Construction programme for slip repairs confirmed: SH1 Mangamuka Gorge to reopen May 2024
Kia ora koutou,
Following $100M of funding announced at the end of 2022, a programme of works to repair the 15 significant slips along SH1 Mangamuka Gorge has now been confirmed and the road is due to open by May 2024.
Slip repair work began in late-February and since then our teams on the ground have been focused on ensuring the road is safe and stable enough to accommodate the large machinery needed to carry out slip repairs. This includes installing almost 700 piles to strengthen and stabilise the road as well as drainage work and environmental measures which protect the environment we’re working in.
From December 2022 until now, we have mobilised the people and equipment needed to carry out repairs over the next 15 months, completed emergency protection work and have accelerated the detailed design process so we know how to repair each slip.
We acknowledge the impact that the closed Mangamuka Gorge is having on travel for work, school, business, and connectivity and we know the prospect of having the gorge closed for a long period of time will be disappointing for the community.
We also know the importance of the route to connect whānau, road users, and communities on either side of the gorge and are actively investigating opportunities to provide limited access to light vehicles over the summer holiday period.
With unstable ground conditions in the Maungataniwha Ranges along with ongoing impacts of climate change, the Mangamuka Gorge will be challenged with resilience issues into the future. We are thinking strategically about our next steps and will investigate how we can ensure the Far North roading network will stand the test of time, and how this type of work could be funded.
Collaboration with hapū, iwi, local stakeholders and experts on this issue is ongoing and will feed into a business case for longer-term resilience solutions. We hope to share more information in mid-2023.
Click here to watch a video with more information about this announcement.
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