The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) advises that the Stockman's Hill passing lane on State Highway 3 will be temporarily closed next Monday to enable slip repairs to be carried out.
Heavy rain during July and August triggered a slip under the southbound passing Lane, 14km south of Piopio, on the southern approach to Stockman’s Hill. Construction of a timber pole retaining wall to stabilise the subsidence is scheduled to begin on Monday November 10, and will require the closure of the passing lane for approximately five weeks.
NZTA Area Engineer Gerhard van Blerk says, “The storm events caused several slips in the King Country region and we have moved as quickly as possible to investigate and design suitable repairs. We are aiming to have the Stockman’s Hill passing lane repaired and reopened before Christmas.”
NZTA regrets any inconvenience caused by the closure of the passing lane, and asks motorists to please be patient while the repair works are underway.
Several other slips caused by this winter’s storms on SH37 at Waitomo, SH31 near Kawhia, and SH4 at Mapiu are currently being designed and are scheduled for repair in the New Year.
Mr van Blerk says a large timber pole retaining wall has also been identified as the most suitable solution to repair the SH4 Mapiu slip, where 80 metres of the southbound lane was lost. Construction of the Mapiu retaining wall is expected to commence in January and will take approximately 12 weeks to complete. SH4 will remain reduced to one lane through the Mapiu slip site, with traffic signals to control the traffic, until the retaining wall is constructed.
