The road through the Manawatu Gorge is fully operational more
than 15 months after being closed by a massive slip.
The stretch of State Highway 3 connecting Manawatu with
Wairarapa was closed after a large slip on August 6 last
year.
The slip was cleared and the road reopened for three days,
before being closed after another slip in October.
In August one lane reopened, and in September both lanes were
reopened, apart from two one-way sections controlled by
lights.
Today all work on the road was completed, after road
surfacing was laid and road markings were painted fresh.
Work would now begin on the Saddle Road to form a "solid
alternative route", New Zealand Transport Agency spokesman
David McGonigal said.
"The Manawatu Gorge is, and always will be, a vital lifeline.
"While the last closure was an anomaly in terms of its scale
and duration, the reality is that closures will happen from
time to time, and we need to be ready."
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