State Highway 1 between Tūrangi and Waiouru – known as the Desert Road – will close for nearly two months over the summer for maintenance works.
The key North Island route will be closed from January 6 until late February 2025 as part of the SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru Accelerated Maintenance project.
The undertaking “is the largest and most ambitious maintenance and renewal projects to be undertaken in New Zealand”, New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) regional manager of maintenance and operations, Roger Brady, said in a statement
“The alpine environment and potential for a cold snap means we need to do this closure in the peak summer months, as we need a minimum ground temperature of 13C to carry out pavement works.
“While the road is closed, we’ll be rebuilding or repairing 24.5 lane kilometres and replacing the deck on the Mangatoetoenui Bridge which is around 23km south of Rangipō.”
Brady said the Desert Rd project “will not only prevent further deterioration in roading quality but will also bring the worst parts of the road up to a higher standard through more intense rehabilitating and rebuilding”.
“The treatments planned are designed to meet expected traffic growth and ensure resilience.”
A north to south detour from SH41, SH47, SH4, SH49, and back to SH1 – which has yet to be finalised – will add an extra 29 minutes to motorists’ journeys.
