01/05/2026
UPDATE:
Kia ora koutou,
We’re now a position to carefully reopen State Highway 3 (SH3) Awakino Gorge under a staged approach using escorted convoys from 5pm Saturday 2 May.
Our absolute priority is keeping people safe. There is still considerable damage along SH3, including multiple underslips that require further repairs.
To ensure the route’s stability and safely manage traffic through multiple fragile, active worksites, SH3 will reopen under a staged approach using convoys on weekends and at nights.
For the next 3 weeks, until Friday 22 May, traffic will be convoyed through the gorge at set times during weekends and overnight on weekdays. The road will remain closed during daylight hours on weekdays (6:30am–5:00pm) so crews can continue essential repairs safely and efficiently.
This approach restores some access for road users while allowing crucial repair work to continue in a constrained environment with tough terrain. Daylight hours are essential to allow work to continue safely as we progress towards restoring full 24/7 access as quickly as possible, ahead of any further severe weather.
After the 3-week period, we aim to reopen the road 24/7 with stop/go temporary traffic management in place, subject to weather and road conditions.
Escorted convoy meeting points and timings
This weekend, convoys will operate with pilot vehicles from 5pm Saturday 2 May to 6:30am Monday 4 May.
Escorted convoys will operate in one direction at a time, beginning with southbound travel followed by northbound travel. Convoys will depart at half-hour intervals, with approximately 1 hour allowed to travel under a reduced speed limit through the gorge. A pilot vehicle will lead traffic from each closure point at the start of the convoy window.
During weekdays, the road will close from 6:30am to 5pm to allow for works to continue. At nights on weekdays, the road will open again for escorted convoys to operate from 5pm to 6:30am. Further information is provided below:
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)
Please plan your journey to arrive in time for the convoy start, follow all instructions from crews onsite, and drive with extreme care.
Weekday convoy access:
From Monday 4 May, SH3 will close at 6:30am after the final convoy and reopen at 5:00pm.
Weekday evening convoys will operate from:
Southbound: 5:00pm–5:30pm from the Awakino Historic Tunnel rest area
Northbound: 6:30pm–7:00pm from north of Manganui Road
The evening timings will follow the same times in the table above, with the last overnight convoy finishing at 6:30am Tuesday 5 May, and the road closes again for daytime works.
The following weekend, convoy access is expected to operate from 5:00pm Friday 8 May to 6:30am Monday 11 May, following the same half‑hour interval pattern.
Drive safe and take care
The road is considered safe for road users and freight under controlled access, however normal road conditions should not be expected.
The significant slip remains vulnerable and monitoring is taking place. Drivers should be prepared for the road to be closed at short notice if weather conditions change or risk assessments require it.
Our number one priority is keeping people safe. We are carefully managing restoring access as safely as possible while repairs are ongoing. Please drive to the conditions, take extreme care and follow convoy guidance.
We’ll continue to keep you updated as work progresses. In the meantime, please check Journey Planner before travelling: journeys.nzta.govt.nz.
