Taranaki Road Report
Expect State Highway 3 (SH3) between Piopio and Mōkau to remain closed until at least Saturday 2 May. This date may change if the weather worsens or if we uncover further damage as work continues.
One significant slip, pictured below, is the main reason the road cannot reopen yet. This slip has seen roughly 12-16 thousand cubic metres of material come down the hill – the equivalent of almost 1,400 standard rubbish trucks.
The slip is still moving, which means more material could come down without warning. Before we can reopen the road, we need to build a ‘bench’ – a stable platform that creates a catch area for any further debris and makes room to reopen one lane under traffic management. Until the bench is in place and our geotechnical assessments confirm the area is stable, it isn’t safe to have traffic through the gorge.
There is a lot of work happening on SH3 to get it open as soon as possible, with more than 50 road workers on site each day working on the significant slip and the smaller slips north and south of it.
When the route reopens, it is likely to be in a managed state at first (one lane in places with stop/go traffic management) while work continues.
Work is taking place during daylight hours only. The ground is saturated and there is a risk of further slips, so crews need good visibility to work safely and to spot any signs of movement.
While this section of SH3 is closed, State Highway 4 can be used as an alternative route.
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 Friday 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.
The New Plymouth Infrastructure Partnership (NPDC and Downer) will carry out asphalt patch repairs on De Havilland Drive between SH3 Devon Road and Catalina Drive from Sunday 3 May. The work will take 1-2 nights 6pm-6am (weather permitting). The site is shown in yellow on the attached map.
The work is to repair patches of damaged pavement to improve the road surface and increase its longevity over the wetter winter months. To prevent large traffic queues and travel delays, the work will be completed at night, when traffic volumes are lowest.
To complete this work as safely and efficiently as possible, the work will be completed under a road closure between 6pm-6am each night.
What you need to know
- Work is scheduled to start on Sunday 3 May and will take approximately 1-2 nights in total to complete (weather permitting).
- The site will run under a full road closure on De Havilland Drive between 6pm and 6am each night.
- During the day (6am-6pm), all roads will be open under a temporary speed limit for the safety of road users, until the work is completed.
- Some parking may be temporarily unavailable while crews complete repairs. If you need to travel and require assistance, please speak with one of our on-site crew.
- Access to properties within the site will be maintained. If you need to travel and require assistance, please speak with one of our onsite crew.
- We will do our best to keep noise to a minimum, but there will be some disruption while crews complete this work. We apologise for any inconvenience.
- In the event of unsuitable weather, work will be postponed to the next suitable night.
- Road users are asked to be patient, follow all instructions of our crews, and comply with all temporary signs at all times.
Upcoming
Roadworks – SH3 Devon Road, Bell Block: 28 April-1 May 2026
Crews will be completing drainage improvements at SH3 Devon Road between Airport Drive and Hoekawa Lane from Tuesday 28 April for approximately 4 days, weather permitting. The site is shown in orange on the attached map.
The work is to maintain the existing drainage to protect the pavement and improve the resilience of this area of State Highway 3.
Here is what you need to know:
Work is scheduled to commence on Tuesday 28 April and will take approximately 4 days in total to complete (weather permitting).
Work will take place between 6am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday each week.
The site will be open to two-way traffic with a temporary speed limit of 50km/h.
NIGHT CLOSURES – SH3 Mountain Road, Tariki: 9-10 May (7pm-5am)
Asphalt repairs on State Highway 3 (SH3) Mountain Road between Johns and Surrey roads will take place on 9-10 May (weather dependant).
The work is to repair patches of damaged pavement to maintain the road before crews can return next summer to undertake drainage improvements and rebuild the road. The site is shown in orange on the attached map.
To complete this work as safely and efficiently as possible, it will be completed under nighttime road closures from 7pm-5am.
The closures will be at night, in the weekend, when traffic volumes are lowest, to minimise disruption to road users.
Here’s what you need to know:
SH3 Mountain Road will be CLOSED between Johns and Surrey roads on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 May between 7pm and 5am (weather permitting).
Road users are asked to plan ahead and take alternative routes where possible. The alternative state highway route is State Highway 45 (SH45).
The road will be open outside of these hours, however a temporary speed limit will remain in place for the safety of road users, until the work is complete.
If you need to travel and require assistance, please speak with one of our onsite crew.
Ongoing
Roadworks – SH44 Breakwater Road Stage 2: 16 March-30 April 2026
Due to ongoing weather disruptions, work to rebuild the second stage of SH44 Breakwater Road between Lawry Street and Ngamotu Road is scheduled to finish on Thursday 30 April, weather permitting.
The work involves improving drainage and rebuilding a section of the road with new asphalt to improve its condition. The site is shown in orange on the attached map.
Work is taking place between 2pm and 7am under a combination of contraflow (two-way) traffic controls during the day and stop/go traffic controls with delays of 5-10 minutes at night.
Access to and from sideroads, may be impacted temporarily while work is taking place. Road users are asked to plan ahead and take alternative routes where possible.
All roads will be open outside of working hours; however, a temporary speed limit will remain in place for the safety of road users until the site is complete.
Other work across the region:
The below works are being completed during the day under stop/go traffic controls with delays of approximately 5-10 minutes.
Road rebuild at SH4 Tuhua Road, Te Mapara: 23 February-30 April
Maintenance patch repairs on SH43 between Douglas and Whangmomona: 30 March-30 April
Become a Member
Enjoy a wide array of valuable benefits including access to a vast network of industry, exclusive discounts and offers, ranging from fuel discounts to legal advice.
Join NRC in 3 easy steps.
