Hawke's Bay state highway planned roadworks

Saturday 20 September to Friday 26 September

19 September 2025

Kia ora,

Welcome to the first issue of the Hawke’s Bay state highway planned works update. This weekly newsletter will keep you informed about what’s happening across the region’s state highway network – from the summer road renewals to key recovery work – so you can plan ahead.

Over the coming months, roadworkers will be doing essential maintenance work on state highway roads across the country, including road rebuilding and resurfacing. To be long-lasting and effective, this work must be done during the warmer, drier months. It can't be done during winter when the weather is wet and cold.

With the Hawke’s Bay 2025/26 summer renewals programme set to begin next month, our roadworkers are busy getting the roads ready for the warmer days ahead. Starting this week on State Highway 2 near the boundary with Gisborne, roadworkers are repairing sections of the road surface (called pre-seal repairs) before we return to these sites later in the season to reseal.

Whenever you come to a worksite on the state highways, remember that our roadworkers are doing their best to complete their work and keep you moving. Please be respectful and follow their advice and instructions.

We know roadworks can be disruptive, and we appreciate your patience while we undertake this work. If you’re travelling during the upcoming school holidays, please take care and check Journey Planner for the latest information.

Ngā mihi nui,

The NZTA Hawke’s Bay team

Information current as at 11:55am on 19/09/2025

Upcoming roadworks

Upcoming closures:

• SH2 Waipawa to Ōtāne is closing 10am-12pm, Sunday 28 September for Central Hawke’s Bay District Council’s community clean up event. Detours available.

Dates in this update are subject to change at short notice, based on weather or other unforeseen factors.

Check Journey Planner for the latest travel information and journey times before you travel. If a state highway is not included in this update, there are no significant works planned for that corridor.

State Highway 2 North

Mōrere, south of Maraenui Road intersection

• Wednesday 17 September - Wednesday 24 September, during the day
• Due to pre-seal repairs, 0-5 minute stop/go traffic management and 30km/hr speed restriction will be in place. Journey Planner.

Waikare Gorge (Acrow Bridge)

• 24/7 ongoing
• Due to worksite disestablishment, 0-5 minute stop/go traffic lights will be in place. Media release.

Lake Tutira

• Starting Monday 22 September - November, 24/7
• Due to two underslip repairs by TREC, 5-10 minute stop/go traffic management and temporary speed restrictions will be in place.

Devil's Elbow (Devil's Corner)

• Ongoing until end of December, 24/7
• Due to underslip repairs by TREC, 5-10 minute stop/go traffic lights will be in place. Latest Facebook post.

State Highway 2 Central Hawke's Bay

Between Pukehou and Pakipaki

• Monday 28 July - Tuesday 30 September, 7am-7pm
• Due to fibre installation by Entelar Group, 0-10 minute stop/go traffic management will be in place. Journey Planner.

Between Waipawa and Ōtāne

• Sunday 28 September, 10am-12pm (midday)
• Full road closure for the community-led SH2 Clean Up event.
• Short signposted detour for light vehicles. HPMV to wait to be piloted through the site or detour via SH50.
• For more information, see Central Hawke's Bay District Council’s media release.

State Highway 5 Napier to Taupō

Tarawera

• Monday 21 July - November, Monday to Friday, 7am-6pm
• Due to culvert repairs and erosion protection by TREC, 0-5 minute stop/go traffic management will be in place. More information.

Captain’s Culvert

• Starting Monday 22 September for about 5 weeks, Monday to Friday, 7am-6pm
• Due to road rebuild by TREC, 0-5 minute stop/go traffic management and temporary speed restrictions will be in place. More information.

Eskdale Substation

• Starting Monday 22 September for about 8 weeks, Monday to Friday, 7am-6pm
• Due to road shoulder repairs by TREC, 0-5 minute stop/go traffic management and temporary speed restrictions will be in place. More information.

Various locations

• From mid-September - November
• Due to road resealing by TREC, 5-10 minute stop/go traffic management and temporary speed restrictions will be in place. See map of sites here.

State Highway 38 Wairoa to Tuai

Various locations

• August - November, Mondays to Fridays, 7am-5pm
• Due to drainage clearing, 0-5 minute stop/go traffic management and mobile operations will be in place. Journey Planner.

State Highway 51

Tutaekuri Bridge (Waitangi)

• Monday 28 July - ongoing, 7am-6pm
• Due to bridge repairs by TREC, a 60km/hr temporary speed limit and occasional stop/go traffic management will be in place. Traffic bulletin.

Above: Tractor broom sweeping SH2 on the southern side of Waikare Gorge during the Saturday closure.

Making the most of the Waikare Gorge closures

When we closed State Highway 2 at Waikare Gorge for 24 hours earlier this month for the Bailey bridge replacement, our maintenance teams took the opportunity to get stuck into a range of extra tasks that would normally require separate traffic management.

With no vehicles on the road, the crews on both sides of the gorge were able to safely clear slips, sweep kerbs and channels, pick up litter, replace missing signs and edge marker posts, and clear sumps, all in one go.

By coordinating this work during the planned closure, we reduced the need for future disruptions and made the most of every hour on site. It’s a great example of how we can optimise closures to help keep the network safer and more efficient for everyone.

More information

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

All work listed above is being undertaken on behalf of NZTA, unless otherwise stated. The Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) alliance is also undertaking recovery work in Hawke's Bay on our behalf this season.

For more information on the Hawke's Bay state highway maintenance programme, contact us at HBmaintenance@nzta.govt.nz, visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/sh-maintenance-programme/hawkes-bay or call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49).

TREC send a regular newsletter about the recovery work on the state highways in Hawke’s Bay. If you’d like to receive these, sign up here. If you have any questions about TREC activity, please contact info@trec.nz.