State Highway 3 through Awakino Gorge will be opening under convoy from 5pm tomorrow (Saturday 2 May).
The road between Mōkau and Piopio is currently closed following severe weather mid last month which cause some significant slips over and under the road.
Crews have been working hard towards restoring access along this important route by clearing slips, removing debris and carrying out repairs amid tough terrain and challenging conditions.
While access to a single lane has been restored, there is a large amount of work still to be completed.
For the next 3 weeks, until Friday 22 May, traffic will be convoyed through the Gorge at set times during the weekend and at night during weekdays.
The road will remain closed during daylight hours on weekdays, so crews can continue essential repair work safely and efficiently.
In a press release, NZTA stated the road needs to be closed during the day for crews to undertake this work due to the constrained environment through the gorge.
"With the road down to one lane at the at the site of the significant slip, crews must operate heavy machinery from the remaining traffic lane, which means there is no room for traffic to pass through." the statement reads.
"If crews were to undertake this work while daytime convoys were also operating, 3 weeks of work would likely become at least 3 months of work."
"After 3 weeks, we aim to open the road 24/7 with stop/go temporary traffic management in place. "
Convoy details
Convoys for all members of the public and freight will commence 5pm Saturday.
Escorted convoys will operate in a single direction beginning with southbound and then northbound, with convoys departing in half hour intervals, and allowing an hour to travel through. Further information is provided below.
A pilot vehicle will lead waiting traffic from the closure points. It will depart at the start of each window opening.
On weekdays, the road will be closed during daylight hours (6:30am to 5:00pm) to allow roadworkers to continue crucial repair works.
On weekdays, convoy access will be available at night from 5:00pm to 6:30am each night.
Convoy meeting points
- Rest area near the Awakino Historic Tunnel (Piopio end, for southbound traffic heading to Mōkau)
- Near the stock yards north of Manganui Road (Awakino end, for northbound traffic heading to Piopio)
Schedule times are provided in the comments section below.
While geotechnical assessments confirm the road is safe under controlled access, NZTA encourages travellers to consider whether their trip is essential and to plan ahead. The area remains an active worksite and is still vulnerable - normal road conditions should not be expected.
The significant slip remains active and vulnerable.
"Drivers should be prepared for the road to be closed at short notice if weather conditions change or risk assessments require it."
"Our number one priority is keeping people safe. We are carefully managing restoring access as safely as possible while repairs are ongoing. Please drive to the conditions and follow convoy guidance."
There is still considerable damage along the route, including multiple underslips that require permanent repairs.
