State Highway 1 between Putāruru and Lichfield will reopen tomorrow morning (Saturday 5 April), the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi has confirmed, but motorists will need to wait until Wednesday for the Ātiamuri to Wairakei section to reopen.
Both stretches of highway have been closed as part of the State Highway 1 Tīrau to Waiouru Accelerated Maintenance project. The Putāruru section will initially operate under temporary traffic management to allow for traffication - the process where traffic helps to bed down new seal - before final sweeping and line marking can be completed.
Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations for Waikato and Bay of Plenty, Roger Brady, says the current weather front moving across the North Island has forced the delay of the Ātiamuri to Wairakei reopening, which was originally scheduled for this weekend.
"This site has been disruptive for residents, businesses, communities and road users. We'd like to thank everyone for being patient and respectful of our road crews," said Brady.
"The weather front moving across the North Island and the amount of rain forecast means the Ātiamuri section can't be reopened and completed this weekend as originally scheduled, and we are aiming for Wednesday 9 April reopening."
In just over a month, NZTA contractor Downer has rebuilt and repaired 2.16 lane kilometres and sealed 5.8 lane kilometres of road between the Putāruru Transfer Station and the intersection with SH1 and Pinedale Road.
The Ātiamuri to Wairakei section will require a nighttime closure for sweeping and line marking following the 2025 ITM Taupō Super 440 event, which runs from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 April. The agency noted there is 9km of line marking to complete between Ātiamuri and Wairakei, with central and side barriers making a nighttime closure the most efficient approach.
Motorists are advised to expect reduced speed limits on both sections until all work is completed.
