19/12/2025
We're closing State Highway 3 north of New Plymouth this summer. This is so we can replace the culverts near Ahititi with more modern structures that'll better reduce flooding and make this stretch of highway more resilient to bad weather, such as severe rain.
Roadworkers are already underway with the early enabling works. The main earthworks and culvert replacement work will take place in January 2026, with a full closure from 12.01am Friday 16 January to 11.59pm Tuesday 20 January.
We need to close the road because of the limited space, heavy machinery and deep open trenches. Vehicles will be unable to pass through or around the worksite, and we are unable to offer scheduled opening times.
The road will be closed between Okau Road in Ahititi and the Uruti Community Hall, with only residents, workers and business customers given access, where available, from Uruti. You can speak to roadworkers on site at Uruti for access.
Within the road closure area is the culvert worksite at Ahititi. There is no access through the culvert worksite at any time during the 5-day 24/7 road closure. Some local roads will also be resident access only and these are not suitable for state highway traffic. Road workers will also be positioned in Urenui and Piopio to direct traffic.
You'll need to plan ahead. If travelling this route is critical to you, consider travelling earlier before the road closure begins or delay travel if you can. If this isn't an option for you, the recommended alternative state highways are State Highway 4 or State Highway 1. These highways are suitable for High Productivity Motor Vehicles (HPMV), including freight.
State Highway 43, the Forgotten World Highway, is suitable for cars and light vehicles, but it is narrow and winding, requiring slower speeds and extra care, and it’s not suitable for heavy vehicles. There's also ongoing maintenance, repairs and bridge work that have stop/go traffic management in place along this route. SH4 and SH1 remain the preferred routes.
While we complete the works, a temporary single-lane Bailey bridge will be installed at the worksite. Following the closure, stop/go traffic management and delays will continue while the project is completed.
Despite our efforts to minimise impact where possible and early notifications, we understand that this work will cause disruption and significantly longer travel on alternative state highways for people. Allow for extra time, take regular breaks and consider sharing the drive to reduce your time in the driver’s seat.
We appreciate your patience and understanding while we carry out this work to improve the resilience of State Highway 3 for years to come.
You can keep up to date with our work by following this page, and there's more information available on our website: nzta.govt.nz/sh3-mangapepeke-culvert-replacement
