Information about planned maintenance work and projects to improve the state highways in the Taranaki region.
This construction season we are undertaking a bumper programme of work to address as many issues on the Taranaki network as possible. From January to April, you’ll see a lot activity on the road particularly on State Highway 3 north and south bound, and in New Plymouth CBD.
While we aim to do this work with as little disruption as possible, there will be delays to journeys. We encourage motorists to plan ahead using the journey planner to minimise delays.
Journey Planner website(external link)
Please drive carefully through work sites, keep to the temporary speed limits and be respectful of our crews who are working hard to maintain the roads.
The map below shows the maintenance and safety and resilience projects programmed for the 2020/2021 construction season.
Please note that our ability to complete works is heavily dependent on the weather. We need dry, warm conditions to rebuild and resurface roads or the new seal won’t stick to the road surface properly and the work will need to be redone. However, we’re committed to doing everything we can to complete our programme and improve Taranaki state highways.
Updated: 25 March 2021
What are road renewals? This work involves ripping up the road and rebuilding it. These jobs usually take several weeks to complete and often impact journey times.
| Location | Timings (Subject to change due to weather) |
|---|---|
| SH3 Rugby Road underpass SH3 Tariki – underpass near Rugby Road |
January – February 2021 – complete |
| SH3 Inglewood From Standish Street heading south (500m) |
February – 14 April 2021 |
| SH3 Dudley Road to Durham Road | April 2021– |
| SH4 Pukerimu/Tikitiki The southern end of Tikitiki Road toward Taumarunui and the Te Kuiti end of Pukerimu |
April – May 2021 |
| SH4 Waitomo/Ruapehu Hiwi Hill |
March 2021 – underway |
We’ll be resurfacing a large number of roads this season. There are more than 80 sites programmed for completion. Some of the higher impact sites we’ll be working on are shown below.
| Location | Timings (Subject to change due to weather) |
|---|---|
| SH45 Leach Street from Eliot Street | April 2021 |
| SH3 to Liardet Street | March/April 2021 – complete |
| SH44 St Aubyn Street in front of Centre City | Currently underway until Monday 29 March 2021 |
| SH3 Broadway in Stratford | April 2021 |
| SH45 Spotswood | March/April 2021 – complete |
In addition to our resurfacing and renewal programmes, we’ll also be undertaking an extensive programme of routine maintenance works including sealing cracks at specific sites and undertaking pavement repairs that need to be completed ahead of resealing in 2021 and 2022.
Roundabouts for high risk intersections and safety barriers are currently being designed. Initial safety improvements such as wide centrelines and removal of passing lanes were implemented summer 2021.
With support from the Government’s Provincial Growth Fund, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is undertaking a project to seal 12km of unsealed road through the Tangarakau Gorge. Other improvements for the route are also underway with support from with support from the from the regional package of the NZ Upgrade Programme.
Improvements are underway on SH3 from Awakino Gorge to Mt Messenger to improve safety, resilience and route availability. This 58km section of SH3 is Taranaki’s main route north, it runs through rough terrain and is winding and narrow.
