Nine-night Awakino Gorge closure sparks detour calls

The closure of the Awakino Gorge on State Highway 3 for nine consecutive nights highlights the urgent need for an investigation into alternative detour routes, according to a transport lobby group. The gorge, which connects Taranaki to Waikato and sees approximately 2,500 vehicles daily, has faced multiple closures over the past year due to a major slip that occurred in April. The current lane open to traffic will be blocked as contractors install anchors for a retaining wall, leading to significant detours for drivers and impacting local businesses.

Dom Kalassi, Chief Executive of Transporting New Zealand, estimates that these closures cost the sector up to a million dollars daily in additional travel time and fuel consumption. The group proposes Te Matamairi Road as a potential detour route, which could be upgraded for around $25 million. However, New Plymouth Mayor Max Brough advocates for a broader feasibility study to explore multiple alternative routes rather than committing to a single road.

While some local business owners express frustration over the closures, Mokau butcher Brian Lester notes improvements in NZTA's approach, particularly with night closures that allow for better trading conditions. NZTA states it has coordinated with local councils and businesses to minimize disruption during the closures and has allocated $50 million for improvements to the gorge, although this funding cannot be redirected to alternative routes. The official detour remains via State Highway 1 and State Highway 4.

A transport lobby group says the closure of the Awakino Gorge on State Highway 3 for nine consecutive nights reinforces the case for an investigation into an alternative detour for when the economic lifeline is shut. Taranaki Reporter Robin Martin reports.