Taranaki state highway planned roadworks

Saturday 11 to Friday 17 April

10 April 2026

Kia ora,

We are preparing for the potential impact that Cyclone Vaianu may cause on the state highway network across the North Island.

In partnership with MetService, we are using available information to plan ahead. We encourage the public to use the time before the cyclone reaches New Zealand to prepare.

Contractors across the North Island are mobilising resources in preparedness and are undertaking proactive maintenance (such as clearing drains and culverts) to minimise the impact where possible.

Response actions include attending any slips, flooding, fallen trees or other events on the state highway network that may restrict or prevent access. These actions will only be undertaken if it is safe to do so.

We will keep people informed as the event unfolds. The current status of the state highway network can be found via Journey Planner (journeys.nzta.govt.nz) and regular updates will be posted on the NZTA Manawatū-Whanganui and Taranaki social media accounts on Facebook and X.

Road workers will work as hard as possible to manage access, however as events unfold, we will be decisive about closing roads if safety of road users or road workers is compromised. Safety is our top priority.

While we are providing information on planned works for the week ahead in this newsletter, it is possible they may not take place due to the cyclone.

Please follow the advice of Civil Defence and emergency services and keep up to date with the latest information on preparing for the cyclone via Taranaki Emergency Management’s website or Facebook page.

Roadworks this week

State highways with scheduled works this week:

• State Highway 3 (SH3) – Piopio 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 Cyclone Vaianu 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 10 April 2026.

State Highway 3 – Piopio to New Plymouth

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

SH3 Piopio: Work to replace a culvert between Ruru Street and Petch Road is underway until the end of April, weather permitting. Work is running from 6am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, under stop/go traffic management.

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

SH3 Awakino Gorge: Work to repair a slip is underway until early May. Stop/go traffic management is in place 24/7 until the work is complete.

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

State Highway 4

SH4 Te Mapara: Drainage works are underway near Tuhua Road until the end of April, 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 Douglas to Whangamomona: Urgent patch repairs are underway to fix damaged pavement and improve the road surface ahead of winter. Work will continue until mid-April under stop/go traffic management, with delays of around 5 to 10 minutes.

Work underway on replacing the Kururau Stream Water Drive Bridge.

State Highway 43

SH43 Aukopae: Bridge replacement works are ongoing at Kururau Stream Water Drive. Stop/go temporary traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit is in place until Friday 1 May 2026. Work is running 7am to 5pm Monday to Friday, (weather permitting), and delays of up to 5 minutes are expected.

SH43 Douglas to Whangamomona: Urgent patch repairs are underway to fix damaged pavement and improve the road surface ahead of winter. Work will continue until mid-April under stop/go traffic management, with delays of around 5 to 10 minutes.

State Highway 44

SH44 Breakwater Road: The second phase of the road rebuild is underway until late April, weather permitting. The work includes drainage improvements and rebuilding the road with new asphalt. It is being completed in stages with stop/go traffic management in place at times, and delays of around 5 to 10 minutes expected.

State Highway 45

SH45 Ōkato: A road rebuild is underway between Leith and Lower Pitone Roads until mid-April, weather permitting. Work is running from 6am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Stop/go traffic management is in place with delays of around 15 to 20 minutes.

Upcoming closure

SH3 Mountain Road: Due to poor weather forecast for this weekend, the asphalt patch repairs planned for SH3 Mountain Road between Johns Road and Surrey Road will now take place on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 May under full night closures from 7pm to 5am, weather permitting. These repairs will maintain the road before drainage improvements and a full rebuild are completed next summer. Road users should plan ahead and use SH45 as the alternative route. The road will be open outside these hours, but a temporary speed limit will remain until work is complete.

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.