Marlborough state highway planned roadworks

Saturday 17 January to Friday 23 January 2026

16 January 2026

Kia ora and welcome

Kia ora,

Welcome to the latest Marlborough state highway planned roadworks update. 

This weekly newsletter will keep you informed about what’s happening across the region’s state highways so you can plan ahead.

If you're travelling, remember to check our Journey Planner for the latest updates on road conditions.

Please feel free to share this newsletter with whānau and friends, anyone can sign up to stay informed.

The information outlined below is current as at midday on 16/1/2026.

SH1 Picton to Christchurch

SH1 Picton Elevation to Tuamarina

Resurfacing work will take place overnight from Sunday 18 January to Thursday 22 January. Crews will operate from 6pm to 6am each night, finishing at 6am Friday 23 January. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, and a 30km/h speed limit will apply. Drivers should expect delays of up to 10 minutes.

SH1 Wairau River Bridge

Resurfacing work will take place overnight on Friday 16 January from 6pm, finishing at 6am Saturday 17 January. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, and a 30km/h speed limit will apply. Drivers should expect delays of up to 10 minutes.

SH1 north of Spring Creek 

A 1 kilometre section of highway is being rebuilt between Monday 12 January and the end of March. Work will run Mondays to Saturdays from 7am to 6pm. A 30km/h temporary speed limit will apply at all times. Currently, lanes are open in both directions, but stop/go traffic management will be in place later in the project. Drivers should expect delays of up to 10 minutes.

Read our Traffic Bulletin for more details

SH1 Lake Grassmere to Wharanui

Pre-seal work will take place from Monday 19 January to Saturday 24 January, from 6:30am to 6pm each day. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, and drivers should expect delays of up to 5 minutes. Crews will work in Wharanui on Monday and Tuesday, and in the Grassmere/Taimate area from Tuesday to Saturday.

SH1 Hapuku

A road rebuild is continuing 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, and a 30 km/h speed limit will apply. Drivers should expect delays of up to 15 minutes.

Read our Traffic Bulletin for more details about the works at Hapuku, as well as Peketa and Glasnevin (see below)

SH1 Peketa

Seawall repairs will take place from 21 January to 15 February, 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 Wyllies Crossing

Chip sealing will take place south of Omihi on 20 January from 6am to 6pm. A 30 km/h temporary speed limit will be in place, and some delays are expected.

SH1 north of Amberley at Glasnevin

A road rebuild is taking place until 30 January, from 6am to 6pm on weekdays. Northbound traffic will be closed with a detour in place, and the site will operate 24/7 from Monday to Saturday, opening both directions when possible. A 30 km/h temporary speed limit applies. The detour uses SH1, Douglas Road, Mount Brown Road, and Georges Road, and will add about 7 minutes to travel time. The southbound lane remains open.

SH6 Blenheim to Nelson

SH6 Mahers Road

A 500-metre section of highway about 5km north of Renwick will be rebuilt from Monday 9 February to Friday 20 March. Work will take place Mondays to Fridays, from 7am to 6pm. Stop/go traffic management will be in place during work hours, and a 30 km/h speed limit will apply at all times. Drivers should expect delays of up to 10 minutes.

Holiday driving tips

With the holiday season upon us, we encourage you to stay safe on the roads. Here are simple steps everyone can take to ensure they reach their destinations safely.

• Watch your speed and following distances and always overtake safely.
• Always wear a seatbelt and ensure all your passengers are buckled up too.
• Always drive to the conditions. If the weather is bad, slow down, avoid sudden braking, and turn your headlights on if visibility is poor. Be safe, be seen.
• Never drive when tired. If you're on a long trip, take breaks to stay alert.
• Avoid distractions. Never use a cellphone while driving.
• Before you head away, check your vehicle and perform basic maintenance. Inspect tyres, lights, indicators, windscreen wipers, etc.
• Check the road conditions before you travel. Our holiday journey planner provides details on when traffic congestion will be at its worst. We urge you to use it to plan your trips and avoid busier travel periods.

Driving in the holidays

Vehicle safety

Holiday Journeys

More information

Please be aware that there may be other less disruptive state highway works not listed in this newsletter. 

All work is subject to weather and other unforeseen circumstances. In the event of unsuitable conditions, work will be rescheduled to the next suitable workday.

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

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/sh-maintenance-programme/marlborough

For information on Nelson/Tasman, or Canterbury state highway maintenance,  where you can sign up for newsletters that cover other regions.