Road users are encouraged to plan ahead for weeks of northbound lane closures on State Highway 1/Allanton-Waihola Road south of Dunedin from next week as sections of the road are rebuilt.

Two well-worn sections of SH1/Allanton-Waihola Road are being addressed at Henley and Otokia (see map below), with work due to start on Monday 21 September. Initially there will be northbound lane closures in place daily, between the hours of 6am and 6pm, through until Friday 9 October, while preparation and work such as drainage is undertaken. From Monday 12 October, the northbound lane closures are scheduled to be in place 24-7, and to last until early December 2026, so that the reconstruction of the road can happen.

The southbound lane will remain open throughout, but with a 30km/h temporary speed limit in the work area. Northbound traffic on SH1/Allanton-Waihola Road will be detoured via Henley-Berwick Road, Centre Road and State Highway 86, before rejoining SH1 at Allanton. This detour adds about 2.8km to the journey and around 5 minutes of travel time, so people are advised to allow extra time.

The work at these sites involves digging up and replacing the road surface and layers beneath it, finishing with a new chipseal on top. This will result in a smoother, safer and more durable road surface which reduces the need for future maintenance and limits longer-term disruption on this important connection linking Dunedin, Southland and Central Otago.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and its roading crews will be working with emergency services and residents to enable access that they need.
   
This work depends on various factors such as the weather and may be amended or rescheduled. If this happens, notification will be provided. Stay up to date at NZTA’s Journey Planner site.

NZTA thanks people in advance for their patience and understanding while this work is completed.