Source: New Zealand Transport Agency
The end is in sight for the Tāngarākau Gorge sealing project on State Highway 43 Forgotten World Highway.
Crews are currently working to seal the final 5.7 kilometres of unsealed road through the gorge and expect to finish by the end of January.
So far 3.8 kilometres has been sealed, and a further 400 metres will be completed by Christmas, with the remaining 1.5 kilometres to be sealed next month. Crews had initially hoped to have the remainder complete by the end of the year, but wet weather has slightly pushed out the timeframe.
Work won’t be taking place during the annual shut down – from midday Friday 20th December 2024 to midday 6 January 2025, which is designed to minimise disruption for holiday makers.
A temporary speed limit will remain in place during this period, on the unsealed section.
The Forgotten World Highway is one of the iconic back country journeys, so sealing the road, while protecting the character of it, will encourage more tourists through the area.
The gorge project will ultimately see the unsealed 12-kilometre section of the Forgotten World Highway chip-sealed, making the road safer and more accessible for locals and visitors wanting to experience the iconic back country journey.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi would like to thank the community and road users for their support of the project this year and their patience at times of the year when there’s been extensive traffic management in place.