The main road to Kaitāia will be closed for at least another year as the workers are free 15 major slips in the Mangamuka Gorge.
The continued closure of State Highway 1 means losses for businesses, additional freight costs and a huge inconvenience to those trapped on either side of the shutdown, said Andrea Panther of the Kaitāia Business Association.
“It affects everyone — it doesn’t matter how old you are — in time or money,” she said.
The gap has been closed indefinitely since a storm in August 2022when heavy rain fell on top of one record wet winter.
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Despite the fear highway can be permanently closedCar One NZ Transport Agency secured $100 million in December 2022 to record the route.
Slip work began at the end of February and Waka Kotahi revealed late last week that the work will be completed in May 2024.
Single vehicle/included
Some of the slips on SH1 at Mangamuka Gorge have collapsed into the highway and will require reinforced anchors and posts to repair.
Project director Norm Collier said it involved 700 piles fixi 15 large briefs – some up to three stories high.
The route may be able to partially open during the Christmas holidays, he said in an update on social media.
In an update email, Waka acknowledged Kotahi the impact the closed gap had about travel for work, school, business and connectivity.
LAWRENCE SMITH/Zo
Andrea Panther, president of the Kaitāia Business Association, said everyone in Kaitāia and surrounding towns is being affected by the continued closure of the Mangamuka Gorge. (File photo)
Panther said it was disheartening that the community would have to wait another full year for the main route to reopen.
“I don’t understand why they can’t clear one lane all other highways. It’s really disappointing for a lot of people.”
This is the second time in as many years that the gap has had a major closure: A storm that occurs one in 500 years in July 2020 closed for a yearwith slip repairs costing $16.2 million to fix.
The detour on SH10 through Kerikeri can add 30 minutes one hour journey and directs traffic away from certain businesses.
Some companies have experienced a massive downturn, Panther said.
“it’s not just in Kaitāia, it’s Ōkaihau, Ōhaeawai and all those places [impacted] due to the lack of through traffic there… Plus the extra cost and extra time,” she said.