Work on the southbound lanes and the Koura Drive on and off ramps is starting from this week.

This is the second half of the project, overlaying 6 kilometres of southbound lanes with a new layer of structural asphalt.

While this work is underway:

• Traffic will use the northbound lanes, one lane in each direction with speed restrictions in place between Koura Drive and the Horotiu Interchange.
• The Koura Drive southbound on and off ramps are scheduled to close from today, Monday 22 July, for approximately 2 weeks. While these ramps are closed, traffic wanting to access the expressway southbound from Koura Drive will be advised to use the northbound onramp and turn around using the Horotiu Interchange. Traffic wanting to exit the Expressway at Koura Drive will stay on SH1C and turn around using the SH1C roundabout at Crawford St/Avalon Drive. This will add approximately 10 minutes to a journey.
• The ramp closures are weather dependant and may be changed if it is too wet or cold to allow asphalt to be laid on those days.

Anyone planning to drive on the Te Rapa section over the next two months is advised to check journeys.nzta.govt.nz for the latest traffic and travel information.

It means highway and offramp closures originally planned for late July and August won’t happen.

New dates for the work are still to be confirmed and an update will be provided when the new schedule is known.

However, contractors will be doing line marking in the area from next week:

• Paekākāriki Interchange northbound on-ramp will be closed between approximately 7 am and 12 noon on Monday, 29 July. 
  • All vehicles will be diverted via SH59 to the Mackays Crossing interchange. The onramp will be re-opened once this is complete. 
• SH59, south of the on-ramp, will have stop/go traffic management in place between approximately 12 noon and 5 pm on Monday, 29 July.
  • The SH59 extension road will also be closed during this time. Please use SH1 if travelling between Paekākāriki and Mackays Crossing. 
• Mackays Crossing Interchange southbound off-ramp will be closed between 9 am and 4 pm on Tuesday, 30 July.
  • A detour will be in place for those wanting to get to Paekākāriki/SH59/Queen Elizabeth Park and Whareroa Farm. 

Work is dependent on a number of factors (including weather) and may be extended to Wednesday 31 July. 

More information about this work can be found on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website:

• Transmission Gully Motorway

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22 July 2024:

New technology is set to improve the monitoring and management of State Highway 1 Te Aranui o Te Rangihaeata/Transmission Gully motorway.

New equipment will be installed along the state highway later this month.. 

The traffic monitoring equipment is being added to the overhead gantry at Mackays Crossing. It will help collect of travel data and help Transport Operations Centre teams better manage this stretch of motorway – making it safer and  more efficient.

This work is happening from Sunday, 28 July until Friday, 30 August. It is part of stage two works for the Transmission Gully motorway project. The work is timed to happen at night when traffic volumes are lower to ensure disruption to drivers is minimised.

It will require highway and off-ramp closures. Detours will be available via the Mackays crossing interchange and drivers can expect short travel delays. Road users should allow extra time for their travel while the work is underway.

Works schedule

Traffic management set up will start at 7 pm, with closures in place from 9 pm. The highway will be fully reopened by 5 am.

• SH1 at Mackays Crossing (southbound lanes) closed: 28 July – 1 August  
• Mackays Crossing Interchange northbound off-ramp closed: 4-8 August 
• SH1 at Mackays Crossing (southbound lanes) closed: 11 August 
• SH1 at Mackays Crossing (northbound lanes, SH59 between Paekākāriki and Mackays Crossing) closed: 12 – 15 August 
• SH1 at Mackays Crossing (north/southbound lanes, SH59 between Paekākāriki and Mackays Crossing) closed: 18 – 22 August 
• SH1 at Mackays Crossing (northbound lanes, SH59 between Paekākāriki and Mackays Crossing) closed: 25 – 26 August 
• SH1 at Mackays Crossing (southbound lanes) closed: 27 – 28 August 

(Additional directional lane closures may be needed overnight 29 – 30 August) 

Detour maps

Southbound closures

Northbound closures

Full closure

Important information 

• Drivers must detour via the off and on-ramps at this interchange (approximately a two-minute detour). The detour for off-ramp closure (4-8 August) will be via the Poplar Ave Interchange (approximately a six-minute detour). 
• The state highway will be reduced to one lane for those passing the worksite in the opposite direction to the closures. There will also be a 30km/h temporary speed limit in place. This is for your safety and the safety of those working on or above the road.  
• These will be short closures between the off and on-ramps at the Mackays Crossing Interchange.

This work is dependent on various factors (especially wind or wet weather) and could be postponed at short notice. If this happens, work will continue the next night or the next suitable weather window.   

It can be frustrating to get held up at roadworks, however crashes can happen when drivers ignore roadworks warning signs and temporary speed limits. Traffic management is there to keep drivers and road crews safe.

More information about this work can be found on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website:

Transmission Gully Motorway

Work to cut and shape the bank and install soil protection will be getting underway from Thursday 25 July and take around 2 weeks to complete. It is weather dependent.

While this work is underway, traffic management will be in place Monday to Friday, between 9am and 3pm, under a 3-way stop/go on SH23 and Greenslade Road.

Outside of this time the road will be open with a shoulder closure and temporary speed limit in place.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) thanks people for their patience while we undertake these important slip repairs.

Crews have been hard at work on-site all day clearing slip material brought down by heavy rain early this morning.

NZTA will continue monitoring the hill for any more movement to ensure it remains safe for road users.

We thank our contractors for the great work to clear the slip material, and we thank road users for their patience while this work was completed.

Roads can be closed at short notice in bad weather. Please check road and weather conditions before you travel: journeys.nzta.govt.nz

We have crews on site working to clear the road as quickly as it is safe to do so. We are also monitoring the hill for any more movement and will only reopen the road when it is safe for motorists to travel through. When we do open the road there will be active traffic management in place.

We ask all traffic to avoid the Paparoa Oakley Road due to a large under slip and for light vehicles to use the Cove Road and heavy vehicles to use SH12/14.

We urge people to check journey planner if they need to travel now. We will provide another update by around 6pm.

Roads can be closed at short notice in bad weather. Please check road and weather conditions before you travel: journeys.nzta.govt.nz

We understand that motorists are keen to plan their travel with the school holidays coming to a close this weekend.

We urge people to check journey planner if they need to travel now. We have people on site who are assessing the road and we will provide a more substantial update at around 3pm today.

Roads can be closed at short notice in bad weather. Please check road and weather conditions before you travel: journeys.nzta.govt.nz

The work is part of the Ōtaki and Ohau safety improvements project and will take place between 7pm and 6am, from Sunday 21 July to Thursday 25 July.

During the overnight work, there will be short sections of stop/go traffic management in Manakau and Ohau, while crews work overnight on the remaining work needed to complete the project. This includes installing motorcycle guard rail at the Manakau Rail Overbridge and repairing road safety barriers in Kuku and Ohau.

Crews will also be installing electronic signage, which will warn road users approaching the Manakau and Ohau overbridges of cyclists and of the curves at each end of the Manakau overbridge.

A temporary 30 kilometre per hour speed restriction will be in place to keep road users and construction crews safe.

The Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvement project, which started earlier last year, has seen more than 8km of road safety barriers installed. This includes stretches of nearly 4.5km of median barrier, and 3.9km of side barrier along the corridor.

The Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvement project also includes three turnaround facilities, painted wide centrelines, and improvements have been made to the State Highway 1/ Waikawa Beach Road and Atkins Road intersections.

Ōtaki to Ohau safety improvement Project Manager Wayne Holcroft says that while work continues on the new highway, the safety improvements that have been implemented, make the existing highway safer now, for everyone who uses it.

“This is one of the most dangerous sections of highway in New Zealand. We have seen multiple hits to the new median barrier since it has been installed. Every time you see a barrier that’s been hit, it’s a reminder the barrier has done its job and potentially stopped a head on collision.”

Mr Holcroft acknowledges the community support during the design and construction of the project.

“Many of the residents and community have been involved in the project since the early design phase, I’d like to thank them for their support and patience while we have been working to make this section of State Highway 1 safer.”

We have been advised by our council partners that Paparoa Oakley Road is unsubtle for freight at this time as there has been a significant under slip on the road.

Light vehicles should use Cove Road and heavy vehicles SH12/14.

We will continue to monitor all of the routes and provide updates frequently. Our main priority is keeping people safe but we will work as quickly as we can to provide updates and get the road open.

Roads can be closed at short notice in bad weather. Please check road and weather conditions before you travel: journeys.nzta.govt.nz.