A summer spruce-up for Auckland's Harbour Bridge has been cancelled - with heavy rain on the way later this week

Resurfacing work was meant to kick off tomorrow and run through to January 6 - bringing some lane restrictions.

NZTA says it needs a solid stretch of dry, settled weather to make sure the new surfacing bonds stick properly to the steel bridge deck.

The bridge will now remain open as usual throughout the holiday period- operating four-lanes northbound and four lanes southbound, with no restrictions in place.

The work will be rescheduled, at a later date.