State Highway, 60 Tākaka Hill - plan for overnight closures next week

Local residents and regular users of State Highway 60 over the Tākaka Hill need to prepare for two and a half weeks of planned night road closures beginning this Sunday, 2 October 2022

From Sunday, 2 October to Thursday, 20 October, the road will be closed between 8 pm and 5:30 am for annual summer maintenance work. This includes road resurfacing and other road maintenance work, such as water channel clearing.

Because of the road's narrowness and to keep contractors safe, the route needs to be closed while this work is done. Overnight closures mean contractors can get repairs done in the shortest possible time, with the smallest amount of disruption for road users.

Closure locations and schedule

• From Sunday, 2 October to Thursday, 20 October, State Highway 60 Tākaka Hill will be closed nightly (8 pm – 5.30 am) between Riwaka Valley Road (Riwaka) and Aaron Creek Road (Upper Tākaka). The road will be open on weekends. This includes Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, with the exception of the night of Sunday 2 October when the road maintenance work begins.
• If weather or unforeseen circumstances interfere with the planned works, the closure may be extended by three nights, from Tuesday, 25 October to the morning of Friday, 28 October.
• The road will be opened at 1.00 am each night for traffic queued at the two road closure points: Aaron Creek Road and Riwaka Valley Road.  Road users who wish to travel over Tākaka Hill at the 1.00 am opening must be at the closure points by 12.30 am.
• Temporary speed restrictions will be in place, and traffic management staff will control traffic. 

State Highway 60 Tākaka Hill is a crucial local transport link, and this maintenance work is essential for keeping the road in good repair and safe for traffic. Road users are asked to drive carefully and stick to the temporary speed limits that may be in place while this work is being done.

Further work will be done on the Takaka Hill in the New Year.