Non-essential state highway roadworks will pause over Labour Weekend, but motorists travelling through Canterbury are being warned some delays and restrictions will remain.

NZ Transport Agency said contractors would shut down non-essential work sites from midday on Friday 23 October until midnight on Monday 26 October.

Crews may still be on the roads repairing potholes, responding to incidents and carrying out essential work.

On State Highway 1 south of Kaikōura, stop/go traffic lights will continue operating around the clock at the Conway River washout, with delays of up to 20 minutes.

Flooding in July damaged the highway, and crews are now rebuilding the lane that fell into the river and connecting it with the existing road. Two lanes are expected to reopen in early November, subject to weather and construction conditions.

Further north, road rebuilding about 5km north of the Clarence River is scheduled to continue until 19 November. Stop/go controls remain in place around the clock, with a temporary speed limit of 30kmh and delays of up to 10 minutes.

At Rolleston, the southbound lane merge on SH1 has moved closer to the Weedons Road interchange as work progresses on the Rolleston Access Improvements Project.

The highway remains open, but the lane reduction has been causing southbound delays between 4pm and 6pm. NZ Transport Agency suggested motorists consider Levi Road as an alternative.

Drivers heading north on Labour Day can take a break at a Driver Reviver event at the Hurunui River Bridge Rest Area.

The event runs from 11am to 4pm on Monday 26 October, with free coffee, snacks and road safety advice from AMI, Police, St John and Fire and Emergency New Zealand. Activities for children and fresh water for pets will also be available.

A new round of roadworks will begin after the long weekend.

On SH7, a section near Waipara Flat Road, about 3km west of the SH1 intersection, will be rebuilt between 27 October and 24 November.

Crews will work from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday, with temporary traffic signals operating around the clock. A 30kmh speed limit will apply, and drivers should allow an extra 10 minutes.

On SH1 at Rangitata, a bridge inspection and repairs between Rangitata Island Road and Cox Street are scheduled from Tuesday 27 October, between 6am and 5pm. Stop/go controls and a 30kmh speed limit will be in place, with delays of up to 20 minutes.

Repairs near Giddings Road, north of Ealing, and between Galletys Road and Eliot Street at St Andrews are scheduled from 27 October to 1 November, with work taking place on weekdays between 6am and 5pm. Drivers should allow up to five minutes at each site.

Work south of St Andrews, between Mitchells Road and Faulkners Road, is also scheduled to continue until 1 November, with delays of up to five minutes.

On SH77, rebuilding near Rooneys Road is due to continue until 8 November, with delays of up to 10 minutes. Repairs and rebuilding near Blands Road will begin on 27 October and continue until the end of November, with delays of up to five minutes.

Further south, repairs near Mount Michael Road on SH79 are scheduled from 27 October to 1 November. Rebuilding at Grassy Hills on SH82 will run from 27 October until 30 November. Both sites will have stop/go controls, 30kmh speed limits and delays of up to five minutes.

Temporary traffic lights and a 30kmh speed limit also remain in place at the SH82 Waihao North River Bridge replacement project.

For motorists travelling towards Picton, stabilisation work at Weld Pass and Taimate is scheduled between 27 and 30 October. Stop/go controls and 30kmh speed limits will apply during work hours, with delays of up to 10 minutes at Weld Pass.

The slow vehicle lane at the SH1 Spring Creek passing lane remains closed following wet weather damage, with a temporary 70kmh speed limit in place while investigations continue.

Drivers travelling towards Dunedin can also expect repairs between Herbert and the Waitaki Bridge from 27 to 30 October, and at Bushey near Palmerston from 28 to 30 October. Delays of up to five minutes are expected at these sites.