Night works are planned for State Highway 1 near Newlands and Johnsonville next week, and regular users of the highway between Wellington and Porirua are urged to be ready for them.

On Monday and Tuesday nights (30 and 31 March), from 9 pm to 4 am, work crews will be removing debris from the rockfall nets just south of the Newlands onramp.

These nets are critical for reducing rockfall risk, and it is important they are cleared regularly. The left southbound lane will be closed while this work is completed. The closure is needed to keep drivers safe while material is removed.

On Tuesday night (31 March), from 9 pm to 4 am, road crews will be resurfacing the southbound slow lane between Johnsonville and Newlands. This will improve the road’s grip and skid resistance, as well as its durability.

Because of the heavy machinery being used, and to keep the public and road crews safe, the southbound slow lane will be closed between the Johnsonville southbound on-ramp and the Newlands southbound offramp. The on and off-ramps at both locations will also be closed.

Detours will be available (see maps below):

• Traffic heading south from Johnsonville will need to head north via Middleton Road, take Helston Road to Newlands, then travel on Stewart Drive and Newlands Road to enter SH1 southbound at Newlands.
• Southbound traffic needing to access Newlands will need to continue south and turn at Ngauranga Interchange, head back north, and exit at the northbound off-ramps at Newlands.

These detours are approved for heavy and light vehicles but will require extra travel time. Drivers must allow extra time for their journeys.

This work is weather-dependent, and schedules may be changed at short notice. Drivers are encouraged to check road conditions before they travel. 

Works schedule and detour maps:

• Monday, 30 March and Tuesday, 31 March. 9 pm – 4 am.
  • Lane drop SH1 south of the Newlands onramp (opposite Kiwi Point Quarry)

• Tuesday, 31 March. 9 pm – 4 am.
  • Southbound slow lane closure between the Johnsonville southbound onramp and the Newlands southbound offramp.
  • SH1 Johnsonville southbound onramp CLOSED
  • SH1 Newlands southbound offramp CLOSED