The NZ Transport Agency says sound progress at the gorge means the Agency's hopes of a mid-year opening remain on track, although there's still a fair bit of work to go.
The NZ Transport Agency says road crews have nearly finished work on the fifth and final bench at the Manawatu Gorge, as a convoy of trucks makes inroads into the slip material beneath.
The NZ Transport Agency says new precautionary measures at roadworks sites have shown encouraging signs of reducing the risk of windscreen chips and tar damage for motorists.
The NZ Transport Agency has kicked off a week of resealing in the Taranaki region, and is reminding motorists to exercise great care through roadworks sites and keep their speeds down.
The NZ Transport Agency has announced that the Manawatu Gorge will remain closed until mid-year to enable crews to complete a thorough job of safely securing and clearing the massive slip site.
The NZ Transport Agency says crews at the Manawatu Gorge are striking increasing amounts of rock at the slip site, and a big job remains ahead shifting the rock and completing the benching.
The NZ Transport Agency is welcoming NZ Police's move to crack down on speeding on the Saddle Road, while work continues to improve the safety of the route and to stabilise the slip site at the Manawatu Gorge.
The NZ Transport Agency is closing in on the completion of the second bench at the Manawatu Gorge slip site, at which point machines will be fully committed to snaking their way down the slope until the benching is complete.
The NZ Transport Agency continues to make excellent progress benching the Manawatu Gorge slip. Crews are working at both the top and bottom of the site, the first bench is finished and a second one is underway. And despite even more rain this week, 12,000 cubic meters of debris has been cleared from the bottom of the slip.
The NZ Transport Agency will be ramping up work at the Manawatu Gorge slip site just before Christmas, with crews working the slip from both top and bottom and a second bench due to begin next week.
NZ Transport Agency crews have finished cutting a path through dense bush to reach the top of the Manawatu gorge slip, and are clearing bush to establish a safe working platform for the earth moving equipment due to start benching (terracing) the slip early next week.
The NZ Transport Agency is making excellent progress with a track up to the crest of the Manawatu Gorge slip site, and heavy equipment is due to begin work next week attacking the unstable slope from the top down.
The NZ Transport Agency has made some changes to the posted Saddle Road detour route through Ashhurst to improve traffic flow and safety, and is thanking motorists and residents for their patience and understanding as the adjustments are made.