Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
Work is now underway on a longer-term slip repair at Tongapōrutu on State Highway 3 in northern Taranaki.
Crews working on this stretch of SH3 have become a familiar sight in recent weeks, with emergency works taking place following significant rainfall and high winds throughout October.
That heavy and persistent rainfall caused a number of slips between Urenui and Awakino.
Crews are already repairing a slip at Tongapōrutu and now a second project is beginning, just north of that slip site.
This northern slip originally occurred in 2016 and was initially managed by shifting the road shoulder barrier and installing drainage. However, recent weather events have caused further movement, prompting the need for a more permanent solution.
Construction on the northern slip is expected to be completed by early 2026. Traffic management will be in place during the works, with stop/go traffic management in place.
This work is funded through the $419 million Crown Resilience Programme fund.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Project Manager Liz Doherty says SH3 is a critical lifeline for communities and freight in Taranaki and beyond, and this work will make this route safer, more reliable, and more resilient to severe weather.
“This stretch of SH3 is particularly vulnerable to erosion due to its proximity to the estuary.
“By reinforcing the slopes, we’re addressing current instability as well as safeguarding the route against future weather events. These works are a vital investment in the resilience of our transport network.”
Work on both sites includes crews drilling high-strength steel bars into the slope next to the estuary and spraying concrete over the surface to hold the soil in place.
