Oct 26, 2026 · 4 min · 4 segments
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…
Robin MartinDom KalasGuest
Max BroughGuestMorning Report HostHostBrian LesterGuest
It's been closed several times over the last 12 months, causing long detours for drivers and meaning that local businesses don't get the customers they need to survive and thrive.
Starting today, the gorge will be closed again for another nine consecutive nights.
Chief Executive of Transporting New Zealand, Dom Kalasi, says it costs the sector up to a million dollars a day in additional travel time, fuel consumption and vehicle operating costs.
These closures just show the vulnerability of the gorge and why, along with several other key stakeholders, we've been advocating for an alternative so that that detour is nowhere near as long as doubling the normal trip.
But the industry group has identified an alternative detour to the one NZTA recommends, which could cut down hours of driving.
We've identified one road, which is Tamata Mairi Road, as a potential detour route under strictly controlled conditions, such as a one-way route north for a couple of hours and then south for the next couple of hours.
It would cost as little as $25 million to upgrade Taumatamairi Road to be a suitable detour route, according to its business case.
It's been closed several times over the last 12 months, causing long detours for drivers and meaning that local businesses don't get the customers they need to survive and thrive.
Starting today, the gorge will be closed again for another nine consecutive nights.
Chief Executive of Transporting New Zealand, Dom Kalasi, says it costs the sector up to a million dollars a day in additional travel time, fuel consumption and vehicle operating costs.
These closures just show the vulnerability of the gorge and why, along with several other key stakeholders, we've been advocating for an alternative so that that detour is nowhere near as long as doubling the normal trip.
But the industry group has identified an alternative detour to the one NZTA recommends, which could cut down hours of driving.
We've identified one road, which is Tamata Mairi Road, as a potential detour route under strictly controlled conditions, such as a one-way route north for a couple of hours and then south for the next couple of hours.
It would cost as little as $25 million to upgrade Taumatamairi Road to be a suitable detour route, according to its business case.
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