State Highway 1 near Marton is closed due to surface flooding (file photo).

A heavy downpour closed State Highway 1 in Rangitīkei, with the rain also flooding residential streets in nearby Marton.

New Zealand Transport Agency regional highways manager Ross I'Anson said State Highway 1 was closed at the railway overbridge just before Calico Line, Marton, at about 5pm.

Nearby drains had been cleaned, with flooding not happening for the past two years, he said.

"But if we get lots of heavy rain in a short period of time, it tends to flood."

He said diversions were expected to be in place until 7am on Tuesday, but the agency posted via Twitter the road was open again from 6.45pm on Monday.

The heavy rain on Monday also impacted Marton, with a council spokeswoman saying there was surface flooding on multiple streets.

The water table was high due to recent rain, while falling leaves had blocked some drains, she said.

"It's nothing to do with rivers."

The water receded quickly once the rain stopped, she said.