SH31 is the only sealed road in and out of the harbourside town of Kāwhia. An underslip has developed west of the Kāwhia Lockout and repairs in June 2024 will require a road closure. The work ahead is adjacent to where an underslip required similar repairs last year.
The underslip is adjacent to where similar repairs where required last year. While extensive geo-technical testing was done at the site in 2023, this latest area was not deemed to be at risk.
The area is a mix of hard sandstone and ash which creates problems for road-building, with the ash prone to slipping.
An engineering technique called soil nailing will be used to strengthen the site but because it was very narrow, with a steep drop-off, the road needs to be closed to traffic while work is happening.
SH31 is the main route in and out of Kāwhia and about 800 vehicles a day use the road, with 13 per cent being trucks.
The underslip is about 20km west of the corner of SH31 and SH39 at Tihiroa.
For light vehicles only, access in and out of Kāwhia during the closure periods is via SH39 to Ngutunui Rd, Pekanui Road, Okupata Road and Oparau Road back on to SH31. This is a collection of local roads with some unsealed stretches so care is advised. It takes about 10 minutes longer than SH31.
CloseRemedial works will start from Monday 17 June 2024 and finish before the Matariki public holiday on 28 June.
The road will be closed from 8am to 5pm each weekday, but will open for 30 minutes to allow traffic through at 11am and at 2pm. After hours and on weekends stop/go will be in place and a single lane will be open with a speed restriction.
Emergency vehicles will have access through the site.
Close
When a slip developed on SH31 Kāwhia Road, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi System Manager for Waikato Cara Lauder was well placed to be involved. While completing her Masters of Science degree in 2002 her thesis was on the unstable geology of Kāwhia Road.
