Travel between Ashburton and the Timaru District will be impacted throughout April due to work on a section of State Highway 1 at Ealing.

NZTA’s Mid Canterbury maintenance contract manager Chris Chambers said a roading contractor became available at short notice so NZTA “hope to make the most of this late summer sealing opportunity”.

From Monday to the end of April, a road sealing team will repair a section of SH1 at the intersection of Withells and Ealing Road near the Rangitata Bridge.

The section of SH1 being repaired was part of a larger reseal in May 2024 but  only some sections of that work provided a lasting seal requiring it to be resealed again.

Temporary traffic signals and Stop/Go will control traffic movements on the single available lane during daytime hours (7am-6pm).

Closer to the time of the resurfacing, the Stop/Go is also likely to be implemented over night to protect the surface prior to final sealing.

Chambers said light vehicles can use the alternative route inland route between Hinds and Rangitata, SH79, to avoid having to queue as they may face delays of up to an hour.

Northbound drivers of light vehicles are strongly encouraged to take Scenic Route 72 (the Geraldine-Arundel Road) from Winchester into Geraldine then rejoin SH1 at Hinds or further north.

Heavy vehicles/ HPMV are requested to remain on SH1 given the fragile state of Scenic Route 72 due to flood damage Chambers said.

Traffic control may be used at the single lane Upper Orari Bridge to ensure people are not delayed for long on the alternate route.

SH79 has been re-sealed in recent weeks so will be suitable for all traffic by March 31.

There will be no work over the Easter Weekend or public holidays, with crews restoring the site to two lanes at midday on April 17.

Ashburton SH1 Road Works

Five weeks of night work to resurface a section of SH1 in Ashburton is due to start on Sunday. There will be overnight closures and stop/go between SH77 Moore St and South St from 8pm to 6am each Sunday to Thursday nights for the road renewal work. The closure is on SH1 from the SH77 Moore St intersection to South St with detours in place.