Drivers planning to travel at night via State Highway 1, Desert Road, will need to factor in about an extra half hour of travel time over the next five weeks.

NZTA Waka Kotahi are planning rehabilitation night work from this coming Sunday, February 11.

"Pavement rehabilitation night work at multiple locations along SH1 Desert Road will require road closures," says an NZTA spokesperson.

The agency says work will begin at 6pm Sunday, February 11 and will take approximately five weeks to complete, weather permitting.

Between 6pm and 6am, Sunday to Thursday nights, SH1 will be closed between Waiouru and Rangipo.

Detour to add 35 minutes travel time

There will be a detour in place via SH46, SH47, SH4 and SH49, back to SH1 and vice versa.

This detour adds approximately 35 minutes to travel time.

Outside these hours, including all day on Friday and Saturday, both lanes will be open with reduced speed limits. 

SH1 Desert Road – stop/go

As well as the above closures, road construction on the Desert Road on two sites at Oturere and Puketarata continues until mid-February.

Stop/go traffic management is in place between 6am and 6pm, along with a temporary speed limit. Minor delays are expected.