Update 7:48am: SH3 through Awakino Gorge remains closed following a slip overnight. An onsite Geotech assessment will take place at Awakino Gorge later this morning.
State Highways 4 and 43 remain alternatives, however please drive to the conditions following the earthquake near Taumarunui overnight in addition to rain in those areas.
Be alert to the possibility of slips and debris on both SH4 and SH43.
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A stretch of State Highway 3 through Awakino Gorge has closed this morning (Sat 25 July), due to a slip.
The road is currently closed between Mokau and Piopio.
The area saw heavy rainfall late yesterday.
Crews will be out at site today, assessing the slip.
NZTA says to avoid the area and delay your travel. They will be providing a further update later this morning.
Nikita Phillips reports seeing a bank collapse in front of them while travelling through the Gorge just after 5am.
"This was one of the scariest experiences we've ever been through. We had to reverse our truck while a road worker came running towards us in a panic, yelling, 'Get out now! Go, go, go!'
"We had our babies with us, it was pitch black, and we watched the bank and debris take out the road right before our eyes. We're beyond grateful to be heading home with our whānau safe and in one piece."
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Update 3:49pm 25/07:
Crews are currently working to clear around 500 cubic metres of slip material on State Highway 3 at Awakino Gorge.
The gorge, between Mokau and Piopio, will remain closed overnight and tomorrow.
At this stage, crews expect to be able to open the road to one lane from 6pm tomorrow (Sunday 26 July), as long as there isn’t further rain and more slips.
NZTA will provide further updates tomorrow confirming the opening time.
Today’s slip is north of the significant slip that crews have been working on since April.
Meanwhile, State Highway 43 Forgotten World Highway between Whangamōmona and Taumarunui remains closed.
There are multiple slips, mud slides and debris. This stretch of road will remain closed tomorrow and into Monday while damage is assessed and the road cleared.
An update for SH43 is expected on Monday around early afternoon.
SH43 remains open between Stratford and Whangamōmona, as does SH4 between Whanganui and Raetihi.
On both stretches of highway, NZTA advises motorists to drive carefully, to the conditions and expect the possibility of slips and debris.
Crews are continuing to monitor the state highway network around the region and are on standby to assess any further damage.
