Gisborne state highway planned roadworks

Saturday 20 September to Friday 26 September

19 September 2025

Kia ora,

Welcome to the first issue of the Tairāwhiti/Gisborne state highway planned works update. This weekly newsletter will keep you informed about what’s happening across the region’s state highway network – from the summer road renewals to key recovery work – so you can plan ahead.

Over the coming months, roadworkers will be doing essential maintenance work on state highway roads across the country, including road rebuilding and resurfacing. To be long-lasting and effective, this work must be done during the warmer, drier months. It can't be done during winter when the weather is wet and cold.

With the Tairāwhiti/Gisborne 2025/26 summer renewals programme set to begin next month, our roadworkers already out on State Highway 35, preparing key sites with pre-seal repairs and drainage upgrades – getting the network ready for the summer season ahead.

Whenever you come to a worksite on the state highways, remember that our roadworkers are doing their best to complete their work and keep you moving. Please be respectful and follow their advice and instructions.

We know roadworks can be disruptive, and we appreciate your patience while we undertake this work. If you’re travelling during the upcoming school holidays, please take care and check Journey Planner for the latest information.

Ngā mihi nui,

The NZTA Waka Kotahi Tāirawhiti team

Information current as at 11:09am on 19/09/2025

Upcoming roadworks

Dates and details are subject to change at short notice, based on weather or other unforeseen factors.

Check Journey Planner for the latest travel information and journey times before you travel in the region.

State Highway 35

Various locations

• Ongoing, 6am-6pm
• Due to pre-seal repairs, tree removal, and drainage upgrades, 0-10 minute stop/go traffic management and temporary speed restrictions will be in place. Journey Planner.

Hikuwai Bridge No.1

• Ongoing, 24/7
• Due to the recovery project by TREC, temporary speed limits are in place. More information is available here.

Mangahauini Gorge

• Ongoing until mid-2026, 24/7
• Due to the recovery project by TREC, 0-10 minute stop/go traffic management and temporary speed limits will be in place at various locations. Learn more about the project here.

Rototahe

• Ongoing for 6 months, Monday to Friday, 7am-5pm
• Due to the flood resilience project by TREC, 5-10 minute stop/go traffic management and 30km/hr temporary speed limits will be in place for northbound traffic. Learn more about the project here.

State Highway 2 North

Otoko Hill

• Ongoing, 24/7
• Due to multiple recovery works by TREC, stop/go traffic management will be in place. Learn more about the project here.

North of Rakauroa Road

• Ongoing, 6am-6pm
• Due to drop out repairs, the passing lane is closed.

Hakanui Straight

• Ongoing until mid-2026, 24/7
• Due to the flood resilience project by TREC, 5-10 minute stop/go traffic lights and other traffic management will be in place.
• Automated traffic lights – remember to wait for green: The traffic lights here are fully automated and wirelessly synced to let one direction through at a time. Driving through a red light risks a crash and throws the system out of sync, causing delays while crews reset the timing. Thanks for helping to keep the site safe and traffic flowing. Learn more about the project here.

State Highway 2 South

Mōrere (across the regional boundary in Hawke’s Bay)

• Wednesday 17 September - Wednesday 24 September, during the day
• Due to pre-seal repairs in Hawke’s Bay, 0-5 min stop/go traffic management and 30km/hr speed restriction will be in place. Journey Planner.

Drainage renewals kick off for the season

This week marks the start of the 2025/26 drainage renewals programme, with roadworkers upgrading drainage at key locations on State Highways 35 and 2. Like pre-seal repairs, drainage upgrades are done ahead of the upcoming road surface renewals.

Before we lay down new road surfaces, we need to make sure water can drain away properly. Good drainage helps to protect the new road surface, making it last longer and safer to drive on.

You’ll see our drainage teams out on the network from now through to April next year. Please follow traffic management signs, expect minimal delays and don’t forget to give the crews a wave as you pass.

Below: Inlet drain on SH35 at Hicks Bay Hill – the first site in this season’s drainage renewal programme.

More information

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

All work listed above is being undertaken on behalf of NZTA, unless otherwise stated. The Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) alliance is also undertaking recovery work on our behalf in Tairāwhiti this season.

For more information on the Gisborne state highway maintenance programme, contact us at Gisbornemaintenance@nzta.govt.nz, visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/tairawhiti or call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49).

TREC send a regular newsletter about the recovery work on the state highways in Tairāwhiti. If you'd like to recieve these, sign up here. If you have any questions about TREC activity, please contact info@trec.nz