Manawatū-Whanganui state highway planned roadworks

Saturday 22 November to Friday 28 November

21 November 2025

Photo: Road rebuild works are underway on SH54 at Rewa, with a daytime closure in place.

Kia ora,

Welcome to the latest Manawatū-Whanganui state highway planned roadworks update.

Below is this week’s list of upcoming planned works on state highways in the region. As you'll see below, we have a range of renewal works underway on our state highways, including road rebuilds on State Highway 54 at both Cheltenham and Rewa, and State Highway 2 Takapau, near Norsewood. 

As temperatures have warmed up, our summer resealing season has begun in Manawatū-Whanganui. The summer months are the best time for this work as daylight hours are longer and the warm temperatures and dry air help the new seal stick to the road surface. Warm weather helps ensure the new seal becomes strong and long lasting. Next week, resealing works are taking place on SH4 between Raetihi and Upokongaro, with delays of up to 30 minutes expected.

If you're travelling on our state highways this summer, expect to come across roadworks and plan for delays. Our road workers do their best to complete their work safely and efficiently and keep you moving. Temporary traffic management is there to make everyone’s journey safer. Please be respectful to our crews and follow their advice and instructions.

Upcoming roadworks

State highways with scheduled works this week:

• SH1 Waitārere
• SH1 north of Taihape
• SH2 north Norsewood
• SH2 Woodville
• SH3 Newbury
• SH3 Whanganui
• SH3 Whakarongo
• SH4 Raetihi - Upokongaro
• SH54 Rewa and Cheltenham
• SH57 Levin

Before you travel on our state highways, check Journey Planner or Facebook for the latest information.

Dates in this update may change at short notice due to weather or other unforeseen factors, and other less disruptive state highway works may not be listed in this newsletter.

Information current as at 12pm on Friday 21 November 2025.

State Highway 1

SH1 Waitārere Beach Road intersection: Roundabout construction works are ongoing until late 2026. Works are currently running from 6am to 6pm each day. A lane shift and a 30km/h speed limit is in place. Traffic management will change as works progress. More information. 

SH1 north of Taihape: Drainage clearing and road maintenance work ahead of an upcoming road rebuild, near the intersection of Spooners Hill Road. Works will run from Monday 24 November to Thursday 18 December, 6am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit will be in place, with delays of up to 10 minutes. More information.

State Highway 2

SH2 Takapau: Road rebuild and drainage works are ongoing to Friday 21 November, near the intersection of Vaughan Road. Work will run from 6am to 6pm. Stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit is in place, with delays of up to 20 minutes at times. Additional maintenance works have been added to this programme. Please expect various works and traffic management at times until Thursday 18 December. More information.

SH2 Woodville: Asphalt patching works are ongoing to Wednesday 26 November, between Pinfold Road and Ross Street. Work runs from 6am to 6pm, Monday to Saturdays. Stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit is in place, with delays of up to 20 minutes. Pedestrian access remains via footpaths. More information.

State Highway 3

SH3 Newbury: Patching works at SH3 Newbury will take place from Monday 24 November and Tuesday 25 November. Work will run from 9am to 3pm, with a lane shift in place.

SH3 Putiki, Whanganui: Nighttime asphalt patching works between the roundabout and Cobham Bridge is planned from Wednesday 26 November to Friday 28 November. Work will run from 6pm to 6am. Stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit is in place. More information. 

SH3 Whakarongo, Palmerston North: Road rebuild and drainage works will take place from Sunday 30 November to Tuesday 16 December, near the intersection of Stoney Creek Road. Work will run from 6pm to 6am, Sunday to Friday. Stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit is in place, with delays of up to 5 minutes. One day of sealing is planned for Saturday 13 December, 9am to 3pm, with 10-minute delays. More information.

State Highway 4

SH4 Raetihi to Upokongaro: Resealing works will take place from Monday 24 November to Friday 5 December along sections of SH4. Work will run from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit will be in place, with delays of up to 30 minutes due to the need to hold traffic while sealing works are underway on narrower sections of road. Please plan ahead, expect delays and allow additional time for your journey. From 2.30pm – 3.30pm, stop/go and delays will be minimised to reduced impact on school community traffic.

State Highway 54

SH54 Rewa and Cheltenham: Road rebuild, drainage and maintenance works are ongoing to Wednesday 26 November, near Rewa and Cheltenham. Work runs from 6am to 6pm. Two sections of SH54 are closed each day with a daytime local detour in place via McKays Line. Heavy vehicles are detoured via SH1 and SH3. SH54 is open at nights and on Sundays, with a 30km/h speed restriction at worksites. More information.

Photo: A daytime road closure is in place at the SH54 Rewa rebuild site due to the narrow section of road and space requirements for heavy machinery and crew safety.

State Highway 57

SH57 Tararua Road: Final asphalting and line marking for the SH57/Tararua Road roundabout is underway until Friday 28 November, involving nighttime closures. The section of SH57/Arapaepae Road will be closed between Meadowvale Drive and Kimberley Road, and the eastern and western section of Tararua Road from 7pm to 6am each day, excluding Friday and Saturday nights. More information.

More information

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

Roadworks listed in this newsletter may be postponed due to rain or other factors that disrupt the weekly schedule.

Check the NZTA Journey Planner for the latest travel information and journey times before starting your journey: journeys.nzta.govt.nz.

For more information on the Manawatū-Whanganui state highway maintenance programme, contact us at info@nzta.govt.nz or 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 444 449) or via Manawatu-Whanganuimaintenance@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/manawatu-whanganui-maintenance