Taranaki state highway planned roadworks

Saturday 25 April to Friday 1 May 2026

24 April 2026

Kia ora

We’re making good progress clearing multiple slips on State Highway 3 (SH3) in the Awakino Gorge between Piopio and Mōkau.

We’re still on track to reopen by Saturday 2 May, as long as the weather holds and we don’t uncover further damage as work continues.

The main job is the significant slip in the gorge. It’s still unstable, so we can’t safely reopen until we’ve benched the slip.

Benching is an interim step to get SH3 safely reopened sooner. A permanent repair will follow, and we’ll share more detail on that longer-term solution once it’s confirmed.

We expect to finish benching this weekend. After that, we’ll move into a major load‑out phase to remove the fallen material, followed by pavement repairs so we can reopen one lane by Saturday 2 May.

Once load-out begins, crews will be working at scale. One 50‑tonne excavator, two 20‑tonne diggers and about 10 trucks will operate simultaneously to clear the slip material.

There’s also work underway to clear the other minor slips north and south of the significant slip and to clear and repair blocked culverts. As at midday today we have cleared 31 of 39 minor slips from the road surface, we are working on 3 of the 6 under slips and we have cleared 10 of 32 culverts.

This is a big job in tough terrain, and it’s taking time because we’re dealing with an active slip and multiple sites along the route. Road workers are on the ground every day making steady progress clearing slips, repairing drainage, and building the bench needed to safely get traffic moving again.

When SH3 reopens, expect it to be managed at first. It will be one lane in places with stop/go traffic management while work continues.

Work is daylight-only as the workers on site need visibility to work safely and watch for any movement.

While SH3 is closed, SH1 and SH4 remain the best alternative routes.

We know this closure is frustrating and disruptive. Please be assured road workers are doing everything possible to restore access as quickly as conditions allow.

If you're planning on travelling over the long weekend, please drive to the conditions, slow down on wet or winding roads, take breaks if you’re feeling tired, and check our Journey Planner for the most up to date information: journeys.nzta.govt.nz.

Work underway to reopen SH3 Awakino Gorge

Roadworks this week

State highways with scheduled works this week:

• State Highway 3 (SH3) – Piopio to New Plymouth
• State Highway 4 (SH4)
• State Highway 43 (SH43)
• State Highway 44 (SH44)

Roadworks may be postponed due to rain or other factors that disrupt the weekly schedule.

Check NZTA Journey Planner for the latest travel information and journey times: journeys.nzta.govt.nz

Information current as at 3pm on 24 April 2026.

State Highway 3 – Piopio to New Plymouth

SH3 Piopio to Mōkau: This section of SH3 remains closed while we work to clear slips following heavy rain over the weekend. The road is expected to open by Saturday 2 May.

SH3 Mangapepeke culvert replacements: Work is underway until early May to replace 2 ageing culverts, weather permitting. Stop/go traffic management is in place. Please expect changing temporary traffic management at times.

State Highway 4

SH4 Te Mapara: Drainage works are underway near Tuhua Road until the end of April, weather permitting. Work is running from 6am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday, under stop/go traffic management with delays of 10 to 15 minutes.

State Highway 43

SH43 Aukopae: Bridge replacement works are ongoing at Kururau Stream Water Drive. Stop/go temporary traffic management and a 30km/h speed limit is in place until 1 May. Work is running 7am to 5pm Monday to Friday, (weather permitting), with delays of up to 5 minutes.

State Highway 44

SH44 Breakwater Road: The second phase of the road rebuild is underway until late April, weather permitting. The work includes drainage improvements and rebuilding the road with new asphalt. It is being completed in stages with stop/go traffic management in place at times, and delays of around 5 to 10 minutes expected.

Upcoming closure

SH3 Mountain Road: Asphalt patch repairs will take place on SH3 Mountain Road between Johns Road and Surrey Road on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 May under full night closures from 7pm to 5am, weather permitting. These repairs will maintain the road before drainage improvements and a full rebuild are completed next summer. Road users should plan ahead and use SH45 as the alternative route. The road will be open outside these hours, but a temporary speed limit will remain until work is complete.

We'd like your feedback!

The majority of planned roadworks across the state highway network take place between the months of September and March. With our 2025-26 roadworks programme almost complete, we would like to know your thoughts on the e-newsletters we have been sending out.

The survey will only take a couple of minutes to complete and your feedback will help us improve our approach for next summer and beyond.

The survey will be open until 5pm Friday 1 May. Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete this for us.

Complete the survey

More information

Please be aware that there may be other less disruptive state highway works not listed in this newsletter.

Roadworks listed in this newsletter may be postponed due to rain or other factors that disrupt the weekly schedule.

Check the NZTA Journey Planner for the latest travel information and journey times before starting your journey: journeys.nzta.govt.nz.

For more information on the Taranaki state highway maintenance programme, contact us at info@nzta.govt.nz or 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 444 449) or visit our website nzta.govt.nz/taranaki-maintenance.