Two major detours north of Taupō
State Highway 1 between Wairakei and Ātiamuri is closed for roadworks for about five weeks. Photo / Dan Hutchinson
The section of State Highway 1 from Wairakei roundabout to Ātiamuri is now closed to traffic and not due to reopen for up to five weeks.
Work is being done to rebuild the southern end of that section of road and finish the safety improvements and road rebuilding closer to Ātiamuri.
The closure is from the SH1/SH30 intersection to the SH1/SH5 intersection (Wairakei Roundabout).
All north and southbound vehicles will be detoured 24/7.
The detour for light vehicles is via SH30, SH32 and Poihipi Road to Wairakei Drive and vice versa.
The detour adds about 30 minutes to the journey.
The heavy vehicle detour is via SH5 Rotorua, which adds 43 minutes to the journey.
It is not the only interruption on the way north with SH1 between Putāruru and Lichfield also expected to be closed for about a month to allow for the road to be rebuilt between Vospers Rd and Rollett Rd.
The northbound detour is via Vospers Road, Kells Lane, Lichfield Road, Golf Street, Arapuni Street, and Princes Street.
The southbound detour is via Princes Street, Arapuni Street, Grey Street, Lichfield Road, and Vospers Road.
Heavy vehicles are detoured via SH5 Rotorua.