SH43 Forgotten World Highway

Project update – 8 April 2022

Sealing the way through the gorge

Great news!  We’re excited to advise that we’ve almost completed work to seal the first 2kms of SH43 through the Tāngarākau Gorge.

Four retaining walls have been built to improve the road stability and we expect to be able to complete pre-seal payment works by the end of this week.  Sealing of the road is scheduled to be done on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 April, but this is highly  dependent on weather. The final sealing work can only be done in dry conditions.

While the sealing work takes place, traffic management will largely remain the same but there might be an additional 5-10 minute wait for motorists here and there.

North and southbound traffic will be let through the site on the hour at the following times: 9am, 10am, 11am, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm. The road will be open 5pm-8am and 12pm-1pm daily. 

Waka Kotahi thanks motorists for their continued patience and cooperation while this work is undertaken.

Other works on highway

Tahora Saddle

Works to replace the 40m long concrete culvert at Tahora Saddle have been completed. The works involved removing and subsequently reinstating 3,000 cubic metres of earth to replace the existing culvert with a new 1350mm wide culvert, located 8 metres below the road surface.

With the culvert replaced and the ground material reinstated, sealing of this area will take place.  The new culvert has been designed to meet new fish passage criteria required by the National Environmental Standards to ensure aquatic life can safely pass through the structure.

Pohokura Saddle and Whangamomona Saddle

Next, construction crews will commence work to reinstate four retaining walls along SH43 at Pohokura Saddle and Whangamomona Saddle. The work is scheduled to start in early April and expected to be completed by the end of June.

More information

For more information on the SH43 Forgotten World Highway project, contact us at fwh@nzta.govt.nz

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