29 October 2026 – Weather pauses SH7 work, road open to all

Forecast weather conditions mean that rebuild work on State Highway 7/Lewis Pass Road has been paused for today and tomorrow.

Expected rain, snow and low temperatures make it unsuitable for building the new section of road between Lewis Pass and Maruia Hot Springs. This pause to the work means that all vehicle types can travel this section of SH7 around the clock through until 7am on Monday 2 November 2026. 

When work is underway again, road users will be required to stop on demand in both directions and delays of up to 20 minutes can be expected between 7am and 6pm on weekdays. Because of physical constraints at the worksite, there will be no access for heavy vehicles (class 2 medium rigid vehicles or above) during these working hours.

The road rebuild is scheduled to consider through to December. Keep an eye on the Journey Planner site for the latest road status.

15 October 2026 – SH7 work off for rest of the week

Rebuild work on State Highway 7/Lewis Pass Road, and the traffic management associated with it, has been postponed for the remainder of this week because of the forecast bad weather.

This means that all vehicle types can travel the section of SH7 between the St James Walkway car park and Maruia Hot Springs during daytime hours today and tomorrow, although a temporary speed restriction will still be in place.

When work is underway again, motorists will be required to stop on demand in both directions and delays of up to 20 minutes can be expected between 7am and 6pm on weekdays. Because of physical constraints at the worksite, there will be no access for heavy vehicles (class 2 medium rigid vehicles or above) during these working hours.

The weather situation will be reassessed at the weekend to confirm when the daily work and traffic management will resume. Keep an eye on the Journey Planner site for the latest information.

14 October 2026 – Weather postponement for SH7 work, more possible

Users of State Highway 7/Lewis Pass Road are being encouraged to keep an eye on the latest road status daily as the weather may impact on a rebuild of a section of the highway.

The work on a 6.3km section of SH7 between the St James Walkway car park and Maruia Hot Springs has been underway this week, with motorists required to stop on demand in both directions and delays of up to 20 minutes to be expected between 7am and 6pm on weekdays. Because of physical constraints at the worksite, there is no access for heavy vehicles (class 2 medium rigid vehicles or above) during these working hours.

Because of the weather conditions at the site today, the rebuild work is postponed and access is available to all vehicle types, though a temporary speed restriction remains in place.

With the potential for further weather impacts (including a cold front affecting the South Island over the next few days), NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi will be assessing the latest weather forecasts daily and making a call as early as possible about any other postponements to the work that reduce restrictions. People are encouraged to check the Journey Planner site to find the latest information.

9 October 2026 – Reminder: Increased travel times coming for SH7 daytime journeys

A reminder below of the upcoming work affecting State Highway 7 at Lewis Pass from next week, impacting particularly on heavy vehicles during daytime hours.

Facebook post: SH7 Lewis Pass, West Coast road rebuild (external link)

24 September 2026 – Increased travel times coming for SH7 daytime journeys

An essential rebuild of a section of State Highway 7/Lewis Pass Road means that road users will need to plan for daytime delays from next month.

From Monday 12 October through to Friday 11 December 2026, a 6.3km section of SH7 between the St James Walkway car park and Maruia Hot Springs is due to be resurfaced with new asphalt, replacing the existing layers of chip seal that have become unstable. This stretch of highway has reached the end of its serviceable life, and the work is necessary to ensure safe and reliable travel.

The roadworks over this period mean that road users will be required to stop on demand in both directions and delays of up to 20 minutes should be expected between 7am and 6pm on weekdays. People are encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys.

Because of physical constraints at the worksite, there will be no access for heavy vehicles (class 2 medium rigid vehicles or above) during these working hours. These excluded heavy vehicles will need to use alternative routes via State Highway 1 to Nelson or State Highway 73 to the West Coast. SH7 will still be available to all heavy vehicle types from 6pm to 7am weekdays, and throughout the weekends.

In addition to the delays during weekdays, two full closures of this section of SH7 will be required over the coming weeks to allow single lane bridges to be resurfaced. The timing of these closures is weather dependent and notice of at least a week will be provided.