Hawke's Bay state highway planned roadworks

Saturday 17 January to Friday 23 January 2026

16 January 2026

Remember to plan ahead for overnight closures of SH2 at Devil’s Elbow (between Whirinaki and Tūtira) starting this Sunday night, for final asphalting. More information below.

Kia ora, here’s the first issue of the Hawke’s Bay state highway update for 2026.

Summer is our busiest time for road renewals and roadworks, so you’ll see plenty happening across the region throughout January and February.

This weekly update keeps you informed about what’s happening across the region’s state highway network – from the summer road renewals to recovery works – so you can plan your journey.

Please note that dates in this update may shift at short notice due to weather or other unexpected factors. If a state highway isn’t mentioned, it means there are no major or disruptive works planned for that route this week.

If you’re travelling on the state highways these summer holidays, check Journey Planner or Facebook for the latest information.

Take care on the road this summer.

Ngā mihi nui,

The NZTA Hawke’s Bay team

Information current as at 3:00pm on 16/01/2026

Upcoming roadworks

Upcoming closures:

• SH2 Devil’s Elbow: Overnight closures starting Sunday 18 January to Thursday 5 February, Sunday to Thursday nights, 9pm-5am (5 nights a week). More information.
• SH2 HB Expressway at Meeanee Road overpass: Overnight closures are underway until Thursday 22 January, Sunday to Thursday nights, 8pm-5am each night. Short detour via on/off ramps with minimal delays.
• SH2 HB Expressway, between Taradale Road and Meeanee Road: Overnight closures starting Sunday 25 January to Thursday 26 February, Sunday to Thursday nights, 8pm-5am each night (5 nights a week). Detours available, more information below.
• SH50 Ahuriri, between Customs Quay/Bridge St and Pandora Road: Overnight closures on Sunday 1 and Monday 2 February, 8pm-5am each night (2 nights). Short detours available.
• SH38 between Lake Waikaremoana Holiday Park and Tuai: Overnight closures are underway until Saturday 28 February, Sunday to Friday nights, 8pm-6am (6 nights a week). More information.

State Highway 2 Hawke's Bay Expressway

Work is ramping up on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS) project with multiple worksites active along the expressway. Here’s what to expect:

SH2 Tutaekuri River Bridge

• Overnight work from Monday 19 to Wednesday 21 January, 8pm-5am each night
• Stop/go traffic management will be in place either side of the bridge. Expect minor delays.
• The planned piling work for the new bridge has been postponed to February. We’ll confirm the new start date and traffic management details soon. More information.

SH2 at Meeanee Road overpass

• Overnight closures are underway until Thursday 22 January (Sunday to Thursdays), 8pm-5am each night for flexible median barrier removal and road resurfacing
• Traffic in both directions will be diverted off SH2 at the Meeanee Road off-ramps and back onto SH2 via the on-ramps. Expect minor delays.
• During the day, both lanes will be open under a 70km/h temporary speed limit.

SH2 Taradale Road roundabout to Meeanee Road

• Overnight closures starting Sunday 25 January to Thursday 26 February, Sunday to Thursday nights, 8pm-5am each night (5 nights a week)
• Work includes flexible median barrier removal, temporary paving, line marking and the installation of temporary safety barrier.
• Detour suitable for all vehicles including HPMV via Meeanee Road, Lee Road, Gloucester Street and Taradale Road (and reverse). Overdimensional vehicles and emergency services will be escorted through the site.

Take extra care when driving on the Expressway. Your patience helps keep everyone safe - thank you.

More information about the HB Expressway RoNS project.

State Highway 50

SH50 Prebensen Drive/SH2 Hawke’s Bay Expressway roundabout

• Work for the Napier CVSC is underway until end 2026
• No delays are expected as the work is off to the side of the road and a shoulder closure is in place. 

SH50 Prebensen Drive/Hyderabad Road roundabout

• Excavation and retaining wall works are underway until Monday 19 January, 7am-5:30pm, Monday to Fridays
• Partial lane closure for left northbound lane from 9am-3pm each day, with 30km/h temporary speed limit in place during work hours.

SH50 Ahuriri, between Customs Quay/Bridge St roundabout and Pandora Road roundabout

• Overnight closures for resealing the road on Sunday 1 and Monday 2 February, 8pm-5am each night (2 nights)
• Both roundabouts will remain open to traffic. Emergency services will be assisted if required.
• Detour for light vehicles: Hyderabad Road, Thackery Street and Tennyson Street onto Marine Parade, Breakwater Road and onto Ahuriri Bypass (and reverse).
• Detour for HPMV: Hyderabad Road, SH51 Georges Drive, SH51 Ellison Street, Marine Parade (and reverse).

State Highway 51

SH51 Taradale Road, between Hyderabad Road roundabout and Alpers Terrace

• Napier City Council is upsizing stormwater culverts to reduce flooding in central Napier. Work started last week and will continue for about 6 months.
• From Wednesday 14 January, this section of SH51 Taradale Road is reduced to one lane in each direction. This layout will stay in place for up to 2 weeks while crews remove the central traffic island.
• Please allow extra travel time and follow temporary signs. More information.

SH51 Tutaekuri Bridge (Waitangi)

• Bridge repairs by TREC are ongoing until mid-February mid-December, 7am-6pm
• From Monday 19 January, stop/go traffic management will be in place to allow trucks to/from site.

Upgrade underway on SH51 in central Napier

Napier City Council (NCC) has begun upgrading the stormwater culverts beneath SH51 Taradale, between Alpers Terrace and Hyderabad Road roundabout.

From Wednesday this week, Taradale Road is temporarily reduced from 4 to 2 lanes – one lane in both directions. This change allows roadworkers to safely remove the central traffic island, which will be reinstated once the project is complete. We’re working closely with NCC to minimise disruption to state highway traffic.

This project is expected to take around 6 months to complete, and during this time you’ll notice temporary road layout changes. We’ll keep you updated in this newsletter so you can plan ahead.

Check out the council’s great explainer video on Facebook.

State Highway 5 Napier to Taupō

SH5 various locations

• Road resealing in various locations near Glengarry, Tarawera and Te Haroto near the school. 
• Stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place, with up to 10 minute delays. This work is weather dependent and may be changed at short notice.

State Highway 2 Central Hawke's Bay

SH2 between Victoria Street and past Racecourse Road, Waipawa

• Due to equipment issues and poor weather this week, the 6 nights of resealing have been rescheduled for Monday 26 to Saturday 31 January, 7pm-6am each night. The work will be completed 6am Sunday 1 January
• Stop/go traffic management and 30km/hr temporary speed limit will be in place, with up to 10 minute delays.

State Highway 2 North

SH2 Devil’s Elbow, between Aropaoanui Road and Waikoau Hill

• Overnight closures for final asphalting by the Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) alliance starting Sunday 18 January until Thursday 5 February, Sunday to Thursday nights, 9pm-5am (5 nights a week)
• These works are weather dependent. Contingency dates are Sunday 8 February at midnight (12am) until 5am Monday 9 February, then Monday 9 to Friday 13 February, 9pm-5am each night.
• No detours are available, please plan ahead. Emergency services will be assisted if required. More information.

SH2 White Pine Bush

• Road rebuild is underway until Friday 23 January
• Stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limit will be in place, with up to 15 minute delays.

SH2 Whirinaki

• A temporary diversion road at Whirinaki is now in use as part of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s flood protection project.
• Please take care, stick to the 50km/h temporary speed limit and follow all signage instructions. Facebook.

SH2 north of Hawke’s Bay Airport, Westshore

• Preparation work for the in-road scales as part of the Napier Commercial Vehicle Safety Centre (CVSC) project was set to begin this week, but has been rescheduled to February. We’ll let you know when the new start date is confirmed. 

State Highway 38 Wairoa to Waikaremoana

SH38 between Lake Waikaremoana Holiday Park and Tuai

• Overnight closures for underslip repairs by TREC are underway until Saturday 28 February 2026, Sunday to Friday nights, 8pm-6am each night (6 nights a week)
• No viable detour, emergency services will be assisted through the site. Traffic bulletin and Facebook.

SH38 various locations

• Pavement maintenance is underway in some locations until end of March 2026, Monday to Friday, 7am-5pm
• Stop/go traffic management with up to 10 minute delays.

More information

Please note there may be other minor state highway works not listed in this update. All work above is carried out on behalf of NZTA, unless otherwise stated.

For more information on the Hawke's Bay state highway maintenance programme, contact info@nzta.govt.nz visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/sh-maintenance-programme/hawkes-bay or call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49).

The Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) alliance sends regular updates about recovery work on Hawke’s Bay state highways. To receive these, sign up on their website here. For questions about TREC activity, please contact info@trec.nz.