Following a Geotech assessment this morning, State Highway 3 Awakino Gorge will reopen to convoys from 11am today.

We’re constantly monitoring the slip site and short and long-range weather forecasts.  Last night’s predicted heavy rainfall and strong winds forced the cancellation of a number of overnight convoys.

Geotech assessments this morning mean the road can reopen.

The combination of predicted high winds and rain in heavy bursts overnight has the potential to cause further slips.

Please stay safe, drive carefully and to the conditions and closely follow the convoy lead.

A number of safety precautions are in place for every convoy, including site monitoring, crew members who act as ‘spotters’ at the slip site ahead of every single convoy and large concrete barriers in place to ‘catch’ any falling debris.

This schedule has the possibility of changing further, depending on what happens with the incoming weather.

8 May - Heavy rain; strong winds force cancellation of some Awakino Gorge convoys

A number of overnight convoys through State Highway 3 Awakino Gorge will be cancelled tonight, in anticipation of strong winds and heavy rainfall.

We’re constantly monitoring the slip site and short and long-range weather forecasts. The combination of predicted high winds and rain in heavy bursts overnight has the potential to cause further slips.

This evening’s first convoys in each direction will still go ahead, but the remainder of the convoys overnight and tomorrow morning have been cancelled until a Geotech assessment at first light.

At this stage, the worst of the weather is expected to pass through overnight and pending Geotech approval, the southbound convoys will resume at 11am and the northbound convoys at 12.30pm.

We know cancelling the overnight convoys will be disruptive and we wish they could continue. 

However the safety of all drivers and crews is our top-priority - a non-negotiable, so we need to take a cautious approach, especially as this will be the first combination of heavy rainfall and strong winds to impact the gorge since last month’s storm.

A number of safety precautions are in place for every convoy, including site monitoring, crew members who act as ‘spotters’ at the slip site ahead of every single convoy and large concrete barriers in place to ‘catch’ any falling debris.

This schedule has the possibility of changing further, depending on what happens with the incoming weather.

Updated Convoy schedule  

Friday 8 May to Saturday 9 May 

One Convoy will depart in each direction on Friday 8 May, with the remaining convoys on Friday 8 May the morning of Saturday 9  and continue through to 7am Tuesday 12 May as per the schedule below.