Six-year plan to replace gorge

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has confirmed it is working to a 2024 target to complete the new Manawatu¯ -Hawke’s Bay highway project.

The agency hosted the first of six public information sessions in Palmerston North yesterday, updating progress on the planned replacement for State Highway 3 through the Manawatu¯ Gorge.

The road was closed by slips in April 2017. Three months later, it was deemed too unstable to be repaired and closed for good.

Last week, the agency lodged notices of requirement with Palmerston North City, Manawatu¯ and Tararua District councils seeking designations to protect the new route for Te Ahu a Turanga.

It plans to start at the existing Ashhurst bridge, cross the Manawatu¯ River again at the mouth of the gorge, and wind uphill through the Ruahine Range on a route between the Saddle Rd and the gorge to rejoin the existing highway near Woodville.

It will be 11.5km long and shave 10 minutes off travel times between Palmerston North and Woodville for up to 9700 vehicles a day.

A two-lane roundabout is to be built at the intersection of State Highway 57, and there will be a single-lane roundabout where the new roadway will rejoin the existing State Highway 3 to the east.

As well as the new Manawatu¯ River bridge, there will be five other bridges along the route.

The agency has identified some historic sites of significance that it will need to work around.

These include the cemeteries near Ashhurst and Woodville, a grove of karaka trees, several pa¯ along the river, as well as the historic road and rail corridors.

It’s possible more sites of cultural significance could be found, such as storage pits, burial sites, 19th-century homesteads or historic industrial sites.

‘‘While we must build a new state highway through this corridor for a variety of environmental, economic and social reasons, we are committed to preserving our history in the region as best we can,’’ the agency said.

The next step involves calling for public submissions on the designations.

A resource management hearing is likely to be held by the NZTA in early to mid-2019.