  remains in place until this project is complete.

SH1 Christchurch to Dunedin

SH1 Rolleston at Weedons Road interchange: Night works to rebuild the road and install new light poles, traffic loops, and lay asphalt will take place from 15 March for about three weeks, between 7pm and 6am each night. The SH1 southbound off-ramp and on-ramp will be closed during this time, with local detours in place.

SH1 Rolleston at the intersection with Dunns Crossing Road: Work is continuing on the Rolleston Access Improvements project. As part of building the new roundabout, Dunns Crossing Road where it connects to SH1 is being shifted slightly to the west, and a new connection onto the state highway built.  Once that connection and the roundabout are finished in the coming months, the current section of Dunns Crossing Road that connects to SH1 will be permanently closed and turned into a cul de sac. Until the new layout is complete, there is no access into Dunns Crossing Road from SH1

SH1 South of Ashburton at the Longbeach Rd Intersection: Road reconstruction continues until 18 March. Until 11 March The site will operate as a single lane during the day from 7am to 6pm,  northbound traffic will detour via Winslow Westerfield Rd and Maronan Rd, while southbound traffic stays on SH1. Night works from 6pm to 7am will use temporary traffic lights for both directions. Weekends will have two lanes open under speed restrictions. Delays of up to 15 minutes are expected. (See detour map below)

SH1 Timaru, between Grants Road at the showgrounds. Work on the Taitarakihi culvert and road repairs runs weekdays between 7am and 7pm. A 30 km/h temporary speed limit is in place. Expect congestion on SH1 and disruption to nearby side streets.

SH1 Waimate Highway at Morven: Stock underpass construction is underway with narrow lanes and a 30 km/h speed restriction. From 16 to 27 March, the site will operate under temporary traffic lights. Delays of up to 10 minutes are expected..

SH1 TY Duncan Road intersection Oamaru: Road repair night work will take place from 8 to 10 March between 6pm and 7am. Stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place. Expect delays of about five minutes.

SH1 Oamaru various locations: Ashphalting from 9 to 17 March between 6am and 7pm. Expect delays of about five minutes.

SH1 Oamaru Weaver Street: Road repairs will take place from 9 to 13 March between 6am and 7pm. Expect delays of about five minutes.

SH1 Kakaho Creek: Road rebuild work continues on weekdays until 13 March between 6am and 7pm. Stop/Go traffic management and temporary speed limits are in place, with delays of up to 10 minutes expected.

SH1 Bushey: Highway road rebuild work continues from 9 to13 March between 6am and 7pm. Expect delays of about five minutes.

SH1 McGregor Street Waikouaiti: Road sealing will take place on 11 March between 6am and 7pm. Expect delays of about five minutes.

SH1 Dunedin: Road repairs at Andersons Bay Road from 9 to 13 March between 6am and 7pm. Expect delays of about five minutes.

SH1 South of Ashburton at the Longbeach Rd Intersection

24 February to 11 March, the site will operate as a single lane. Daytime works from 7am to 6pm will detour northbound traffic via Winslow Westerfield Rd and Maronan Rd, while southbound traffic stays on SH1.

Northbound only detour

Key state highways across the Canterbury Region

SH7 Lewis Pass: Two chip sealing sites will be active, 9-13 March. One on a 1 km stretch north of the Hanmer Springs turnoff and another near the Hope River south of Island Hills. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, with a 30 km/h temporary speed limit and delays of up to 20 minutes expected.

SH7A Hanmer Springs Road: Two chip sealing sites will be active from 9 to 13 March. One is a 200 m stretch east and west of Medway Road, and the other is a 1 km section from the Welcome sign to just before the Argelins Road intersection near Hanmer Springs. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, with a 30 km/h temporary speed limit and delays of up to 20 minutes expected.

SH75 Halswell Road, between Dunbars Road and Curletts Road: Work continues on the improvements project, particularly between Augustine Drive/Monsaraz Boulevard and Curletts Road. Please follow signage and the 30 km/h speed limit through the work area.

SH77 Methven Highway between Thompsons Track and Springfield Road: Overhead power pole removal will take place until 27 March. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, with a 30 km/h temporary speed limit and delays of up to 10 minutes expected.

SH77 Ashburton, from Cross Street to Oak Grove: A short section will be closed for resurfacing on Saturday 14 March between 8am and 5pm. Traffic will be detoured via Harrison Street and Walnut Avenue onto SH1 or Oak Grove onto SH77.

SH79 Kakahu: Road reconstruction continues from Hall Road to Howe Road until 31 March. Temporary traffic lights will manage traffic with a 30 km/h speed limit in place, including when the site is unattended. Expect delays of up to 15 minutes.

SH79 Geraldine Fairlie Highway near Maxwell Road: Road reconstruction will continue until 27 March. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, with a 30 km/h temporary speed limit and delays of up to 10 minutes expected.

SH82 Hakataramea Highway (Waimate to Ikawai): Pavement and surfacing repairs will continue until 31 March The sites will operate under daytime stop/go with a 30 km/h temporary speed limit. This work is weather dependent and may be rescheduled at short notice. Some sites may be unattended, with temporary speed limits in place. Expect delays of up to 10 minutes.

SH82 Waihao North River Bridge: Work to replace the bridge is underway. Crews have installed a temporary bridge next to the Waihao North River Bridge. The existing bridge is now reduced to one lane and a 30 km/h temporary speed limit is in place.

SH82 Elephant Hill Stream Bridge: This bridge is being replaced. A temporary bridge has been installed at this site and a 30km/h speed limit will be in place.

More information

Please be aware 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.

Check for traffic updates on Journey Planner

For more information on the Canterbury state highway maintenance programme, contact us at Canterburymaintenance@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our Canterbury State Highway Maintenance website 

For information on West Coast and Alpine Passes state highway maintenance, visit our website where you can sign up for the West Coast and Alpine Passes newsletter