Convoy times for the week ahead through State Highway 3 Awakino Gorge have been updated to provide improved access for communities, businesses, and the freight industry.

Crews have been working hard since mid last month to restore two-lane access along this important route by clearing slips, removing debris and carrying out repairs amid tough terrain and challenging conditions. 

There’s still more to do. While we want to restore full access as quickly as possible, we’re grateful for people’s support and patience travelling in the convoys.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is continuing to review the running of these convoys to ensure everyone who travels the road can make the most of them.

The road has been open and under convoy since Friday night. It will close again tomorrow (Tuesday 12 May) at 7am as crews resume work on site.

This week, crews will continue working through until 5pm Saturday evening and the road will be open under convoy on Sunday and Monday.

After reviewing how the convoys operated over the past week, we have identified an opportunity to shorten the convoy times, which will allow us to offer additional travel windows. This adjustment will help provide more frequency and options for travellers while ensuring that everyone can still pass safely through the affected area. 

Piloted convoys are running Tuesday to Saturday nights from 5pm to 6:30am, each night to the schedule below. Convoys during the week will continue at night, to allow crews to carry out work through the day, before safely clearing the site and opening the road for convoys.

Departure window for those travelling southbound (from rest area near Awakino Historic Tunnel) 

• 5pm – 5.30pm
• 7pm – 7.30pm
• 9pm – 9.30pm
• 11pm – 11.30pm
• 1am – 1.30am
• 3am – 3.30am
• 5am – 5.30am 

Departure window for those travelling northbound (from Manganui Road) 

• 6pm – 6.30pm
• 8pm – 8.30pm
• 10pm – 10.30pm
• 12am – 12.30am
• 2am – 2.30am
• 4am – 4.30am
• 6am – 6.30am

Convoy meeting points

• Rest area near the Awakino Historic Tunnel (Piopio end, for southbound traffic heading to Mōkau) 
• Near the stock yards north of Manganui Road (Awakino end, for northbound traffic heading to Piopio) 
• A reminder that public toilets are available at both convoy meeting points. 

If you’re travelling through the area, take care, drive to conditions and take your lead from the convoy vehicle.