The site of a slip on State Highway 3 at Mokau will open to two-way traffic before the Christmas holidays.
The highway just south of the Mokau River bridge was closed on the 18 September for four days after a significant amount of rain caused a slip. It has been reduced to a single lane with 24-hour stop/go signs being used while further work and assessments were done.
NZ Transport Agency contractors will remove up to two metres of surface soil and create a step above the slip face to further reduce the risk of materials falling from a height. That work is due to start on Monday 12 December.
“Some further removal of the last bits of loose rock is required and once that’s completed the road will open to two lanes around 23 December,” says Transport Agency regional performance manager Karen Boyt.
“Please take care when driving through the stop/go traffic signs in the week leading up to Christmas.
“The slip face has now been deemed as stable for the short term but the slip is expected to degrade over time and failure could occur if no mediation measures are put in place.”
Anchors and wire mesh, which were successful in holding back some of the slip debris, were partially dislodged in September and will be reinstalled early next year.
The slip will continue to be monitored and other solutions may be used in the future.
