State Highway 3 through Awakino Gorge will reopen 24/7 from midday today (10 June) under stop/go traffic management.
Following further assessment this morning, geotechnical specialists have advised it is safe to reopen the road under controlled conditions.
The road was closed overnight after new land movement was identified on the hillside above the road. The decision to close was made because it was not safe to manage the risk of material coming down overnight, when visibility is limited and conditions can change quickly.
SH3 through Awakino Gorge remains an active worksite. A Trigger Action Response Plan (TARP) remains in place for the gorge. That’s the safety plan we use to help guide early action when conditions become riskier than normal. It uses things like rainfall, wind, ground conditions, and on-site visual inspections to help determine whether access needs to change to keep people safe.
That means even while the road is open, NZTA may need to change access, increase restrictions, or close the road again at short notice if safety thresholds are reached.
NZTA says they "know that can be frustrating, but we won’t take risks with the safety of road users or road workers."
"We know many people will be travelling to and from Fieldays over the coming days. We’ve reopened the road to help maintain access for those journeys while keeping safety as the priority."
There is also likely to be some disruption to traffic next week while work is completed to stabilise the new slip. Once arrangements for that work are confirmed, a further update will be provided, communicated as early as possible to allow road users to made adequate journey plans.
NZTA advises motorists to plan ahead, allow extra time, drive to the conditions, and follow all signs and traffic management.
