Marlborough state highway planned roadworks

Saturday 10 January to Friday 16 January 2026

9 January 2026

Kia ora and welcome

Happy New Year and welcome to 2026's first 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 11:40am on 9/1/2026.

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 north of Spring Creek will be rebuilt between Monday 12 January and the end of March. Work will run Mondays to Saturdays, from 7am to 6pm. Stop/go traffic management will be in place during work hours, and a 30km/h speed limit will apply at all times. Drivers should expect delays of up to 10 minutes.

Read our Traffic Bulletin for more details

SH1 Riverlands

Resurfacing work will take place overnight on Thursday 15 January from 6pm, finishing at 6am Friday 16 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.

SH6 Blenheim to Nelson

SH6 Pelorus

Tree removal work will take place on Tuesday 13 January from 7:30am to midday. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, and drivers should expect delays of up to 5 minutes.

SH6 Rai Saddle

Tree removal work will take place on Tuesday 13 January from midday to 6pm. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, and drivers should expect delays of up to 5 minutes.

SH63 Renwick to Kawatiri Junction

SH63 Waihopai Valley Road to Guernsey Road

Pre-seal repair work will take place from Monday 12 January to Friday 16 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.

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.