Work to complete pre-reseal repairs on State Highway 3 just north of the Mt. Messenger tunnel in Taranaki, will start on Monday 14 February at 10am, weather permitting. If the weather is unsuitable work will be undertaken from Wednesday 15 February.

This pre-reseal repair work will take place between 10am and 2pm, and the road will be closed during this time. It is expected to take three days to complete.

Regional Manager Maintenance and Operations Jaclyn Hankin says this work is in preparation for resealing, which is scheduled to be completed in the following months.

“The nature of the repairs mean that the standard Stop/Go approach is not possible, as crews will be working across both lanes at once. We also considered scheduled one-hour closures throughout the day but decided this would mean delays of up to two hours for motorists and the work would take 6 – 8 days to complete.

“The work is designed in a way that best minimises disruption to road users, while enabling crews to complete the work as safely and efficiently as possible.”

People are asked to plan ahead and avoid travelling through Mt. Messenger between 10am and 2pm from Monday 14 February to Wednesday 15 February 2022, as the road will be closed.

“Please be patient, follow all instructions of our traffic management crews and signs at all times,” Ms Hankin says.

“We understand this work may be inconvenient, however, it’s necessary to ensure the road is safe for everyone that travels on it. We encourage you to plan ahead to ensure you arrive at your destination on time.”

With a number of roadworks underway on State Highway 3 north, motorists are advised to plan ahead at journeys.nzta.govt.nz.