Roadworks to bypass the Awakino Tunnel on State Highway 3, between Taranaki and the King Country, are now scheduled to start late this year.
The work is part of the New Zealand Transport Agency's wider $250million-plus Awakino Gorge to Mount Messenger Programme, designed to improve 58 kilometres of narrow, winding and hilly road.
The 2.3km Awakino Tunnel bypass will take traffic away from the single-lane tunnel, which was built in the 1920s. 
The new route will include two bridges over the Awakino River, a passing lane, landscaped rest area and walkway to the tunnel.
NZTA systems manager Ross I'Anson says the bypass scheduling comes at "an exciting time, as we continue to make safety, resilience and route availability improvements" on that stretch of state highway.
"Safety improvements and efficiency gains will benefit the 2300 vehicles which travel this road, of which 20% are heavy vehicles."
Construction on the $28.9million bypass is scheduled to start in October – the contract having now been awarded to Fulton Hogan. It should be finished by May 2021.
l'Anson says that because most of the work is away from the existing highway the project is unlikely to cause travel delays.
The overall project achieved what the NZTA termed "a major milestone" in December with the granting of resource consents for the Mt Messenger bypass project.
That comprises a 6km stretch of new highway which will bypass the existing steep, narrow and winding road and its single-lane tunnel.