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SH1 Mangamuka Gorge slip repairsProject update |
29 November 2024 |
Slip A9 – Grading and rolling the basecourse prior to asphalt. SH1 Mangamuka Gorge slip repairs – November 2024 updateKia ora koutou, With just three weeks to go, it’s full steam ahead in the team as we move at pace towards reopening. The team has made excellent progress over the last month. We’ve now completed 13 out of 16 critical slip repairs and are over 95% of the way through repaving more than 5 km of road through the gorge. The remaining tasks before reopening on 20 December include line marking, finishing installing the crash barriers, reinstating road signage, and completing the final site clean-up before the road reopens for the busy Christmas period. Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to welcoming you back soon! |
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What to expect for the reopeningThe Mangamuka Gorge will reopen in both directions at 12:01 AM on Friday 20 December. The road will be open to all road users, including heavy vehicles. While you will notice changes to the road surface with new asphalt, most of the major repairs over the past 21 months will not be visible with the piling and the anchors all being underground. The most visible changes will be the capping beams and new guardrails. The summit will also be open, offering a spot to take a break, stretch your legs, and enjoy lunch at the new picnic tables. |
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Post-reopening work: January 2025 onwardsWe will return on the week of January 13 to complete anchor work on the remaining slips. The road will remain open during this period with temporary traffic management, such as stop/go or traffic lights in place. To minimise disruption, work will be done on one slip at a time and is expected to continue until April 2025. As these final repairs are completed, we ask that you help keep everyone safe by driving with care and taking the time to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the gorge. |
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Compacting stabilised road patches at State Highway 10 (SH10), south of Kerikeri roundabout. Upcoming SH10 worksWith the gorge about to open, we have teams undertaking an extensive pavement repairs programme on SH10 to repair damage and prevent potholes. This summer, we plan to repair about 15,000m² of pavement along SH10, which is 55% more than the average amount over the last three years. With faster response times for pothole repairs, we expect visible improvements by the end of the construction season. We are also working on road renewals, including road rebuilding, resurfacing, and resealing, especially in areas where small patch repairs are no longer effective. Key projects include rebuilding 1km of SH10 between Pakaraka and Waipapa and resurfacing 9.9km of road, with about 5.5km of it in the Mangōnui to Taipa area. Additionally, we are addressing subsidence issues caused by land movement under the road. This will involve long asphalt patches, ranging from 20m to 50m, to smooth uneven surfaces. One major smoothing project is planned for a bumpy section south of Taipa, where we’ve received regular feedback from drivers about the rough road. This work is part of NZTA’s largest ever state highway maintenance and renewal programme for Northland this summer. For the latest travel information and journey times, check out the NZTA Journey Planner before starting your journey: https://journeys.nzta.govt.nz/ |
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MediaIn preparation for the road reopening, the Kaitāia community recently came together for a major spring clean. If you're traveling through the gorge this summer, be sure to stop and have a look around, appreciating the hard work they’ve put in to welcome visitors back to their town. Northern Advocate: Community gathers for Kaitāia clean-up before Mangamuka reopening |
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Click on the image above to hear from Kevin Fletcher - Kaitiaki, as part of our worker profile series featuring a few of the team working on the project. Behind-the-scenes project videosIf you missed them over the last couple of months, check out our playlist of behind-the-scenes project progress videos. These updates provide a glimpse of the project, and the people involved, with more uploaded every month. Mangamuka Gorge slip repairs - YouTube playlist New this month, we feature Tiaan Volschenk (Surfacing Supervisor for HEB Construction) and Kevin Fletcher (Kaitiaki): |
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Over 5km of asphalt is being laid throughout the gorge with repairs being undertaken while the road is closed. Progress updateWith all piling complete, we are now focussing on completing the last of the anchors, asphalt, barriers, line marking and signage. All the major drainage repairs and upgrades are complete. The team is finishing the last of the swale drains along the side of the road, and ensuring the existing drains are cleared before we depart. |
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Slip A47Rehabilitation works: 31/31 permanent piles complete. Lagging and back filling behind the wall is complete. The pavement teams are now onsite to reinstate the road surface around the slip site. Lagging is complete. Road surface reinstatement is nearing completion. |
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Slips A1 and A2Rehabilitation works: 40/40 permanent piles complete. 40/40 anchors complete. This slip repair is finished. Asphalt has been laid, with only the installation of guard rails and line markings left before reopening. Asphalt has been installed and is ready for barriers and line marking. |
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Slips A3/A4/A5/A6Rehabilitation works: Complete. The pavement teams have installed the asphalt from slips A3 to A5 in one continuous section. This section now only requires the completion of the guard rails and line marking to be ready for re-opening. Slip A6 – Asphalt has been laid and is now ready for line marking. |
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Slip A7
Rehabilitation works: 54/54 UC (Universal Column) piles complete. The anchors on this slip will be completed in the new year. The anchoring system required for this slip is much smaller and shorter than the larger piled walls. This will be done under temporary traffic management. Asphalt has been laid, and crash barriers have been installed. |
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Slip A8Rehabilitation works: 68/68 permanent piles complete. This slip repair is now complete. With the asphalt freshly laid, this section now only requires line marking to be ready for reopening. Asphalt has been laid and is now ready for line marking. |
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Slip A9
Rehabilitation works: 53/53 permanent piles complete. 42/52 anchors complete. The anchor teams will return to finish their work in the new year under temporary traffic management. Asphalt has been laid and is ready for the crash barriers. The last remaining anchors will be installed in the new year. |
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Slip A26Rehabilitation works: 74/74 permanent UC (Universal Column) piles complete. Asphalting is now complete, and the guardrail is being installed. Ready for line marking. Swale drains are being installed on the side of the road. |
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Slip A10Slip repair is complete. |
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Slip A11Road reinstatement and roadside drainage is complete, and the slope has been hydroseeded. This is where grass seed is mixed with mulch and water and sprayed onto the bare earth to help minimise the effects of surface water causing erosion. The area at the base of the slip has now been shaped to allow for future maintenance and repairs if required without disrupting the road. This site experienced some movement following the completion of the excavation in June. However, our geologists and TARP sensors have continued to monitor it closely and there has been no further movement over the recent months. Road reinstatement and roadside drainage complete. |
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Slip A12Rehabilitation works: 38/38 permanent piles complete. 38/38 anchors complete. The final anchor for this slip repair has been drilled and tested. A smaller rig was required to avoid damaging a large pūriri tree adjacent to the drill site. The asphalt has been laid and guardrails installed. This section now only requires line marking to be ready for re-opening. Smaller drill rig has been brought in to drill the final anchor. |
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Slip A13Rehabilitation works: 41/41 permanent piles complete. 28/42 anchors complete. The anchor teams are completing as many anchors as possible prior to the road reopening and will return to finish their work in the new year under temporary traffic management. The pavement teams have installed the guardrails, and the asphalt has been laid from slips A12 to A13 in one continuous section. This section now only requires line marking to be ready for reopening. Various protections are in place to protect the fresh asphalt, and sediment controls are installed around the drilling and grouting of anchors. |
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Slip A27Slip repair is complete. |
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Worker of the monthThis month, we recognise Kent Thompson, a cornerstone of the Mangamuka Gorge slip repairs project. Kent is the Senior Supervisor for the construction contractor, CLL Service & Solutions. Kent has overseen the day-to-day operations, logistics, and health & safety protocols on site since the project’s inception. Kent’s journey in construction began 20 years ago when he moved from Canada to New Zealand. Starting in geotechnical investigations, he progressed through roles as a rig operator and foreman before joining CLL over seven years ago. Working near active slip sites and in high-risk environments, Kent’s meticulous planning and organisational skills have been vital. From coordinating multiple operational sites to ensuring safety remains paramount, Kent exemplifies the precision and dedication required to keep a project of this magnitude running smoothly. When asked about his highlights on the project, Kent said: “Being on-site from the very beginning and watching the progress has been incredibly rewarding. Seeing the entire team come together and witnessing the growth and expertise of the guys on the tools has been amazing. I’ve worked on impressive projects like Central Interceptor, but this has been the biggest and most fulfilling one for both our company and me personally. While I look forward to being closer to home, I will miss the hospitality of the Far Far North and the many friends I’ve made here.” Outside of work, Kent enjoys spending time on his lifestyle block with his two sons, aged 10 and 13. He’s an avid fisherman, a skilled renovator, and has a passion for smoking meat—a talent that many on the team have enjoyed firsthand! We are deeply grateful to Kent for his dedication, leadership, and hard work. Worker of the month – Kent Thompson, Senior Supervisor for CLL Service & Solutions |
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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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