The state highway summer maintenance season is picking up the pace in the top of the South Island, and road users can expect to see multiple chip sealing sites in the lead-up to Christmas.
It is essential to ensure the region's highways are kept safe and resilient for road users.
Chipper at work, SH60 Tākaka Hill
Bitumen spray for chip sealing work, SH60 Tākaka Hill
Mark Owen, Regional Manager Wellington/Top of the South, says after the recent spate of wet weather, the focus is on getting as much road resurfacing completed before Christmas and the busier holiday season.
"We know drivers commonly ask why there are more road works at this time of the year. The simple answer is permanent repairs need good weather to be effective and can't be done during the wet and cold winter months."
Mr Owen appreciates that road works cause delays and frustration for drivers, and that there is a lot of work underway in the region.
“It is a busy time. Not only do we have chip sealing underway, but we are also doing road rebuilds, recovery work following the recent weather events, and resilience improvements aimed at protecting critical transport links in the long term.”
“We are trying to minimise the impact of these works as much as possible. But, as the saying goes, you cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs; road works do affect traffic,” Mr Owen says.
He says it is a significant investment in infrastructure and helps keep our highways safe.
“All road users benefit from this work. The work we do now helps prevent costlier and more disruptive repairs in the future.”
Programme Update:
In Nelson/Tasman, all chip sealing sites will be completed before Christmas. Drivers can expect to see work on State Highway 60 in Motueka, State Highway 60 in Golden Bay and State Highway 6 near Murchison.
In Marlborough, crews will be active on State Highway 1 from November until Christmas. They will then be at various sites on State Highway 6 in February 2026 including around Okaramio, Havelock, Canvastown, Pelorus and Rai Valley, as well as State Highway 1 in Riverlands and State Highway 63 near St Arnaud.
Road users travelling to the West Coast and further south over summer can also expect to come upon chip seal operations during their journeys.
Stop/go controls will be in place while chip seal work is underway. Temporary speed limits will apply day and night and remain in place until the new surface beds in. Crews will then sweep the new surface before re-applying road markings.
Mr Owen says 30 km/h limits are in place for good reason.
“If people drive too fast, they will damage the road surface, meaning the work has to be redone – creating even more travel delays. Stone chips can also flick up and damage other vehicles.”
“Sticking to the posted speed limit also helps to keep everyone, including our road workers, safe,” Mr Owen says.
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Work locations between now and Christmas |
Timing |
|
SH6 Spooners Saddle (southern side) |
Monday, 10 November to Wednesday, 12 November, 7 am to 5 pm Stop/go traffic management |
|
SH6 Clark River, Motupiko |
Tuesday, 11 November to Thursday, 13 November, 7 am to 5 pm Stop/go traffic management |
|
SH6 Glenhope |
Tuesday, 11 November to Thursday, 13 November, 7 am to 5 pm Stop/go traffic management |
|
SH6 near Owen Valley East Road |
Wednesday, 12 November, to Friday, 14 November, 7 am to 5 pm. Stop/go traffic management |
| SH6 Claybank
|
Wednesday, 12 November, to Friday, 14 November, 7 am to 5 pm Stop/go traffic management. |
|
SH6 near Mangles Valley Road, Murchison |
Friday, 14 November, to Tuesday, 18 November, 7 am to 5 pm. Stop/go traffic management. |
|
SH6 near the Matakitaki River, Murchison |
Friday, 14 November, to Tuesday, 18 November, 7 am to 5 pm. Stop/go traffic management (no work on Saturday, 15 November and Sunday, 16 November). |
|
SH65 Shenandoah |
Friday, 14 November, to Tuesday 18 November, 7am to 5 pm. Stop/go traffic management (no work on Saturday, 15 November and Sunday, 16 November). |
|
SH60 High Street, Motueka between:
|
Monday, 17 November, to Friday 28 November, 9:30 am to 5 pm (no work on Saturday 22 or Sunday 23 November). During this time, the southbound lane will be closed. Southbound road users travelling towards Mapua, will need to detour via Staples Street, Thorp Street and Old Wharf Road. SH60 High Street will remain open for northbound road users travelling towards Riwaka. |
|
SH1 Wairau Road Picton, south of Angle Street |
Friday, 21 November, 6 pm to 6 am. Stop/go traffic management. |
|
SH1 Koromiko between Para Road and Speeds Road |
Friday, 21 November to Thursday 27 November, 6 pm to 6 am. Stop/go traffic management. |
|
SH1 between Picton and Tuamarina |
Monday, 24 November, to Friday, 28 November, 6 pm to 6 am. Stop/go traffic management. |
|
SH1 Tuamarina |
Thursday, 27 November and Friday, 28 November, 6 pm to 6 am. Stop/go traffic management. |
|
SH1, south of the Wairau River Bridge |
Friday, 28 November, 6 pm to 6 am. Stop/go traffic management. |
|
SH1, south of Seddon |
Monday 1 to Friday 5 December, 7 am to 6 pm. Stop/go traffic management. |
|
SH60, near Smalls Creek, Golden Bay |
Monday, 8 December, to Friday, 12 December, 7 am to 5 pm. Stop/go traffic management |
|
SH60 near Pigville Road, Golden Bay |
Monday, 8 December, to Friday, 12 December, 7 am to 5 pm. Stop/go traffic management. |
|
SH6 Wakapuaka (The Glen), Nelson |
Friday, 12 December, to Tuesday, 16 December, 7 am to 5 pm. Stop/go traffic management (no work on Saturday, 13 December and Sunday, 14 December). |
Summer Maintenance Season - Tips and Advice:
