SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru maintenance update |  |
 | 27 January 2026 | |
In this issue:T2W e-newsletter newsReminder! Overnight Desert Road closure Upcoming T2W work spotlight. |
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| T2W e-newsletter news This just in: we’re changing the way we communicate about the State Highway 1 (SH1) Tīrau to Waiouru Accelerated Maintenance project (T2W).As long-term readers of this fortnightly newsletter will know, this road maintenance project is one of the largest and most ambitious in Aotearoa New Zealand. Part of the Government’s $2.07 billion Pothole Prevention fund, it condenses 4 seasons of road maintenance into 2 maintenance seasons, in order to reduce future disruption needed on the areas of SH1 being treated. When season 2 comes to an end in 2026, the project will have rebuilt 27 percent of SH1 between Tīrau and Waiouru – 60km of the total 220km length. As we journey towards completion, we’ll have a little less to update you on, but still want to make sure you’re up to date with all the key information you need. With that in mind, this will be the last fortnightly edition of this e-newsletter, but you can expect to keep receiving it on a monthly basis, and can follow T2W’s progress weekly by subscribing to NZTA’s Waikato state highway maintenance programme e-newsletter here. Let’s stay in touch! | |
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| Reminder! Overnight Desert Road closure Don’t forget: there’s an upcoming overnight road closure on SH1 Desert Road.Our contractors are currently hard at work on the final asphalt surface near Rangipō, at sites north and south of the SH1/SH46 intersection, between Poutu and Rangipō (2.4km), and at Puketarata Hill (4.1km).Next, we’ll be turning our attention to 3 southern sites – Mangamate (0.7km), Oturere Hill (1.7km) and Mangatoetoenui (1.1km) – which will necessitate overnight closures of SH1 Desert Road between Sunday 15 February and Monday 9 March (weather dependent). We require these closures because the section of SH1 we’re working on is very narrow and winding, and we can’t safely accommodate asphalting machinery and stop/go traffic management. Please refer to the map below for the usual recommended detour whenever the Desert Road is closed: via SH41, SH47, SH4, SH49 and back to SH1 in Waiouru, and vice versa. Those travelling on this alternative route will need to bear in mind that it adds approximately 35 minutes to journeys. There’s also additional maintenance happening on this stretch of SH1. Contractors are working on SH1 approximately 6km south of Waiouru until late January, there’s other work planned near Rangipō, and we’re also expecting maintenance work on SH49, with dates to be confirmed. | |
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| Upcoming T2W work Roadwork is always at the mercy of the weather – not to mention many other variables that can come into play, such as machinery breakdowns and other unforeseen hurdles. Below is the proposed schedule for the T2W project for the upcoming weeks – all going to plan.Ātiamuri to Wairakei – overnight stop/go until the end of January at Palmer Mill Road, and until early February near Tutukau Road. SH1 Desert Road – overnight stop/go is currently underway and will continue until mid-February. Night closures will be required from Sunday 15 February until early March. Putāruru to Tokoroa – see ‘What’s going on on SH28 Whites Road?’ below.Tokoroa township, northern end – overnight stop/go from early February to mid-February at the Chambers Street intersection. Tokoroa township, southern end – overnight stop/go from mid-February to early March at the Mossop Road intersection. This work will include a 100m section of SH32 at the intersection of SH1.East Taupō Arterial – overnight stop/go in February (dates TBC). Taupō to Tūrangi – SH1/Kiko Road intersection, overnight stop/go from mid- to late March to early April; and SH1 Motuoapa, overnight stop/go from late March to early April. | |
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