Waikato state highway maintenance programme

Saturday 21 February to Friday 27 February 2026

20 February 2026

State highway maintenance and renewals update

State highways with scheduled works starting next week:

• SH2 Karangahake Gorge
• SH1 North of Tokoroa
• SH1 Desert Road
• SH1 East Taupō Arterial
• SH3/SH30 Te Kūiti

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

Please be aware that there may be other less disruptive state highway works not listed in this newsletter.

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

SH39 Mangati Bridge

The Mangati Stream Bridge connects traffic from Tihiroa to Pirongia, further north to Ngahinapouri and further south to Otorohanga and carries around 1000 heavy vehicles per day.
Heavy, localised intense downpours on Friday 13 February caused significant flooding across the southwestern Waikato area and the volume and force of the water channelled into the stream eroded the abutments and carried large amounts of debris against the bridge, causing water to flow over and around it. More will be known as debris is cleared and further assessments are made.
The main components of the bridge including piles, abutments, beams, and decking have all been severely damaged which means the bridge is unable to be repaired.
Installing a single-lane temporary bridge is currently being progressed to span the stream and reconnect locals while a permanent solution is built. Both temporary and permanent options will require work covering design, consenting, and procurement, alongside clearing and demolishing the old bridge.
As we are in the early stages of this work, plans and a timeline have not yet been confirmed. Once they are, these will be shared with the community.
In the meantime, it is anticipated that this section of SH39 will remain closed for some time. A detour is available via SH3 north and south of  the closure. Localised travel in the area and to and from SH31-Kāwhia Road can also use local roads and/or SH39 to the south, as indicated in the detour map below.

SH39 Mangati Bridge, south of Pirongia

West Waikato

Work starting next week

SH3/30 Te Kūiti: From Monday 23 February overnight road resurfacing will begin on SH3, from Seddon Street to SH30 and on SH30 from SH3 intersection to Lawrence Street. Work will be done Sunday to Thursday nights, between 8pm and 6am, and is expected to take 8 nights to complete. There will be a detour via Awakino Road, Taupiri Street, Sheridan Street, Esplanade, Jennings Street, Sommerville Road and Te Kumi Station Road. Journey planner location

Work starting soon

SH1 Cambridge Expressway: Work will take place between Cambridge and Tamahere on SH1 and will start in March with motorists encouraged to plan ahead for significant delays.
More information on the stages of work will be provided over the coming week.

SH1C Lorne Street, Hamilton: Road resurfacing will start on Sunday 15 March and take 3 nights to complete between SH3 Ōhaupō Road and SH1C Cobham Drive. Crews will be working between 8pm and 5am. There will be stop/go traffic management and lane closures in place.

SH23 Massey Street, Hamilton: Resurfacing work will start on Massey Street on Sunday 8 March at night between 8pm and 5am each night. SH23 between SH1C Greenwood Street and Rifle Range Road will be closed to all through traffic while the work is taking place, with a detour will be available via Killarney Road.

Work underway

SH31 Kāwhia Road: Work has started near Te Rauamoa Road, tree and vegetation removal will start then shoulder and drainage works followed by a road rebuild. The entire group of works will take 10 weeks to complete finishing towards the end of April. Stop/go traffic management will be in place 24/7 with a temporary speed limit while the work is ongoing. Journey planner location

Traffic management will continue at various slip sites until repairs are completed, which is currently expected by mid-2026. During this time, motorists may encounter stop/go operations, temporary speed limits, and short delays. Motorists should allow extra time for your journey, follow all temporary traffic management and posted speed limits, and take care through work areas.

SH3 Ōhaupō to Te Awamutu: Crews have returned to complete the remaining 4 sections between Ōhaupō and Te Awamutu. Work will take place Sunday to Thursday, both during the day and at night with completion due at the end of February. Stop/go traffic management will be in place while the work is ongoing, followed by aftercare on the worksite which will include rolling, sweeping, and line marking.

SH3 Te Mapara (between Piopio and Te Kūiti): Drainage works followed by a road rebuild has started and expected to take 6 weeks. There will be stop/go traffic management in place along with speed restrictions from 7am to 7pm each day. The traffic management will remain in place overnight while the road rebuild is ongoing. Journey planner location

SH1/SH29 Piarere intersection: Work to install streetlight ducting is ongoing with shoulder closures and a reduced speed limit of 60km/h in place on all approaches to the Piarere roundabout. Drivers are asked to take extra care while these works are underway.

South Waikato

SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru (T2W) accelerated maintenance project: There will be delays on SH1 that will vary according to the work being carried out, so please allow extra time to complete your journey and keep an eye on the Journey Planner for updates.

Work starting next week

SH1 North of Tokoroa: 2 nights of chipsealing work is scheduled to begin on Friday 20 February on the Puriri Road and West Road intersections of SH1. It will take place from 6am to 7pm, under stop/go traffic management. Outside of these hours, temporary speed limits will be in place.

SH1 Ātiamuri to Wairākei: The remaining T2W chipsealing work in this area is scheduled for Tuesday 24 February near Tutukau Road, overnight from 7pm and 6am, under stop/go traffic management. Outside of these working hours, the road will be open, with temporary speed restrictions throughout the work zone. Please note that roadwork additional to T2W will also be undertaken in this area.

SH1 Desert Road: T2W’s final asphalting at 2 sites near Rangipō has been completed, and the focus has shifted to the 3 southern sites: Mangamate, Oturere and Mangatoetoenui. Despite the weather forcing the postponement of the intended Sunday 15 February start date in this location, the work is underway and remains scheduled to be completed in early March. The narrow road width in this area known as the 3 Sisters necessitates overnight road closures, Sunday to Thursday nights, between 7pm and 6am. All north- and south-bound SH1 vehicles will be detoured via SH41 Tūrangi, SH47, SH4, SH49 to Waiouru and vice versa. Detour map. In the event of additional weather delays, shifts will be rescheduled to the next suitable fine evening. In some cases, it may also go ahead on a Friday night to make up for the lost shift. Daytime chipsealing is also underway in the area between Oturere and Mangatoetoenui and will continue until Sunday 22 February (with the potential to continue into Monday 23 February if shifts are lost to weather). Stop/go will be in place from 6am to 7pm.

SH1 East Taupō Arterial: Two nights of chipsealing work near Centennial Drive is scheduled for Sunday 22 and Monday 23 February, from 7pm to 6am, under stop/go traffic management. Outside of these hours, temporary speed limits will be in place. We’ll return to complete a week of overnight asphalting under stop/go in early March.

SH1 Taupō: One night of resealing is to take place on Sunday 21 February between 6pm and 6am on SH1 between the SH1/SH5 Roundabout and the SH1/Anzac Memorial Drive Roundabout. While the work is underway there will be a southbound closure of SH1. Light vehicles can detour via Napier Road and Lake Terrace. Heavy vehicles will queue and then be escorted through once the work is complete.

Work starting soon

SH1 Taupō to Tūrangi: Overnight stop/go will be in place from mid to late March to early April at the SH1/Kiko Road intersection, and from late March to early April on SH1 at Motuoapa.  

Taupō Event: ANZCO Foods Ironman New Zealand is taking place on Saturday 7 March. SH5 will be closed from 6am to 6pm between Wairakei and Reporoa as part of the cycle stage of the event. The alternative route for traffic between Taupō and Rotorua is via SH1 and SH30, through Ātiamuri and Horohoro. Broadlands Road as well as the Broadlands Road off-ramp onto East Taupō Arterial Road will be closed between 6am and 7pm. Cyclists training ahead of the event will be on the road so please drive with caution, reduce speed when approaching and passing cyclists and allow a minimum of 1.5 metres when overtaking.

Work underway

SH1 Lichfield: Bridge maintenance has started south of Lichfield near Fonterra and will continue until early March. There is stop/go traffic management in place 24/7, delays are to be expected.

SH32 Tihoi area: Until late April, Ventia will be doing maintenance on overhead powerlines, between Tihoi Mill Road and Whakamaru Road. There may be short periods of road closures to allow for cables to be hauled across the road.

SH32 Whakamaru Road: Day works started Wednesday 28 January and will be ongoing for 5 weeks. The work will take place between 6.30am and 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. There will be 2-way stop/go traffic management in place.

SH1 Tokoroa township: Work began here on Tuesday 10 February on SH1/Mossop Road, including the intersection of SH1/SH32, and is scheduled to continue until Tuesday 24 February. Work is taking place Sunday to Thursday nights, between 7pm and 6am, under stop/go traffic management. Outside of these hours, the road will remain open, with temporary speed restrictions in place. If there’s a need to work the occasional Friday night due to weather delays, it will be updated on the electronic message boards and the NZTA Journey Planner.

SH1 north of Putāruru: Crews will be completing road rebuilding at the SH1/SH28 Whites Road intersection north of Putāruru, in a week-long rebuild scheduled to begin at the end of February. There’s additional maintenance and road rebuilding planned on SH28 itself and at the SH28/SH5 intersection; enabling work for this started on Monday 9 February. Work will be Monday to Saturday, between 6am and 6pm, using stop/go traffic management. This will be followed by road rebuilding that will require 24/7 traffic management. Asphalting will then be completed in early March using overnight stop/go traffic management, Sunday to Thursday, between 7pm and 6am.

SH1 Motuoapa: Additional to the T2W work at the SH1/Kiko Road intersection, a road rebuild is progressing on a 650m section of SH1 through Motuoapa and is scheduled to continue until Thursday 5 March. Traffic management is in place 24/7, but work is occurring only from 6am till 7pm, with one lane open at all times and stop/go traffic management. A reduced speed environment, pedestrian restrictions and limited parking apply within the active work area. Significant delays are to be expected.

SH5/SH28 Harwoods Road: Stop/go is in place weekdays 6am to 6pm as work continues on the roundabout being built at this intersection east of Tīrau. The roundabout will be completed in March.

SH49 Volcanic Loop Highway: Day works have restarted between 6.30am and 6.30pm each day near Tangiwai. There is stop/go traffic management in place with a temporary reduced speed limit. The work will be ongoing for 4 weeks. Journey planner location

East Waikato

Lane closures remain on SH2 in the Karangahake Gorge and at 2 locations on SH25 on Kūaotunu Hill and Pumpkin Hill north of Tairua, as a result of damage caused by the January storms.
There are more than 20 sites along SH25 and through the Karangahake Gorge needing significant repairs, and our recovery team is working at speed to design the repairs needed and prioritise the works.
All these sites will continue to be closely monitored.
NZTA thanks the Coromandel community and visitors for their patience while we go about restoring full access to SH25 and through the Karangahake Gorge.

Work starting next week

SH29 Hamilton to Tauranga: Due to the number of worksites on SH29 between Hinuera and Tauriko, please allow up to 20 minutes extra time for travel. Check the NZTA Journey Planner for the latest travel information and journey times before starting your journey: journeys.nzta.govt.nz

SH2 Karangahake Gorge: Crews will be working on the 3 sites at the western end of the gorge, where there is already a lane closure in place – this will be extended to accommodate these works.
Lane closures will be needed at each site for the repairs to be done, so the work will be sequenced to minimise impacts on traffic.
Completing all the repairs is expected to take up to 3 months, depending on weather conditions. Road users should expect lane closures and speed reductions through the gorge during this time.

Work starting soon

SH27/Link Road, Waharoa: 2 nights of resurfacing will take place at night from Monday 2 March, between 8pm and 5am. There will be stop/go traffic management and a reduced speed limit in place. Delays are to be expected.  

SH2 Rosemont Road, Waihī: SH2 Rosemont Road will be closed for 2 nights for resurfacing from Wednesday 4 March between 8pm and 5am. There will be a detour via SH2, Kenny Street, Silverton Road, Consols Street and back to SH2.

Work underway

SH29 Hinuera: A road rebuild started on Monday 16 February between 7am and 6pm on SH29 between SH27 and Rangitanuku Road. The work is due to be completed by Friday 27 February.  There will be stop/go traffic management in place with delays of up to 15 minutes.

North Waikato

Work starting next week

SH1 Nikau Road to Bombay interchange: There will be a full northbound closure on Sunday 22 and Monday 23 February between 9pm and 5am for maintenance. Traffic will still be able to travel north using one of the southbound lanes. Please slow down and follow traffic management instructions. 

SH1 Island Block Road to Hampton Downs: There will be a full southbound closure on Thursday 26 February between 9pm and 5am for maintenance. Traffic will still be able to travel south using one of the northbound lanes. Please slow down and follow traffic management instructions.  

SH1 Hampton Downs to Te Kauwhata: There will be a full southbound closure on Monday 23 and Wednesday 25 February between 9pm and 5am for maintenance. Please use the recommended detour via Whangamarino Road, Paddy Road, Summertime Lane, Hall Road and Rodda Road.  

SH2 Homestead Road to Maxwell Road, Maramarua: Stop/go traffic management will be in place on Sunday 22 and Monday 23 of February for maintenance between 9pm and 5am.

SH2 Steen Road to SH25 Roundabout, Maramarua: Stop/go traffic management will be in place from Sunday 22 to Thursday 26 of February for maintenance between 9pm and 5am.

SH2 Dobson Road to Pendergrast Road, Mangatāwhiri: Stop/go traffic management will be in place on Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 of February for maintenance between 9pm and 5am.

Waikato summer renewals map

The map below indicates worksites which may inpact your journeys this summer maintenance season.

More information

For more information on the Waikato state highway maintenance programme, contact us at waikatomaintenance@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/waikato-maintenance

View our state highway maintenance frequently asked questions.

For information about what’s happening with other infrastructure projects across the region please visit Waikato projects website