Taranaki state highway planned roadworks

Saturday 22 November to Friday 28 November

21 November 2025

Road rebuild underway on SH3A north of Inglewood.

Kia ora,

Road workers are completing essential work across Taranaki’s state highway network to keep people and goods moving safely and reliably. These improvements reflect NZTA’s commitment to providing safe journeys and maintaining a resilient transport system.

The rebuild on State Highway 3A north of Inglewood, pictured above, is progressing well and is on track for completion by 19 December. This work involves renewing and strengthening the road surface to improve its durability and performance, helping ensure the route remains safe and reliable for all road users. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we finish this important work.

Roadworks this week

State highways with scheduled works this week:

• State Highway 3 (SH3) Awakino to New Plymouth
• State Highway 3A (SH3A)
• State Highway 44 (SH44)

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

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

Information current as at 10am on 21 November 2025.

State Highway 3 – Awakino to New Plymouth

Expect total delays of up to 30 minutes on SH3 between Tongapōrutu and Piopio while recovery works continue following significant rainfall and high winds throughout October. Main sites include:

SH3 Awakino: Stop/go traffic management is in place at all times due to an underslip caused by recent wet weather. A geotechnical assessment is underway to determine a long-term solution.

SH3 Tongapōrutu: Underslip repairs are underway until early January (weather permitting). Stop/go traffic management is in place. Road will be open to two lanes of traffic during Christmas/New Year period. Expect delays of 5 to 10 minutes.

SH3 Mangaotaki: Construction of a retaining wall to repair an underslip is underway until early December (weather permitting). Stop/go traffic management is in place at all times. Expect delays of 5 to 10 minutes.

SH3 Urenui: A road rebuild started on Tuesday 11 November and continue for 4 to 5 weeks. Work will take place under stop/go traffic management with delays of 5 to 10 minutes. Work will run between 6am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday.

State Highway 3A

SH3A Inglewood: A road rebuild is underway from Monday to Saturday between 6am and 6pm. Stop/go traffic management is in place, with delays of 10 to 15 minutes. The rebuild is expected to finish by 19 December.

State Highway 44

SH44 Breakwater Road: New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) is replacing a watermain. A 30 km/h temporary speed limit and stop/go traffic management are in place. This work is expected to finish before Christmas.

SH44 St Aubyn Street: A road rebuild is underway from Sunday to Thursday nights between 7pm and 6am. Stop/go traffic management will be in place with delays of 5-10 minutes. The rebuild is expected to finish in early December.

SH3 slip repairs to boost route resilience

State Highway 3 (SH3) is a vital link for Taranaki communities and freight, and work is underway to make it safer, more reliable, and better able to cope with severe weather.

Crews are already repairing a slip at Tongapōrutu, funded through the emergency works programme, after recent storm damage. Later this month, a second project will start just north of the Tongāporutu Bridge to provide a long-term fix for another slip which initially occurred in 2016. This work will make the road stronger and more resilient so it can stand up to future weather events.

Work on both sites includes crews drilling high-strength steel bars into the slope next to the estuary and spraying concrete over the surface to hold the soil in place.

When the northern slip first happened in 2016 it was managed by moving the road barrier and adding drainage. Recent heavy rain has caused more movement, so a permanent solution is needed.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Project Manager Liz Dotherty says both projects are about making SH3 safer and more reliable.

By reinforcing the slope, we’re fixing the current problem and helping protect the road from future storms. It’s an important investment in keeping this route open.”

The northern slip repair is funded through the Crown Resilience Programme – a $419 million investment to help New Zealand’s roads withstand severe weather while the other slip repair is funded through the emergency works programme, which allows urgent repairs to keep roads open.

Testing for the northern slip is underway now, and construction should finish by early 2026. Stop/go traffic controls will be in place during the work, with delays of 5-10 minutes.

Work underway on southern slip at Tongapōrutu.

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 Taranaki state highway maintenance programme, contact us at info@nzta.govt.nz or 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 444 449) or visit our website nzta.govt.nz/taranaki-maintenance.