- SH1 East Road closed during the day on 6th and 7th January for resurfacing
- Invercargill central streets resurfacing to begin 12th January, expected to finish by March
- NZTA asks drivers to follow detours and support local businesses during works
Highways South will carry out resurfacing of two sections of SH1 East Road in Invercargill on 6th and 7th January, weather permitting. The road will be closed between Ascot roundabout and Mill Road North from 7 am to 6 pm both days, reopening overnight.
Detour:Residents will have access via Mill Road North, while other vehicles must follow the detour through Mill Road North, Findlay Road, and Racecourse Road. If the weather is poor, the work will be rescheduled.
Related:
Invercargill City Streets Set For Resurfacing
Milton Roadworks Bring Detours And Delays
A letter informing affected residents about the closure was delivered on 20th December.
Ongoing Maintenance and Resurfacing Work
Maintenance and renewal efforts have resumed across Southland. The following projects are scheduled for completion soon, with temporary traffic management in place:
- SH1 Clyde St near Nith St, Bluff highway (various points), and SH6 Great North Road Winton for watercutting
- SH6 Winton-Lorneville highway near Breeze Road and Wilson’s Crossing Road for pavement repairs
- SH94 Waimea Highway between Riversdale and Mandeville from 13th to 17th January, with a detour for northbound light vehicles and piloted stacking for northbound heavy vehicles. Southbound traffic will not be affected.
Upcoming work includes the resurfacing of Invercargill’s central streets, which begins on 12th January and runs until late February or early March 2024. This project, led by Highways South and NZTA, involves resurfacing parts of SH1 and SH6 covering Dee, Tay, and Clyde Streets. It aims to improve road conditions while addressing infrastructure needs, including footpath repairs and water and stormwater upgrades.
The work will be carried out at night from Sunday to Thursday, between 6 pm and 6 am, to minimise daytime disruption. Roads will be closed during working hours but will reopen each morning with temporary speed limits in place. Detours will be clearly marked.
Locals should expect noise during the milling phase, and crews will use about 8,500 tonnes of asphalt—roughly the weight of 120 million cheese rolls. NZTA advises drivers to follow traffic management signs and continue supporting local businesses.
To avoid conflicts with major events, including the Burt Munro Rally (5-8 February), the works will pause temporarily in early February.
The NZTA and Invercargill City Council are working closely with contractors to ensure the project is efficient and causes minimal disruption. "We needed to get this done during summer when the weather is more reliable," a spokesperson said. Each stage is expected to take about 10 weeks, depending on weather conditions.