Otago planned state highway roadworks

27 January - 2 February 2026

26 January 2026

A slip that came down on SH6 between Hawea and Makarora last Saturday night with work crews getting the road open to traffic the next day.

Kia ora

Welcome to the latest Otago state highway planned roadworks update, to keep you informed about what’s happening across the region’s highways so you can plan ahead.

If you're travelling, check our Journey Planner for the latest updates on road conditions, or phone 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 444 449).

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Information is current at 3pm 26 January.

Otago State highways with scheduled works this week

SH1 Green Island
SH1 Bushey 
SH1 Kakaho Creek
SH6 Pipson Creek
SH8 Millers Flat
SH8 Bendigo
SH8A Luggate Bridge.Night closures until 27 March.
SH83 Awamoko to Georgetown
SH87 Mosgiel to Kyeburn
SH88 Roseneath to St. Leonards
SH90 Tapanui to Gore

Dunedin to Christchurch

SH1 Bushey: Crews are preparing the highway for a full rebuild until 31 January. Work is taking place on weekdays from 6am to 7pm. Short delays are expected.

SH1 Kakaho Creek: Road rebuild work continues weekdays 6am to 7pm until 1 March. Stop/Go traffic management and temporary speed limits operating. Expect delays of around 10 minutes.

SH1 Waimate Highway: Culvert repairs south of Old Ferry Road will take place from 26 to 28 January with daytime stop/go traffic management and a 30 km/h temporary speed limit. Speed restrictions will remain in place when the site is unattended. Expect short delays.

SH1 Makikihi to Morven: Pavement and surfacing repairs will continue in multiple locations until 30 January. Work is taking place under daytime stop/go traffic management with a 30 km/h speed limit. Delays of up to 10 minutes are expected.

SH1 Waimate Highway: Road reconstruction will take place near Gum Tree Flat Road from 28 January to 27 February. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, with a 30 km/h temporary speed limit and delays of up to 10 minutes expected. Speed restrictions will remain when the site is unattended.

SH1 Waimate, Otaio passing lanes: Road reconstruction continues until 30 January. Lane closures are in place, and a 30 km/h temporary speed limit applies 24 hours a day.

SH1 Timaru, Evans Street / Grants Road: Taitarakihi Culvert replacement works are continuing until March. There are currently lane shifts on SH1 and 30km/h temporary speed limits 24 hours per day. Expect congestion on SH1 at this site.

SH1 Temuka: Pavement repairs will take place at the Ewen Street intersection until 30 January. Lane closures will be in place on Ewen Street west of SH1. Use alternative local streets to access Ewen Street while work is underway.

SH1 south of Rangitata: Culvert repairs will take place near Looker Road from 28 to 30 January. Stop/go traffic management will be in place, and delays of up to 20 minutes are expected. Speed restrictions will remain when the site is unattended.

SH1 South of Ashburton at the Longbeach Road intersection: Road reconstruction 26 January until 18 March. There are currently lane shifts with a 30 km/h speed limit. Expect delays of up to 10 minutes. This work is weather dependent and may be rescheduled at short notice. Please take care at unattended sites where temporary speed restrictions remain in place.

SH1 Rakaia to Chertsey: Pavement and surfacing repairs will take place in multiple locations from 27 January to 2 February. Work will be carried out under daytime stop/go traffic management with a 30 km/h speed limit. This work is weather dependent and may be rescheduled at short notice. Please take care at unattended sites where temporary speed restrictions remain in place. Expect delays of up to 20 minutes.

SH1 Rolleston at Weedons Road interchange: Night works begin 1 February for about two weeks to install new service trenches and relocate existing services on Weedons Road and the SH1 off-ramp.  From 8pm to 5am each night the SH1 southbound off-ramp and on-ramp will be closed. Local detours will be in place. Work will not take place on Friday or Saturday nights, or 5 February prior to Waitangi Day.

Dunedin to Invercargill

SH1 Dunedin Green Island Southern Motorway night closures: Southbound closure 22 to 30 January from 7pm to 6am, for essential road surface replacement work. Full road closure with detours that may add 5 to 10 minutes to your journey. Follow all detour and advisory signs. More details here 

SH93 Old Coach Road near Kaiwera and Waikana Roads: Stabilisation and pavement repairs from 26 to 30 January, 7am to 6pm. Expect delays of up to 10 minutes.

Dunedin to Queenstown

SH8 Stableburn near Millers Flat: A 3km road rebuild is underway until 9 April, Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm to extend the life of the road and create a better driving surface. Expect up to 10 minute delays.

Work on other key Otago highways

SH6 Pipson Creek (near Makarora): Work continues on repairs after weather events until 30 January, 8am to 5.30pm. Expect stop/go and delays of up to 10 minutes.

SH8 Bendigo: Road reconstruction to extend the life of the highway surface and increase safety by providing a smooth and stable driving surface. Work continues until 13 February, Monday to Friday, 7am and 6pm. Expect stop/go and up to 10 minute delays.

SH8A Luggate Bridge: 18 January to 27 March, full night closure 8pm to 6am. Detour in place. Strengthening and maintenance work will extend the life of this historical bridge. Please follow all detour and advisory signs. The detour could add up to 30 minutes to your journey. Check Journey Planner and read our traffic bulletin for more information.

SH83 Awamoko to Georgetown: A full road rebuild runs weekdays between 7am to 6pm until around 31st March. Traffic management in place with either stop/go or temporary signals as required. Expect up to 10 minute delays.

SH87 Mosgiel to Kyeburn: Crews will be stabilising and repairing specific sections of the highway on weekdays until 31 January. Delays of up to five minutes are expected.

SH88 Roseneath to St Leonards: Dunedin City Council (DCC) is carrying out watermain renewals that started last September and continue until early July. Stop/Go or temporary traffic signals in place 24/7 (Excluding public holidays). Allow extra time for your journey. All queries about this work to the DCC 03 477 4000. 

SH88 Dunedin Port Chalmers Road: Hydroseeding will take place on the roadside just past the St Leonards Drive intersection from 26 to 30 January. Expect delays of up to 5 minutes.

SH90 near Gore: The final stage of this road rebuild is underway Monday to Friday, from 6am to 8pm, until 31 March. Traffic will be managed by temporary traffic lights with a 30 km/h speed limit. Expect up to 10 minute delays.

For more information

Note 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.

Remember for the most current information about highway works check the NZTA Journey Planner or phone 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 444 449)

Visit our website the Otago Highway Maintenance or contact us at OtagoMaintenance@nzta.govt.nz