Next week, NZTA/Waka Kotahi and Downer will start project enabling works –  ahead of constructing two roundabouts at Moonshine Road and Murphys/Flightys Roads, widening the road, and installing side barriers and median wire rope barriers. 

Other improvements will include construction of shared paths, bus stops and drop off areas at each of the roundabouts, and new culverts to manage water flows across the project. 

Current SH58/Moonshine Road intersection.

Flightys/Murphys Road roundabout design.

SH58/Moonshine Road roundabout design.

Jetesh Bhula, Regional Manager Infrastructure Delivery says the next stage of the project is crucial as it rounds out important work already completed on this part of the state highway. 

“It ensures safety measures are in place along the full route between Pāuatahanui and the Hutt Valley.” 

“Safe roads bring huge benefits for the community by reducing crash rates. The costs of deaths and serious injuries bring significant social costs, but also immense pain and anguish for victims, their families, and their friends,” Mr Bhula says. 

He says the project’s gains far outweigh its construction pains. 

“The upcoming work will ensure this important east-west highway is a much safer, more reliable, and easier-to-use connection for the more than 19,000 motorists who use it every day.”  

Previous improvements between State Highway 2 and east of Moonshine Road started in 2019 and were completed in December last year. 

Mr Bhula says they have already proved their worth. 

“Locals will be aware of the road’s high crash rate – which includes 13 serious crashes on SH58, between Transmission Gully and SH2, from 2015 to 2025.  

“Since December, we have had twenty-three barrier strikes recorded on the completed section of road. This goes to show how the improvements have been critical in reducing the severity of crashes.” 

Mr Bhula acknowledges the patience of the local community given how long the project has been running. 

“It has created travel delays. However, SH58 is a heavily used road that connects to numerous residents and businesses. We have had to balance the need to maintain network access for traffic and residents against completing the works as quickly as we can.” 

He says every effort will be made to reduce the impact of the remaining works on the public. 

“As much construction work as possible will happen off the current highway alignment, reducing impacts and delays for road users. However, some disruption is unavoidable with other parts of the project – such as when each leg into the roundabout is realigned and connected, and barriers are installed.” 

“Work is expected to take around 20 months to complete, finishing in 2027. Please expect traffic management and temporary speed limits to be in place during this time,” Mr Bhula says

Planning for work between Flightys/Murphys Roads and Transmission Gully is underway and specific details for this area will be confirmed at a later date.”

More information:

• State Highway 58 runs between State Highway 2 in the Hutt Valley and the Transmission Gully Interchange in Pāuatahanui.
• This Crown-funded project is a Road of Regional Significance and aims to improve safety and reliability of the route. 

• State Highway 58 is a regional route providing critical east-west access from State Highway 2 to State Highway 1 and is key to the region’s state highway network. Over 19,000 vehicles travel this highway daily. It is narrow and windy with many unprotected roadside hazards. 

• A safer speed limit of 80 km/h was put in place in 2018 following public consultation, and construction of physical safety improvements has been progressing in stages, from east to west. 

• More information about the project can be found on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi website:
  • SH58 safety improvements 

View larger construction milestones map

NZTA’s King’s Birthday Weekend 2025 Holiday Journey Planner

The interactive tool uses data from previous years to provide information on peak travel times to avoid, maps for popular holiday routes across the country, and real-time updates on road conditions, closures, and delays.

It’s a great resource to help you plan your trip and avoid congestion during the long weekend.

NZTA is urging everyone on the roads this weekend to drive safely and follow our top tips for a safe King’s Birthday Weekend:

• Take the time to check your vehicle is safe before you leave – check the tyres, indicators, windshield wipers, lights
• Be patient and allow plenty of time – rest stops are important for the driver and passengers on long trips

• Drive to the road and weather conditions and check our winter driving advice
• Slow down and be prepared for unexpected hazards
• If you are travelling long distances, share the driving
• Wear your seat belt throughout the journey and check your passengers are also buckled up

“We’ve seen plenty of rain across the region over the last week and more rain is expected over the long weekend, which can bring challenges for the roading network,” says Moira Whinham, Maintenance Contract Manager for NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi on the West Coast.

“It’s a good idea to do some planning in advance if you are travelling to and around the region over the long weekend, including checking for any closures or delays on NZTA’s Journey Planner.”

NZTA’s Journey Planner

Delays are still being experienced through the Lower Buller Gorge after a series of slips forced a closure earlier this week. Motorists should expect to allow up an hour of additional travel time when travelling through this part of State Highway 6 between Inangahua Junction and Westport.

Further south, motorists travelling on State Highway 6 between Haast and Lake Moeraki should be aware that because of retaining wall construction works at the Epitaph Site, traffic will be temporarily held up in both directions between 7am and 5pm. Traffic will be cleared from the site every hour, on the hour, and motorists should expect delays of up to an hour during work times.

“We want people to enjoy their long weekend and safely reach their destinations, wherever they are travelling,” Miss Whinham says.

“Doing that advance planning, taking care on the roads and showing patience for others makes a real difference. It’s also very much appreciated by those of us who are responsible for managing and maintaining the roading networks and keeping the traffic flowing.”

Five sites on the roads leading to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Centre at the State Highway 1/ State Highway 5 intersection are having in-road weighing technology installed. The affected lanes have been coned off for the past month while new asphalt cures. Work installing the communication systems continued in the meantime.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says now the asphalt has hardened it can be cut for the scales to be installed.

“While it may have looked like nothing was happening beyond the cones, it was essential to give the asphalt time to cure and be ready for cutting and carrying traffic,” says Waikato/Bay of Plenty Regional Manager for Infrastructure Delivery, Darryl Coalter.

“We couldn’t remove the traffic management and run traffic over it because the soft asphalt would’ve resulted in an uneven compaction. The new asphalt either side of the scales has been laid to precise levels to allow the scales to read truck weights correctly.

The scales are being installed on 5 of the roads heading towards the safety centre.

The locations are:

• SH1 north of the SH1/5 roundabout
• SH1 south of the roundabout
• SH5 east of the roundabout
• Napier Road west of the roundabout
• Nearby Crown Road

Temporary lanes on the road shoulders allow traffic to pass around the work areas and minimise the use of stop/go or temporary detours.  Speed restrictions are in place.

This work will run through to mid-to-late June when all traffic management can be removed.

Cutting asphalt in preparation to install the in-road scale on Napier Road.

The Taupō weigh station is one of 12 facilities NZTA is building on high-volume freight routes around the country for NZ Police to operate. The safety centres are part of the national Commercial Vehicle Safety Programme.

This technology will screen passing traffic and number-plate recognition and electronic signage will direct any suspected non-compliant heavy vehicles into the safety centre. Police officers on site will check vehicle weights, road user charges, certificates of fitness, logbooks and driver impairment.

Read more about the Commercial Vehicle Safety Centres:

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Programme (CVSP)

Work has been underway at the site since January. Rockfall protection was completed in April, and now seawall works have also finished.

Roxanne Hilliard, Wellington Alliance Manager, says that State Highway 59, which is exposed to the sea and weather, is now much more resilient.

“Over the last month, crews have fixed an eroded footpath, repaired roadside barriers, and improved erosion protection.”

“This part of State Highway 59 is better protected from sea damage, and pedestrian and cyclist access has also improved,” Ms Hilliard says.

As part of the project, 450 metres of barriers and 73 metres of footpath have been repaired.

Seawall resilience works, State Highway 59

Ms Hilliard says the repairs will be durable.

“This is because we built an engineered slope with shotcrete and synthetic fibres. Shotcrete is a method where concrete is applied at high velocity, helping the concrete adhere to the slope. This adds more structural stability and strength, better resisting the harsh marine environment.”

“We realize that traffic has been affected by the traffic management needed for this project for some time, and we thank the public for their patience and understanding,” Ms Hilliard says.

Rockfall protection work, SH59 near Pukerua Bay

More Information:

• This is a low-cost, low-risk resilience project funded from the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).
• Total works on this site, rockfall and seawall, have an estimated cost of $1.2 million.

Colder temperatures are already being felt across the South Island, increasing the chance of weather conditions impacting the state highway network, explains Mark Pinner, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) System Manager.

“Large parts of the state highway network across the central and lower South Island are at high elevations, which means they’re the first to get frosts, snow or ice. While our contractors are constantly monitoring weather forecasts and patrolling the network, it’ss crucial that everyone plays their part. We saw snow on the Lindis Pass a few weeks ago, and we had a light snowfall around Burke’s Pass and Tekapo this week.

“Inland areas across the region will also experience frosts and icy roads when temperatures drop in the winter months. By reducing your speed and increasing your following distance you will significantly reduce the likelihood of a crash occurring. Use your headlights to be seen and avoid sudden braking or turning to reduce the risk of losing control.”

Winter driving tips

NZTA, along with our maintenance contractors, works closely with MetService, who provide a specialised forecasting to predict and monitor road conditions. This includes a network of weather stations that provide critical data such as temperature, wind speed, rainfall, and road surface temperatures to inform both immediate responses and long-term planning.

Where possible, contractors will proactively apply grit or Calcium Magnesium Acetate (a de-icer) to reduce the impact of snow and ice. However, it pays for drivers to take extra care in winter, as conditions can change rapidly.

“When following a grit truck it’s important to remember that the road ahead won’t be gritted, and may well be slippery. Drivers should also watch out for shaded areas – these take longer to warm up and dry out, so could still be slippery even hours after the rest of the road is fine.

“At times roads may need to be closed, to keep both road users and roadworkers safe. We may look to close the road as poor conditions are coming in, to ensure that people don’t get caught out. If you’re travelling over the winter months it pays to be prepared – packing warm clothes, snacks and water will ensure you have provisions should the weather turn.”

Road users travelling across the country can find the latest information about the state highway network on the NZTA Journey Planner.

Journey Planner

State Highway 8 Burkes Pass with a dusting of snow on the morning of Monday 19 May.

While the road will reopen, the rail crossing on Telephone Road itself must remain closed for another couple of months until KiwiRail has completed their signalling work, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).

“The signalling work is a vital part of the upgrade to safely allow vehicles to start using the Telephone Road rail crossing once again,” explains NZTA’s Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations, Roger Brady.

“We appreciate this has been a disruptive period and ask the Puketaha community to bear with us for just a couple more months until the crossing can fully reopen.”  

To prevent vehicles using the rail crossing, shipping containers will be installed across the road tomorrow and remain in place until KiwiRail have completed their work, which is expected to be in late July.

“Unfortunately pedestrian access across the rail crossing will also no longer be possible, including the Puketaha School students who have been able to walk across twice a day,” Mr Brady says.

Both Puketaha School and the Ministry of Education, who manage the school bus routes, have been notified.   

Alongside lowering the risk of vehicles damaging the rail tracks, NZTA has also added escape lanes to ensure vehicles do not get stuck on the crossing at busy times.

“As we hit the home stretch for the roading component of this project, we’d like to once more thank the community for your patience while SH1B Telephone Road remains closed at the rail crossing.”

Temporary traffic management will be in place until July showing the SH1B detour around Holland Road, Waverley Road and Seddon Road. This is the same detour that was in place from when the crossing first closed in 2022 until the start of the upgrade project in February this year.

KiwiRail media queries contact: Sue Allen email hidden; JavaScript is required  

This will streamline travel for heavy vehicle operators, deliver targeted enforcement by NZ Police, and efficient monitoring for heavy vehicle compliance.

NZTA Commercial Vehicle Safety Programme Manager Sean Bridge is confident the new CVSC will improve travel efficiencies for compliant heavy vehicle operators and level the playing field for commercial transport operators in the region.

“A CVSC screens heavy vehicles travelling past and provides data on operator and truck behaviour such as heavy vehicle weight, Certificate of Fitness status, and driver fatigue. This information is used to direct operators into the centre for inspection by NZ Police,” says Mr Bridge.

“These centres will help to improve compliance at the same time as improving travel times for operators, because those not flagged during screening won’t need to pull into the centre. 

“The data we collect will give us insight into the behaviour of heavy vehicles on the network. Using this data, we’ll be able to target our education and compliance work toward where safety issues are found.

“This ensures everyone is paying their fair share for use of the road; keeps compliant operators moving through more smoothly and reduces the damage caused to the road by overloading, ultimately boosting safety and efficiency for all road users.”

The Ohakea CVSC is one of 12 being built on important freight routes that will monitor the behaviour of heavy vehicles across the country.

How the CVSC works: 

The CVSC is connected to in-road scales, number plate recognition cameras and electronic signage on State Highway 1/3, leading to and from the centre.

This technology collects data on passing vehicles 24/7 such as COF status, vehicle weight, load status, permit compliance, and if drivers are taking appropriate breaks.

Where a heavy vehicle is required for inspection, its number plate will be displayed on the electronic signage, indicating it needs to pull into the centre for safe inspection by the NZ Police.

The construction of a new roundabout on the state highway also means trucks can safely enter from both directions.   

The work will require a full closure of the highway for 48 hours – from 7am on Wednesday, 4 June to 7 am on Friday, 6 June.

“A full road closure will allow our contractors to complete this work in just 48 hours, with crews working around the clock, compared to up to five weeks of disruptions for motorists if the work was completed using traditional stop-go traffic management,” says Moira Whinham, Maintenance Contract Manager for NZTA on the West Coast.

The timing for the two-day closure has been carefully considered – in between King’s Birthday weekend and the Matariki holiday – as well as before the worst of the winter weather typically sets in.

NZTA is urging people to plan ahead and to make alternative travel arrangements if necessary over the planned two day closure.

NZTA has engaged with emergency services in order to ensure that they are well prepared for the planned closure.

Freight and tourism operators, residents and the road user community are also being contacted to ensure everyone is aware of the work and the closure well in advance.

The culvert being replaced is located around 5km east of the intersection of SH6 and SH67. It will be replaced with a much larger capacity pipe, requiring a six metre deep trench to be dug across the state highway. It is not possible to build an off-road detour around the site given the river’s location.

The red circle indicates the site of the culvert to be replaced on SH6 in early June.

Further resilience improvements are planned for the route from Monday, 19 May, with Stage Two of an ongoing programme set to begin.

Rob Service, System Manager Nelson/Tasman says this is a fragile section of State Highway 6 – a key corridor across the top of the South Island. 

“This area is prone to washouts and underslips and stormwater is a major threat. This project will see  new drainage works designed to control and redirect water flows that occur during heavy rain. The aim is to prevent uncontrolled erosion and damage to the highway.”

“Retaining and guiding stormwater flows to engineered discharge points helps reduce this risk,” Mr Service says.

Underslip and flood damage. SH6 Whangamoa Hill, August 2022.

This work will be undertaken at five separate sites over a nine-week period. 

Work on these sites, between Hira and the top of the Whangamoa Saddle will be completed by the end of July, weather permitting. Work will be staggered with only two sites operating at the same time.

Mr Service says the  project will affect traffic and travel times.

“This is unavoidable. We cannot do this sort of work without affecting the road and drivers. However, we always try to minimise disruption as much as possible

Drivers travelling between Nelson and Blenheim, while the work is underway from mid-May and the end of July must allow extra time for their journey with delays of up to 10 minutes at each site.

“This is particularly important for people travelling to the ferries or for hospital appointments.”

Mr Service appreciates this work will cause disruption but says it is essential for protecting and improving a critical transport link.

“Since the 2022 floods, we have made a significant investment in improving and protecting this route. This continues that investment, and more work is planned later this year. Please bear with us while our contractors work hard to complete this project.”

Contractors will return to the site in September to complete Stage Three of the project. This involves the construction and installation of concrete beams, which must be done when the weather conditions are warmer and drier.

Works schedule

• 24/7 stop/go traffic lights and a reduced temporary speed limit at each site.
• Delays of up to 10 minutes at each site.
• Work hours 7 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday. No work will be done during public holidays – King’s Birthday or Matariki.

View larger map

More information

• This work is funded by the Crown Resilience Programme – a $419 million investment package of resilience improvement activities that will reduce the impact of severe weather events on our national roading networks. The total crown resilience programme comprises $279 million for activities on State Highways, and $140 million for activities on Local Roads – Crown Resilience Programme (CRP)
• Other resilience works recently completed in the top of the South Island include flood prevention works on State Highway 1 at Dashwood in Marlborough, State Highway 6 at Dellows Bluff and State Highway 63 near the Wash Bridge in the Wairau Valley. Rock scaling work on State Highway 65 at Higgins Bluff was completed earlier this month with rock scaling work on State Highway 63 at Howard Narrows also planned to begin in May.