The New Zealand Transport Agency has reversed its proposal to completely close State Highway 1 between Taupō and Tūrangi during scheduled maintenance.
The decision comes after what NZTA described as "considerable feedback" from affected stakeholders about the proposed closure of the vital North Island transport link.
"We have made the decision that a full closure would not be the best option for this part of SH1 due to the issues it would cause for the community, freight and businesses," NZTA stated in its update.
While the full closure has been ruled out, the agency emphasised that "considerable maintenance" is still required on the stretch, including bridge strengthening work, meaning disruptions remain inevitable.
NZTA will now investigate alternative traffic management strategies for completing the necessary work. Options under consideration include stop/go traffic control, single-lane operations, and conducting work during nighttime hours to minimise impact.
The agency has not announced when the maintenance work will take place, though their original proposal had mentioned October and November.
