Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
A stretch of State Highway 3 at Mt Messenger will be under stop/go traffic management for works associated with Te Ara o Te Ata – Mt Messenger Bypass project.
The work, which includes ground stabilisation and vegetation clearance, begins next Monday 17 March with work expected to be complete on Tuesday 13 May.
Crews will be on site from 6am to 6pm Monday to Saturday.
During the work, 1 lane will be open to traffic and will shift at times. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is advising road users to be aware of this and drive to the conditions.
The delay times will vary:
- Monday 17 March to Wednesday 26 March, DELAYS of up to 15 minutes expected.
- Thursday 27 March to Tuesday 8 April, DELAYS of up to 30 minutes expected due to tree felling.
- Wednesday 9 April to Tuesday 13 May, DELAYS of up to 15 minutes expected.
There will be a temporary speed limit in place during work hours. Please allow for extra time on your journey when travelling this route. Outside work hours, the 100km/h speed limit will be in place.
This work is weather dependent.
Elsewhere on SH3, between New Plymouth and Tongapōrutu
- Work begins today(external link) on the next stage of works on construction of the SH3 / Waitara Road roundabout, with various traffic management requirements.
- Work begins this month on the second coat seal of a newly-rebuilt section of SH3 at Onaero. Repairs were completed at 2 sites between Waiau and Kaipikari Roads in October and November last year. The second coat sealing of these sites is being undertaken in two stages, the first of which has just been completed. Crews will then return in mid-to-late March to complete the final stage of the second coat seal over 1-2 days (weather permitting).
- Work to rebuild the road at SH3 near Pilot Road at Tongapōrutu is nearing completion, with crews scheduled to seal the site in the coming week, if the weather permits. This includes the additional 350 metres at the northern end of the original site, which was brought forward from the 2025/26 season to increase efficiency and condense our time working in this area of the network.
