The section of highway is being rebuilt over a period of two weeks, including seven days of full daytime road closures, and intermittent stop/go traffic management.

On the following days, the road will be closed from 8am to 4.30pm:

• Monday 15 January to Thursday 18 January
• Tuesday 23 January to Thursday 25 January

The road will be open outside of the 8am to 4.30pm period on construction days.

During the closures traffic will be detoured via SH47, SH46, SH1 and SH49 – please note this detour will add around 90 minutes to journey times between National Park and Tohunga Junction.

People travelling to run in Whakapapa to Turoa Goat Adventure Run on Saturday 20 January, or to take part in the national memorial to commemorate the 70^th Anniversary of the Tangiwai disaster on Sunday 21 January will be able to so without disruption –  there will be no works happening on the road from Friday 19 January to Monday 22 January.

The NZTA Journey Planner will have the latest information for this site, and all other roadworks and road hazards that may affect your journey.

Journey Planner

State Highway 4 – Makatote Viaduct works summary

Work period

Friday 12 January to Saturday 27 January, weather permitting. 

Schedule of works (weather permitting and subject to change)

Upcoming work requires a block of closures – Sunday to Thursday each week, running from 14 January to early February.

There will be detours in place, 7pm-5am, on the following dates:

Northbound: January 14 to 18

Southbound: January 21 to 25

Southbound: January 30 to Feb 1

Northbound: February 4, and 6 to 8

The detours are different for each direction due to roadworks in Ngāruawāhia town which can’t accommodate southbound highway traffic.

The northbound detour takes SH1 traffic via Ngāruawāhia on the old highway between Horotiu and Gordonton Road interchanges. HPMVs must use SH1B and overweight vehicles need to use SH2/27, under an existing overweight permit.

Southbound detour traffic will use SH1B, re-joining SH1 via Lake Road, but heavy vehicles (50 tonnes and above) must continue on SH1B, including the local road detour around Telephone Road, and connect to SH1 again at Cambridge or via SH26 into Hamilton.

The detours needed to allow safety barriers to be moved, lanes surfaced and traffic switches – all part of the current remedial and safety improvements.

On-going work includes:

• reshaping and strengthening the median area
• drainage improvements
• resurfacing, depending on the existing pavement condition.

A final, continuous asphalt surface will complete the repair works, replacing the temporary chipseal and asphalt surfaces which have been in place during earlier temporary repairs and while moisture monitoring was conducted.

The safety improvements needed to bring the road up to 110km/h standard include making side barriers continuous, upgrading some barriers, additional maintenance and turnaround bays for emergency services, shoulder widening and relocating some lighting.

The Ngāruawāhia section opened in late 2013. It was built by Fletcher Construction under a design and construct contract. The current works are led by Fletcher Construction with the repair portion completed under a cost-sharing arrangement with the Transport Agency.

The works are expected to finish in mid-2025 although the Transport Agency and its contractors are continuing to look at programming and resources to have the work finish earlier.

View/download larger map

Waikato Expressway – Ngāruawāhia section update – October 2023

The work is scheduled to take a fortnight, finishing on 28 January, weather permitting, and will take place between 7pm and 4am Sunday to Thursday.

The lane will be closed between Dudley Road in Inglewood and Monmouth Road in Stratford.

The northbound lane will remain open on Friday and Saturday nights.

During this period, northbound road users are encouraged to plan ahead and take alternative routes. SH45 is the alternative state highway, adding approximately 20 minutes to the journey.

The southbound lane will remain open during resealing, however there will be a temporary speed limit in place, for the safety of all road users. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is advising southbound motorists to expect delays during this time.

Access for emergency services and residents will also remain open, and crews will be available to assist people through the site if and when needed.

Once the work has been completed, a speed restriction will remain in place temporarily to allow for the seal to set – it’s really important people slow down and stay at the speed limit, to minimise any risk of damage to vehicles.

Crews will return to site at off-peak times to complete line marking and sweeping to ensure loose chip is removed.

Drivers need to plan ahead and factor the closure into their travel plans as the road over the Remutaka Hill will be closed to traffic on Sunday night between 9pm and 4am.

Access to the route will be strictly limited. However, escorted crossings can be reserved for people who have booked in advance.

This must be done by 4pm Friday 12 January. Bookings can be made on our website:

Fill out the Remutaka Hill closure escort booking online form

Full closures allow road crews to work more efficiently and complete repairs faster. It is also much safer as some maintenance work requires large machinery that uses most of the road area.

New Zealand Transport Agency/Waka Kotahi understands these closures do cause travel delays. However, these regular maintenance closures are essential for keeping a vital state highway link open. They also significantly reduce the risk of bigger failures, which could create more disruption for road users. We appreciate your patience and understanding while our contractors carry out their work.

Important information for Remutaka Hill closures

• Escorted crossings are available during closure nights but must be booked in advance. We always communicate well before planned closures and provide contact details so bookings can be made.
• Bookings can be made online on the Waka Kotahi website (see link above)
• Bookings are essential – drivers who turn up without one risk being turned away. If you have a genuine emergency on the night, the hill manager will decide how best to help you.
• The escorted crossings are for light vehicles only. To keep our contractors safe, heavy vehicles can’t be accommodated.
• Full access is always available for emergency services.

State Highway 2, Remutaka Hill, planned night closures January – June 2024

More information about planned maintenance closures for Remutaka Hill can be found on our website:

• SH2 Remutaka Hill road night closures
• Wellington Transport Alliance