Traffic updates and delays

Planned Night Closure for State Highway 1 south of Kaikoura

After many months of slope protection work, the scaffold tunnel near the Paratitahi Tunnels is now ready to be removed. The scaffold has been in place as a rock fall shelter protecting the road from the slope works above. For safety measures, the removal of the scaffold requires the road to be closed and to reduce the impact for road users this will be undertaken at night. To minimise the disruption to the travelling public we will reopen the road every 90 minutes for 30 minutes during the night closure. Please refer to the timetable of openings and closures below.

The road will close from 9 pm Thursday 13 December, and reopen 6.30 am on Friday 14 December. If required, a contingency day is planned for Friday 14 December. Traffic will be held between Peketa and south of the Raramai Tunnels.

While the road is closed and within the road closure, the team will also mill a nearby rock on a tight bend that is overhanging the road. This milling will help with clearance for larger vehicles. Once the scaffold shelter is removed the team will be able to finish off slope work and aim to have the two Paratitahi Tunnels open before Christmas. Thank you to those affected by this closure for your ongoing patience and support. We understand these closures are an inconvenience but also a must for everyone’s safety. Things can change at short notice so please check real-time travel information:
• Call 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)
• Visit www.nzta.govt/p2c

State Highway 1, south of Kaikoura, between Ferniehurst and Peketa is open 24/7.

• Road users are advised allow a minimum of 5.5 hours to travel between Christchurch and Picton on State Highway 1.  There are multiple roadwork sites, speed restrictions and sections of road that will be under Stop/Go operation
• When State Highway 1 north of Kaikoura is closed motorists travelling from Christchurch to Picton are advised to use the alternate route between Blenheim and Waipara via SH7, SH65, SH6, SH63. This route is open 24/7 and takes about 6.5 hours to travel.
• The Inland Route 70 into Kaikoura via Waiau/Mt Lyford will remain open during any closures of SH1 to the south. It also has a number of work sites in place. Road-users are advised to allow up to 3 hours from Christchurch to Kaikoura using this route.
• Road users plan ahead for their journeys.
• Please note the road may close at short notice due to weather conditions. 

For up to date SH1 route information visit the p2c page here: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/p2c