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Click the image above to watch a video about the construction programme for SH1 Mangamuka Gorge with Waka Kotahi Project Director Norman Collier.

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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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How we will fix the slips

Here’s an example of the repair plan for slip 9 which is one of the most significant slips on the northern end of the gorge. It’s the most complex fix and will take approximately eight months to complete. There are 14 other slips which require a similar approach and will average 5-6 months construction time.

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Uncovering what lies beneath

Northland’s ground conditions have always been fragile and are unique to the rest of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Almost 70% of the geological material which forms rocks in the region are made up of Northland Allochthon. It’s better known as “Northland Problematic Rock” as it has long been challenging for the construction and maintenance of roads.

Three severe weather events in 2022 completely saturated the surrounding Maungataniwha Ranges which triggered significant movement within the mountains. This resulted in the 15 slips that now need repairs.

These slips require complex engineering solutions guided by as much geotechnical data as possible, as finding competent material to anchor the road to can be difficult.

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Need more information for your local community group?

Our latest flyer ensures you and your community are kept up to date.

If you would like some printed copies to hand out to your whānau or community group, send us an email at northlandproject@nzta.govt.nz with your name, mailing address and the number of copies you need. We’ll then pop them in the post directly to you.

To view the electronic version of the flyer, click here.

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Locals working hard for locals

We know locals are keen to be a part of the solution and get the Mangamuka gorge reopened for their friends and whanau. As part of the project, there has been a strong focus on using local service providers and local crew to carry out this crucial work to a high standard.

This has cultivated a culture of hard mahi and kotahitanga on site. Everyone is working together for the good of the Far North community.

Pictured is the crew at one of their weekly Health and Safety meetings where the majority of workers indicated they lived local to the project – a great outcome for Far North communities.

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How we’ll keep you informed

With the state highway closed to road users between Mangamuka and Kaitaia, we know it’s hard to get a sense of the size and scale of the work which needs to be carried out, along with progress on site too.

To ensure you’re kept in the loop, we’ll be providing updates via printed flyers, e-newsletters, social media photos and videos along with a programme of information sessions where you can meet the team, learn more and have your questions answered.

We’ll share further information about upcoming opportunities to meet the team in one of our future updates.

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More information

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For more information on the SH1 Mangamuka Gorge slip repairs, contact us at northlandproject@nzta.govt.nz

Visit our website www.nzta.govt.nz/mangamuka

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