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UPDATE: Programme changes for State Highway 1 Transmission Gully resurfacing and repairs

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi | 8 Jan 2026 3:18pm | Wellington

UPDATE 8 January:

Additional programme changes have been made to ongoing works on State Highway 1 Transmission Gully.

The planned southbound closure for tonight and tomorrow night (Thursday, 8 and Friday, 9 January) is being extended to between Paekākāriki and Linden (previously communicated as SH58 to Linden).

The closure will be in place from 9 pm until 4.30 am, and southbound traffic must detour via SH59 (see detour map below). Drivers should plan ahead and allow for additional travel time.

Road users will have noticed loose chip on the road surface in the southbound lanes which is normal for chipseal works. Due to the highway’s length, sweeping and line marking the road requires significant effort. This is critical work for ensuring the highway is safe for traffic.

Having extended night closures means this work can be finished faster, resulting in less disruption for daytime traffic over the weekend.

The northbound closure remains in place between Linden and SH58, between 9 pm and 6 am. All traffic must detour via SH59 (see map below).

Week commencing 11 January

Schedules have been confirmed for next week’s work programme. These are weather dependent and may change if bad weather occurs.

Drivers are encouraged to check road conditions on the NZTA/Waka Kotahi Journey planner before they travel.

Wellington highway conditions(external link)

Upcoming work schedule and detour maps

Northbound:

  • Sunday 11 January until Thursday 15 January. 9pm – 6am
    • SH1 CLOSED northbound between Linden and SH58 Interchange.
    • Northbound traffic must detour via SH59 and SH58
    • 30 km/h temporary speed limit in place 24/7
    • There will be lane closures at all other times at two locations.

Southbound:

  • Sunday 11 January. 9pm – 4:30am
    • SH1 CLOSED southbound between the SH58 interchange and Linden
    • 30 km/h temporary speed limit in place 24/7
    • Detour via SH59 at night. Drivers should also consider using this detour during the day.

UPDATE 7 January:

Fine weather this week means good progress is being made on State Highway 1 Transmission Gully pavement work.

Due to lower traffic volumes during the holidays, NZTA/Waka Kotahi is extending the duration of planned night closures for northbound traffic by one and a half hours. 

This will allow contractors to make the most of current good weather and complete work faster ahead of expected heavier traffic flows that will build during January.

Northbound closures will now be in place from 9 pm to 6 am (previously 4:30 am). There will be no change to the timing for southbound closures. They will remain in place between 9 pm and 4:30 am. 

The work is weather-dependent, and schedules may change if bad weather occurs.

Project update

Pavement drainage works in the northbound lanes adjacent to the Rainbow Bridge have been completed this week, and pavement reconstruction will be underway this week and next week.

Chip seal resurfacing is underway to waterproof 18 kilometres of the motorway. The current focus for this week and next week will be on the highway’s southbound lanes.

From this Friday (9 January), pavement reconstruction will begin on the motorway’s southbound lanes  near Battle Hill. This will continue for two weeks.

Driver advice

Road users need to be aware of the various night-time road closures, 24/7 lane closures in some locations in both directions, as well as temporary speed limits in place. 

Detour routes are via State Highway 59, and drivers should consider this route as an option during busy times. 

It is important for drivers to follow all temporary speed limits, particularly in the southbound lanes where chip seal works are happening. Excessive speed can damage the road surface and vehicles.

Updated schedule and detour maps

Southbound closures:

  • Wednesday 7 January. 9pm – 4:30am
    • SH1 CLOSED southbound between Paekākāriki and SH58 interchange
    • 30 km/h temporary speed limit in place 24/7
    • Traffic must detour via SH59 and/or SH58

  • Thursday, 8 January, Friday 9 January, and Sunday 11 January. 9pm – 4:30am
    • SH1 CLOSED southbound between the SH58 interchange and Linden
    • 30 km/h temporary speed limit in place 24/7
    • Detour via SH59 at night. Drivers should also consider using this detour during the day.

Northbound closures:

  • Wednesday 7 January, Thursday 8 January, and Sunday 11 January until Thursday 15 January. 9pm – 6am
    • SH1 CLOSED northbound between Linden and SH58.
    • Northbound traffic must detour via SH59 and SH58
    • There will be lane closures at all other times at two locations.

  • Wednesday 7 January until Sunday 11 January. 24/7
    • Northbound lane closure at Rainbow Bridge for pavement work
    • 30 km/h temporary speed limit
    • Northbound traffic can expect delays and should consider detouring via SH59

More information

5 January:

Wellington drivers are urged to be ready for ongoing drainage and resurfacing work for State Highway Transmission Gully/Te Aranui o Te Rangihaeata this month.

January works

More work is planned for the motorway this month, immediately after the New Year’s Holiday break, starting tonight - Monday 5 January. 

This will include night-time road closures for both northbound and southbound traffic, but there will be no further full weekend 24/7 closures

The focus for northbound lanes will be drainage works and pavement reconstruction. Chipseal will also be laid on the motorway, starting with its southbound lanes.

The timing of the work is critical. It coincides with the lower traffic volumes seen on the route in early January.

It will also coincide with Metlink bus replacement services between Porirua and Waikanae. They will be using State Highway 59 from Monday, 5 January, to Sunday,12 January. Both drivers and public transport users must plan for this.

Resurfacing work is planned for January/early February, depending upon the weather, with around 18 kilometres of chip-sealing to be completed. It will waterproof the road surface before winter.

This will be ongoing from early January until mid-February, weather permitting. The southbound lanes will take approximately three weeks to complete, followed by northbound lanes.

Chip-sealing and impact on drivers

This  is a process where bitumen is sprayed onto the existing road surface, with chip laid on top and rolled into the road surface. 

Road users must take extra care and follow temporary speed limits to ensure they do not damage the new road or their vehicles. 

The speed limit in areas where the motorway is being resurfaced will be lowered to 30 km/h for several days, following the new surface application, to allow the chips to bed into the road surface.

Drivers must be ready for potential travel delays this may cause.

During night-time directional closures, drivers will have to detour via SH59 and be prepared for lower speeds during the day. Drivers are also able to use SH59 day or night, and this route will be free of any planned roadworks.

Traffic will be affected, and people must plan ahead.

The work is weather-dependent, and schedules may change. If that occurs, updates will be provided. 

Works schedule

Monday 5 January, 9pm–4.30am

    • SH1 CLOSED northbound between Linden and Paekākāriki.
    • Northbound traffic must detour via SH59.

Tuesday 6 January to Sunday 11 January. Sunday to Thursday. 9pm–4:30am

    • SH1 CLOSED northbound between Linden and SH58 interchange.
    • SH1 CLOSED southbound between Paekākāriki and SH58 interchange.
    • Traffic must detour via SH59 and/or SH58.
    • There will be northbound lane closures during the day.
    • Nightworks may happen on Fridays and Saturdays, depending on the weather. This will be confirmed closer to the time.

From Monday, 12 January until mid-February, weather permitting

    • There will be more night-time road closures in the north and southbound directions, with details to be confirmed closer to the time. 
    • There will be 24/7 northbound lane closures when the road is open. 
    • There will be a 24/7 temporary speed limit of 30 km/h when the road is open.

More information