The message is clear – drive with extreme care when State Highway 3 between Mokau and Piopio reopens this evening, and allow additional time for travel.

The road, in north Taranaki, closed again at 7am today to allow crews to continue the clean up following heavy rain over the past few days, causing widespread flooding and slips.

Crews are working to get the road open. At this stage the road is expected to reopen at 5pm. We will provide an update if that timing changes.

When the road reopens, it’ll be single lane between Mokau and Piopio, under reduced speed limits, with stop/go traffic management in place during the day and traffic lights at night.

This will be in place for the coming week, while clean up continues.

Further south, on SH3 at Mount Messenger, the southbound lane remains closed following a slip under the road.  Stop/Go will be in place.

As at 1.30pm:

• SH3 between Mokau and Piopio will have one lane OPEN this evening under stop/go traffic controls
• SH3 at Mt Messenger has one lane OPEN under stop/go traffic controls.
• SH43 Forgotten World Highway CLOSED (between Whangamomona and Taumaranui – although non-essential travel along the entire route is not advised. There is resident access only).

Crews will be continuing to work on the Forgotten World Highway over the next couple of days, with geotechnical experts expected onsite.

Please drive with extreme care through SH3 when it reopens this evening and adhere to the speed restrictions and traffic management in place.

While it’s important to get the road reopened as quickly as possible to keep communities and freight moving, it’s vital road users drive to the conditions.
  
Road users can also keep up to date with the NZTA Journey Planner.