Taranaki state highway planned roadworks

Saturday 28 February to Friday 6 March

27 February 2026

Kia ora,

It’s been a busy few weeks across Taranaki’s state highway network, with a significant amount of maintenance and renewal work underway. Road workers are working hard across multiple sites to keep the network in good shape, minimise disruption, and complete work as quickly and safely as possible. One of the standout efforts is on State Highway 3 (SH3) at Uruti, where the road rebuild has wrapped up almost a month ahead of schedule.

If you’re travelling through the region, please allow extra time, be patient with our workers, and follow all temporary speed limits and traffic management on site. These measures are essential to keeping everyone safe while crews get the job done.

Before you travel, check the NZTA Journey Planner for the latest updates and expected travel times: journeys.nzta.govt.nz.

Roadworks this week

State highways with scheduled works this week:

• State Highway 3 (SH3) Awakino to New Plymouth
• State Highway 4 (SH4)
• State Highway 43 (SH43)
• State Highway 44 (SH44)
• State Highway 45 (SH45)

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

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

Information current as at 12pm on 27 February 2026.

State Highway 3 – Awakino to New Plymouth

We’re completing a range of renewals and improvements on SH3 to make the most of the construction season and minimise ongoing disruption to road users. Allow an extra 40 to 60 minutes for your journey when travelling on this corridor.

SH3 Awakino Gorge: This section of road is under 24/7 stop/go traffic management after a rockfall blocked the northern end of the gorge last week. Stop/go traffic management is in place. We will provide an update on plans for a repair of the slip once these are confirmed.

SH3 Piopio: Two sections of road are being rebuilt near Paekaka Road between Hunt and Wall roads from Monday 23 March, weather permitting. Work is running from 6am to 7pm under stop/go traffic management. 

SH3 Mangapepeke Culvert replacements: Work is underway until April to replace 2 ageing culverts. Stop/go traffic management is in place. Please expect changing temporary traffic management at times due to other nearby improvements.

SH3 Tongapōrutu: Underslip repairs are underway until late February. Stop/go traffic management is in place.

State Highway 4

SH4 Te Mapara: A road rebuild is underway near Tuhua Road until Monday 23 March, weather permitting. Work is running from 6am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday, under stop/go traffic management with delays of 10 to 15 minutes.

State Highway 43

SH43 Tāngarākau Gorge: Due to weather disruptions, scour and erosion repairs underneath the bridge are now expected to be completed on Saturday 7 March, weather permitting. Work is taking place from 6am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, under stop/go traffic management with delays of up to 30 minutes. Delays are due to large machinery on the road to access the underside of the bridge.

State Highway 44

SH44 Breakwater Road: A road rebuild will take place between Lawry Street and Pioneer Road from Sunday 1 March for about 2 weeks, weather permitting. Work will run from 7pm to 6am each night under stop/go traffic management, with delays of around 5 to 10 minutes expected. Access to side roads may be restricted at times, so please plan ahead and use alternative routes where possible. Crews will return in the following weeks to rebuild another section between Peace Avenue and Ngamotu Road. More details will be shared once confirmed.

State Highway 45

SH45 Ōkato: Resurfacing will take place at the Carthew Street and South Road roundabout from Tuesday 24 February for 6 to 7 nights, weather permitting. Work will run from 6pm to 6am under stop/go traffic management, with delays of around 5 to 10 minutes expected. Side roads, including Old South Road and Carthew Street, will close temporarily during work hours. All roads will be open during the day, but a temporary speed limit will remain until the site is complete.

SH45 Ōkato: A road rebuild will take place between Leith and Lower Pitone Roads from Monday 2 March for about 2 to 3 weeks, weather permitting. Work will run from 6am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Drainage work will be completed during the first week, under stop/go with delays of 5 to 10 minutes.  The rebuild will start from Monday 9 March under stop/go traffic management with delays of around 15 to 20 minutes expected.

SH45 Manaia: A road rebuild is underway between Hassard Street and Kearin Road until Monday 23 March, weather permitting. Work is running from 6am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday, under stop/go traffic management with delays of around 5 to 10 minutes expected.

Upcoming closures

SH43 Whanganui River Road: A road rebuild will take place between Mangaparo and Mangatarata roads at Nevins Hill from Monday 9 March for about 2 to 3 weeks, weather permitting. Work will run from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday. Each day the road will be closed from:

• 9am to 12pm
• 1pm to 3pm.

The road will be open under stop/go traffic management at all other times until the work is complete (including at night) with delays of 20 to 30 minutes.

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 Taranaki state highway maintenance programme, contact us at info@nzta.govt.nz or 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 444 449) or visit our website nzta.govt.nz/taranaki-maintenance.