Wellington drivers should plan ahead for a series of overnight closures on State Highway 1 next month, as crews carry out major maintenance on the urban motorway. 

The motorway’s southbound lanes will be closed from Ngauranga Interchange to Vivian Street between 9pm and 4.30am from Sunday 4 October to Thursday 15 October.

Planned State Highway 1 tunnel closures will take place at the same time to reduce disruption for road users.

Closures will be on Sunday to Thursday nights only, weather permitting, with traffic management set up from 7 pm so road users should expect delays from then when travelling towards the city.

Duncan Mundell, Projects and Renewals Manager, says the work is essential for keeping one of the capital’s busiest transport routes safe and reliable. 

“Our crews will resurface more than two kilometres of the motorway’s southbound lanes and complete a wide range of maintenance work, including bridge-joint and pavement repairs, sign and streetlight replacements, drainage work, line marking and safety inspections.” 

“There is a lot of work to do, and it is essential. Over 25,000 vehicles use this part of State Highway 1 every day. It is a high-use corridor must be properly maintained,” Mr Mundell says. 

All southbound onramps and offramps within the closure area will also be closed. Drivers travelling within the city will need to use alternative routes and should allow extra time for their journeys. 

Northbound traffic will operate as usual, except when separate tunnel closures are planned (see details below). 

Seven work shifts are planned. The two-week window includes contingency for bad weather, and the programme may finish earlier if conditions allow.

Mr Mundell says other work is also planned across the network, which people travelling in and out of the city, and to and from Miramar, need to plan for.

“There will be overnight closures of the Terrace Tunnel on Sunday, 11 October and Monday, 12 October, the Mt Victoria Tunnel on Tuesday, 13 October, and the Arras Tunnel on Wednesday, 14 October. This means there will be a bigger impact on road users during the second week of the motorway works.” 

More information on tunnel closures – SH1 Wellington Tunnel maintenance

“There will be a lot happening, and people will have to be ready for delays and detours. We have planned the work for night-time, when traffic volumes are at their lowest, but some impact and disruption for road users is unavoidable,” Mr Mundell says. 

People travelling to Wellington Airport on the night of the Mount Victoria Tunnel closure should use Hutt Road and the waterfront quays, then continue around the bays to avoid another detour via Newtown.