19 Sep 2012

Manawatu Gorge about to fully reopen

6:06 pm on 19 September 2012

The Manawatu Gorge has opened to all traffic, 24 hours a day, for the first time in more than a year.

The gorge, connecting Manawatu and Wairarapa, has been partially open for the past month.

One lane of traffic in each direction opened at 6pm on Wednesday, the first time this part of State Highway 3 has been permanently open to vehicles from both directions since major slips in August last year.

Transport Agency state highways manager David McGonigal says there are still some restrictions, but the gorge can now accommodate all the traffic that had previously been diverted on to alternative routes.

He says there may be minor closures in coming weeks.