Canterbury state highway maintenance programme

Saturday 11 October to Friday 17 October

10 October 2025

Kia ora,

Welcome to the latest Canterbury state highway planned roadworks update.

Our summer road renewals programme is underway, and each week, we’re sharing updates with you to help you plan your journey.

Stay updated on road conditions before you travel visit Journey Planner

Information current as at 1.35 pm on Friday 10 October 2025

Christchurch to Picton

If you're travelling between Christchurch and Picton in October, please allow up to 40 minutes extra travel time due to essential maintenance work on State Highway 1. 

SH1 two sites. Just south of the Pegasus roundabout and at the SH1/Gressons Road intersection: 16&17 October. Nightworks 7pm-5am. Asphalt resurfacing. Expect stop/go with up to 15 minute delays and a 30km/h temporary speed limit.

SH1 Toki-Anau North (just south of Raramai Tunnel) 14 October. 6am-6pm. Chip sealing. Stop/go with 30km/h temporary speed limit. Expect up to 20 minute delays.

SH1 Kahutara River to Limrock just south of South Bay Parade: Due to adverse weather this work will now be completed by 17 October. 6am-6pm. Chip sealing at various locations. Stop/go with a 30 km/h temporary speed limits.

SH1 School House Road intersection. 13 October. 6am-6pm. Chip seal. Stop/go with 30km/h temporary speed limit  Expect up to 15 minute delays.

SH1 Taimate (south of the saltworks) 15 October 7am-6pm. Resealing work. Stop/go and 30km/h temporary speed limit. Expect up to 10 minute delays.

SH1 Lindens Crossing (between Picton and Koromiko) 29 September-17 October (no work on weekends).
24/7 work to rebuild the state highway at Lindens Crossing. Stop/go with delays of up to 10 minutes.

SH1 at Koromiko between Para and Speeds Roads 15-18 October 6.30am-6pm. Various work including seal patching, road sweeping and line marking. Stop/go and a reduced speed limit. Expect short delays.

SH1 Christchurch to Dunedin

SH1 Ashburton. Night works from the north side of the Ashburton Bridge to South Street: Work has been delayed due to adverse weather conditions. UPDATED DATES: Night work continues through the week. Expected finish is 17 October. Asphalt Renewal. Stop/Go and temporary speed limit of 30km/h. 8pm-6am Sunday to Friday. No work on Saturday night. Read our traffic bulletin here.

SH1 Temuka: 13-31 October. 7am-5pm weekdays.  Kerb and channel and footpath repairs. Expect lane shifts and 30km/h temporary speed limit during the first week (up until the 17th), then stages of stop/go with delays of up to 10 minutes for the remaining two weeks (20th to 31st). 

SH1 North and South of Timaru: (Temuka to Pareora) 13-14 October. 7pm-6am. Nighttime watercutting (surface repairs) at various locations. Stop/go and a reduced speed limit. Expect short delays.

SH1 Timaru close to the intersection of SH1 and Grants Road: Taitarakihi Culvert. 9 September-31 October. 7am-6pm weekdays. Drainage works. Expect lane shifts and a temporary speed limit of 30km/h.

SH1 Ealing, north of Rangitata Bridge: 29 September-31 October. Road rebuild. Stop/go with delays of up to 30 minutes. Every weekend, Saturday afternoons 3pm to 6am Monday mornings and on Labour Weekend two lanes open with 50km/h temporary speed limit. Withells/Ealing Road intersection with SH1 closed

SH1 south of Pukeuri: 13 October-19 December. 6am-4pm. Road rebuild. Expect stop/go and lane shifts with 30km/h temporary speed limit.   

SH1 at Kakaho Creek near Hampden: 13-17 October 6am-7pm. Road rebuild prep work. Stop/go. Expect short delays

SH1 Waitaki Bridge to Dunedin: 13-17 October. 6am-7pm. Road surface repairs at various sites.

SH1 between SH71 Lineside Road and Williams Street night work starting 13 October for six nights 9pm-5am

Work continues on pavement testing investigations.

The northbound and southbound lanes will close one direction at a time while work is underway. Work will also be carried out at the SH1/Williams Street intersection.

Detours will be in place via Smith Street and Williams Street. See map below.

Work will begin on the northbound lane for approximately three nights, then switch to the southbound lane for approximately three nights.

Access to Pineacres Restaurant and Bar will be available throughout the works.

Read our traffic bulletin for more information.

All work is expected to to be completed by 20 October.

Key state highways across the Canterbury Region

SH7 one km north of the Hurunui River: 29 September-6 November. Road rehabilitation work. Stop/go. Expect up to 15 minute delays.

SH8 Timaru to Twizel 29 September-31 October. 8am-5pm. Road and drainage repairs and resurfacing at mulitple locations. Stop/go and temporary speed limit.

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 30km/h speed limit through the work area.

SH77 between Ashburton Staverley Road and Wakelins Road  29 September 2025 for six weeks. 8am-5pm. Road reconstruction. Stop/go and 30km/h temporary speed limit. Expect delays of up to 15 minutes.

SH77 Ashburton to Methven 15-23 October. 7am-6pm. Watercutting (surface repairs) at various locations. Stop/go and temporary speed limit. Expect short delays.

SH82 various locations Waimate to Ikawai: Until 31 October. Pavement and resurfacing repairs. Expect some stop/go and 30km/h temporary speed limits

SH85 Meadowbank to Glenpark: 15 September to 19 December. Rehabilitation work across various locations. Expect stop/go between 6am-7pm and temporary speed limits outside those times. 

What is road rehabilitation (or rehab/rebuild)

Road rehabilitation is a process used to restore roads that have become worn out or damaged. It goes beyond simple repairs and involves rebuilding the road to ensure it remains safe and durable.

Road rehabilitation involves:
• Removing the old road surface and damaged layers underneath.
• Strengthening the base if the ground is weak or unstable.
• Laying new materials such as asphalt or chipseal to create a smooth driving surface.
• Upgrading drainage systems to prevent future water damage.
• Adding safety improvements like clearer road markings, signage, or barriers.

Road rehabilitation is important because it improves safety for all road users, reduces the need for ongoing maintenance and patch repairs, and supports key industries like freight and tourism by keeping transport routes reliable. It also ensures roads can withstand heavy traffic and changing weather conditions over time.

Balmoral area wide treatment and drainage works

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.

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.