Manawatū-Whanganui state highway planned roadworks

Saturday 29 November to Friday 5 December

28 November 2025

Photo: The road rebuild at Cheltenham on SH54 is complete, with the road reopened, swept and line marked.

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. We have a range of renewal works underway on our state highways including resealing and road users are advised to expect delays. Prior to the Christmas break, resealing works are expected on State Highway 3 (SH3), State Highway 4 (SH4) and State Highway 1 (SH1), including the passing lane in Bulls.

Resealing involves applying a layer of bitumen or emulsion on the road, then adding a layer of chipseal which is rolled into it. Resealing often involves stop/go temporary traffic management.

If you're travelling on our state highways this summer, expect to come across roadworks and plan your journey ahead of time.

Upcoming roadworks

State highways with scheduled works this week:

• SH1 north of Taihape
• SH1/3 Bulls
• SH1 Waitārere
• SH2 north of Norsewood
• SH2 Woodville
• SH2 Eketāhuna
• SH3 Whanganui
• SH3 Whakarongo
• SH4 Raetihi - Upokongaro
• SH54 Rewa

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 28 November 2025.

State Highway 1

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

SH1/3 Bulls: Night-time asphalt resurfacing works are planned on Bridge Street, near the Bulls Bridge, from Monday 8 December to Thursday 11 December. Work runs from 8pm to 6am. Stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit is in place, with delays of up to 15 minutes expected. More information.

SH1 Waitārere Beach Road intersection: Roundabout construction works are ongoing until late 2026. Works run 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. 

State Highway 2

SH2 Takapau: We've completed a range of road renewal, roadside safety barrier and vegetation clearing works near the intersection of Vaughan Road, with additional works ongoing until Thursday 18 December. 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 5 minutes at times. More information.

SH2 Woodville: Asphalt patching works are ongoing to Monday 1 December, 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.

SH2 Eketāhuna: Road maintenance is planned for Newman Road, near Macara Street between Monday 8 December and Friday 12 December. Work will run from 6pm to 6am. Stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit is in place, with delays of up to 10 minutes. More information.

State Highway 3

SH3 Putiki, Whanganui: Night-time asphalt patching works between the roundabout and Cobham Bridge is planned from Tuesday 2 December to Friday 5 December. 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 are ongoing to Friday 5 December on sections of SH4. Work runs from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Stop/go traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit is 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. We will keep stop/go management to a minimum from 2.30pm to 3.30pm where possible to reduce the impact on school community traffic.

State Highway 54

SH54 Rewa: The road closure has been lifted and the Cheltenham rebuild is complete. The Rewa rebuild is almost complete, with preparation works for final sealing taking place. From today, Friday 28 November to Monday 1 December (excluding Sunday), stop/go traffic management is in place, 6am to 6pm, with up to 15-minutes delays. On Tuesday 2 December, sealing is planned (weather permitting). To ensure the sealing can be completed safely and quickly, traffic will be held at times with delays of up to 1 hour. We will keep stop/go management to a minimum from 8am to 9am and from 2.30pm to 3.30pm on weekdays where possible to reduce the impact on school community traffic.

Thank you to the local community and road users for their patience while these renewal works have been underway. We know road closures can be frustrating and add extra time to journeys, however due to the location of these works and the narrow sections of road, closures were required. Closing a road isn’t something we do lightly. It’s about keeping everyone safe and ensuring the work completed is durable and long-lasting for years to come.

Photo: Works underway at the SH54 Cheltenham rebuild. 

Photo: Completed sealing works at SH54 Cheltenham, before line marking took place.

State Highway 57

SH57 Tararua Road: Due to weather conditions, completion of the final asphalting and line marking for the SH57/Tararua Road roundabout is postponed. We’re working to confirm new dates to complete the remainder of the work. A temporary 30km/h speed limit remains through the site. 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 via 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 444 449).

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