SH3 Mt Messenger road closures

Asphalt resurfacing will take place on SH3 Mt Messenger under a series of road closures from 10-22 November 2024.

This work will improve the resilience of this key access corridor for Taranaki and maintain the state highway until the Mt Messenger Bypass is complete.

Most of the work will be completed at night when traffic volumes are lowest to minimise disruption. The work will be completed under a series of closures due to the narrow and winding nature of the road.

Scheduled road closures on SH3 Mt Messenger

• From Sunday 10-Wednesday 13 November the road will be closed each night from 8pm-5am with an opening between midnight and 1am to clear traffic.
• On the weekend beginning 7pm Friday 15 to 4am Monday 18 November the road will be closed day and night, with scheduled openings to clear traffic (as outlined in the attached table).
• From Monday 18-Friday 22 November, the road will again be closed each night from 8pm-5am with an opening between midnight and 1am to clear traffic.
• Work will not take place on the night of Thursday 14 November while we prepare our crews and the asphalt plant for the full weekend closure.

During the closure from 15-18 November, multiple crews will work 24/7 to complete as much work as possible, to reduce the overall construction period and minimise disruption to road users and the community.

The table below includes what times the road will be open and closed during the works.

In the event of bad weather during the weeknight closures, work will be postponed to the next suitable night.

In the event of bad weather during the weekend of 15-18 November, the closure will be postponed to the next weekend, 22-25 November. Any changes will be communicated as early as possible.

During the closures the Mt Messenger Bypass project will utilise one night to transport large specialist tunnelling machinery on to site, to commence construction of the Mt Messenger Bypass Tunnel. The 235-metre tunnel is an important part of the Bypass project, contributing to a more resilient stretch of highway.  Other maintenance work will also be undertaken where possible to make the most of the closures.

The work is a continuation of work which was completed in April 2024. In April, crews completed asphalt resurfacing on the southern face of SH3 Mt Messenger. In November, crews will complete the asphalt resurfacing required on the remaining portion of SH3 Mt Messenger.

SH3 Mt Messenger closure schedule

During each scheduled opening, traffic will be cleared one lane at a time. If you need to travel, please arrive at site in time for the start of the scheduled opening to ensure you get through.