Two key State Highway 1 Wellington offramps and a section of the highway between Tawa and Johnsonville and will be getting critical road works next week.

The work is part of the ongoing state highway summer maintenance programme, which ensures highways are kept safe and resilient for road users.

SH1 Aotea Quay southbound offramp

Road crews will be resurfacing the southbound State Highway 1 Aotea Quay offramp next Monday night, (20 April), between 9 pm and 4:30 am. Drivers will have to use alternative offramps to access Wellington city.

This offramp carries around 11,000 vehicles daily. As such regular maintenance is critical. The resurfacing work planned will extend the lifespan of the Road surface, and will also improve grip and skid resistance, making it safer for drivers.

SH1 Johnsonville northbound offramp

Then on Tuesday night (21 April), also between 9 pm and 4:30 am, the State Highway 1 Johnsonville northbound offramp will also be closed for road resurfacing work. 

Drivers needing access to Johnsonville will have to continue north on State Highway 1, exit at Churton Park and rejoin the highway southbound to exit at Johnsonville (see map and details below)

Because resurfacing work requires heavy machinery and space on these offramps is restricted, they must be closed to all traffic while work is underway.

SH1 Tawa to Johnsonville

On Monday and Tuesday nights (20-21 April) between 10 pm and 4:30 am, road crews will be resurfacing the Takapu Road roundabout.

This means access to and from Tawa must take detours (see map and details below).

On Wednesday and Thursday nights (22-23 April) between 9 pm and 4:30 am, road crews will  be resurfacing sections of the highway’s southbound lanes between Tawa and Johnsonville.

Because of the work involved, the highway will be closed to all southbound traffic. However, a local road detour will be available via Willowbank and Middleton Roads (see map and details below).

This uses local roads and may require extra travel time. Drivers should plan their journeys accordingly.

Advice for drivers

Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and ensure they use alternative routes and signposted detours while this road resurfacing is underway. 

They should also follow all instructions for contractors and observe all temporary speed limits. These measures help keep everyone safe.

When detours require the use of local roads, local road speed limits must be obeyed.

Full closures allow work to be completed faster, improve safety for road crews, and help cut traffic management costs.

Works schedule and detour route

State Highway 1 Aotea Quay southbound offramp - Monday, 20 April. 9 pm – 4:30 am

• SH1 Southbound Aotea Quay offramp CLOSED
• Drivers must use alternative routes and offramps to access Wellington CBD

SH1 Johnsonville northbound offramp – Tuesday, 21 April, 9 pm – 4:30 am

• SH1 Johnsonville northbound off-ramp CLOSED
• Drivers needing access to Johnsonville should continue north on SH1, exit at Churton Park and rejoin SH1 southbound to exit at Johnsonville

Monday 20 April and Tuesday 21 April, 10 pm - 4 am

• SH1 Tawa northbound on and off-ramps CLOSED.
• Takapu Road roundabout CLOSED
• SH1 southbound off-ramp open but no access available to Takapu Road towards Tawa
• Detour Routes:
  • Northbound to Tawa:
    • detour via Westchester Drive/Middleton Road or, via the SH59 Mungavin interchange and access Tawa via Porirua/Kenepuru
  • Northbound from Tawa:
    • detour via Main Road, Tawa, Kenepuru Drive and SH59 Mungavin interchange or, via SH1 Transmission Gully to get back on SH1/SH59
  • Southbound from Tawa:
    • detour via Westchester Drive/Middleton Road and enter SH1 at the Grenada southbound onramp
  • Southbound to Tawa:
    • Detour via SH59 Mungavin interchange and access Tawa via Porirua/Kenepuru or, via the Grenada southbound offramp and Westchester Drive/Middleton Road.

SH1 Tawa to Johnsonville southbound – Wednesday, 22 April and Thursday, 23 April, 9 pm – 4:30 am

• SH1 Tawa to Johnsonville southbound closure with a detour via Middleton Road