$476 million will be invested on maintaining and upgrading Taranaki’s transport system during the 2021–24 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) to help support the region’s residential and economic growth.
The groundbreaking pest control programme for Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass has made great strides in the project’s early months.
Great progress for Mt Messenger pest control, with further measures planned
Safer journeys in Taranaki are a step closer with construction of the State Highway 3/Princess Street roundabout and pedestrian and cyclist underpass in Waitara set to start next week.
Construction of Princess Street roundabout and pedestrian and cyclist underpass gets underway
Waka Kotahi says it has been full steam ahead on state highway sealing in Taranaki this season, with crews completing half the summer sealing programme prior to Christmas.
Taranaki state highway summer sealing programme 50 percent complete
Work is now underway on Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass. This project aims to deliver a safer and more resilient route between Taranaki and the King Country. It will see a new 6km section built from Uruti to Ahititi, avoiding the existing highway’s steep, narrow and winding route over Mt Messenger.
Work is underway at the southern end of the bypass, with construction of the site HQ and a 1.1km cableway providing access to remote locations for workers, machinery and materials. This project also features a major pest control programme to increase populations of native species over 3,650 hectares of surrounding forest.
Te Ara o Te Ata: Mt Messenger Bypass
SH3 between Bell Block and Waitara is a key route for freight, locals and visitors to the region but too many people are dying and being seriously injured in crashes on this stretch of highway. As part of Road to Zero, we’re making the road safer by building roundabouts at the four high-risk intersections along the route and installing median barriers, rumble strips and other safety improvements. Work to build a roundabout and underpass at the intersection of Princess Street and SH3 is now underway.
Te Ara Tūtohu: Waitara to Bell Block
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is moving forward with safety improvement plans for SH3 between New Plymouth and Egmont Village. Work to build a roundabout at Mangorei Road, road widening and removal of passing lanes is expected to get underway this year.
We have recently consulted with the public on a possible intersection speed zone at Junction Road. If approved this will be installed this year.
Additionally, work is underway to assess the feasibility of installing safety improvements such as a median barrier between Egmont Village and Hāwera.
We’re undertaking a programme of improvements on the Forgotten World Highway funded through Kānoa – Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit and the regional allocation of the NZ Upgrade Programme. The improvements aim to boost tourism to the Taranaki region, making the road safer for locals and increasing the resilience of the Central North Island’s transport network. Stage one of work to seal the unsealed section of road through the Tāngarākau Gorge was completed in May 2022 and enabling works for sealing the remaining 10km will get underway soon.
Work to build a new bride over Kahouri Stream near Stratford will start in May and new safety barriers will be installed along the route in the coming weeks.
Maintenance activity undertaken during 2021/22:
Maintenance infographic for 2021/22 [JPG, 987 KB]
Planned maintenance for 2022/23:
Maintenance infographic for 2022/23 [PNG, 153 KB]
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency sought feedback on its speed management plan for state highways. Submissions closed on 12 December 2022. A decision report will be available mid-2023.
![Maintenance infographic for 2021/22 [JPG, 987 KB]](/assets/About-us/img/regional-updates/maintenance-graphics/maintenance-infographic-taranaki-2021-22.jpg){kind=link}
![Maintenance infographic for 2022/23 [PNG, 153 KB]](/assets/About-us/img/regional-updates/maintenance-graphics/maintenance-infographic-taranaki-2022-23.png){kind=link}