Ahead of the upcoming closure of State Highway 1 (SH1) Brynderwyn Hills for critical restoration work, NZ Transport
Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) has been working with our partners to ensure detour routes are as safe and as high quality as
possible for people and goods.
All detour routes are progressing well and are on schedule for the closure on Monday 26 February.
Steve Mutton, Director Regional Relationships NZTA says that crews have been preparing SH12 and SH14 for heavy vehicles
while working closely with the Northland Transportation Alliance on local detour routes for light vehicles including
Cove Road and Paparoa Oakleigh Road.
High productivity motor vehicles (HPMV) must use SH12/14, which is also the suggested detour route for heavy vehicles.
Local detour routes via Cove Road or Paparoa Oakleigh Road are recommended for light vehicles.
“We recognise these detours will take longer, especially for freight, which is why we will be working as quickly as
possible to carry out this important work.
“We encourage people to use it as an opportunity to explore Northland and have an adventure while travelling along the
scenic routes.
“The suggested detour via SH12 and SH14 offers some great places to stop along the way and the Cove Road route provides
a great opportunity to take a break and enjoy beaches on their travels” says Mr Mutton.
People are also urged to drive to the conditions over the summer and keep a lookout for our roadworkers still hard at
work over the break.
How will the detour routes affect my journey time*?RouteApprox journey timeDistanceDifferenceDetailsClosed route: SH12hr 6 min156km--SH12/143hr 3 min227km71kmHPMVs must use this route, suggested route for heavy vehicles.Cove Road2hr 29 min170km14km
Suggested route for light vehicles; turn off at Kaiwaka, use Kaiwaka Mangawhai Road, Garbolino Road and connect back to
Cove Road.
Not suitable for truck with trailer units.Paparoa Oakleigh Road2hr 29min177km21kmSuggested route for light vehicles. HMPVs restricted on this route.
*Detour route times and distance Auckland to Whangārei (average car journey)actual times may vary.
SH1 Brynderwyn Hills will be closed from 12:01am Monday 26 February until 11:59pm Wednesday 27 March, opening for six
days over the Easter period from 12:01am 28 March to 11:59pm 2 April.
The road will then close again at 12:01am on Wednesday 3 April until 11:59pm Sunday 12 May to complete the remaining
work that requires a full closure. Work will be done as quickly as possible.
Ahead of the road closure on Monday 26 February, there will be some night works in the Brynderwyn Hills. The road is
still open but will operate under stop/go traffic management.Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:
· Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/trafficFacebook: facebook.com/TransportAgencyTwitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahi_newsJourney planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nzPhone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)