State Highway 3 through Awakino Gorge will be closing later next month to allow crews to install new culverts under the road.

It’s the next step in the work to restore two-lane access following severe weather in April which caused multiple slips and damage.

Awakino Gorge, between the rest area near the Historic Tunnel and the intersection of SH3 and Manganui Road, will be closing for four days from 6am Saturday 22 August to 6pm Tuesday 25 August.

During the closure, crews will be working to install 3 culverts to drain water away, which builds up under the slip, flowing over the road.

A road closure is essential for the work to go ahead as there will be deep excavation, large open trenches and limited space. Heavy machinery will be positioned on the road. 

As a result, there is no space for vehicles to pass around or safely through the worksite. We are unable to offer scheduled opening times. 

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Incident Controller Kendra Ludeke says closing the road is always the last resort. 

“A raft of other options were considered including maintaining managed access, working under stop/go, and providing scheduled openings during the closure. This work can only be completed safely under a full planned closure because the culvert installation requires excavation across the road, space for road workers, machinery and materials, and a safe working area within a narrow gorge environment.

“People travelling through Awakino Gorge and local communities have been incredibly understanding and patient over the past few months. We don’t take that for granted. We understand a 4-day closure of the road will be highly disruptive for local communities, businesses, freight operators, emergency services and people travelling between regions.

“Doing this work next month over a 4-day full closure will be a big step forward in the recovery of this stretch of road and sets the area up for the next stage of recovery work. 

“In planning the closure, we have carefully considered how SH3 is used by local communities, freight operators, emergency services, businesses, and people travelling between regions. We have also considered events, local access needs and the availability of the SH1/SH4 detour,” says Ms Ludeke. 

The installation work is weather dependent. If the work cannot go ahead due to weather, it will be rescheduled to the following week, from Saturday 29 August to Tuesday 1 September.