Our teams maintain 1452kms of state highway in Canterbury from just north of Kaikōura to the Waitaki River in the south. Each summer we renew large parts of the network to keep roads safe and to support local communities and businesses.
We aim to stick to our scheduled dates for state highway maintenance, but sometimes the weather or unexpected events can cause dates or times to change. Before you travel, check the NZTA Journey Planner for the latest updates on road conditions, travel times, roadworks, and closures so you can plan your trip with confidence.
Journey Planner(external link)
Our contractors carry out the maintenance work across Canterbury on behalf of NZTA, so you will likely see their crews when you’re out travelling through the region.
Kia tupato ki ngā kaimahi – please watch out for any road workers. We care about our team and believe everyone has the right to return home to their family/whanau at the end of the day.
Always reduce your speed, adhere to the temporary speed limits and follow the traffic management directions at our work sites.
It’s important to slow down through newly sealed sections of road because small chips can be flicked up from the road surface and damage vehicles – especially windscreens. That’s why we often keep temporary speed limits in place even after it looks like the work has been completed. As well as safety, the temporary speed limit also helps ensure the quality of the reseal. Travelling at the posted temporary speed limit allows for the chips to be embedded into the road surface and for them to remain in place as the seal cures.
Please be patient with our crews as they set up and pack down work sites including placing or removing cones and signage. Overtaking these working vehicles can be dangerous to our teams on the trucks but also to vehicles travelling in the opposite direction.
If you have any concerns or require information about works in your area call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 444 449).
