The Manawatu Gorge seems unlikely to reopen in time for Queen's Birthday weekend in what is now its third-biggest closure in the last 13 years.
A spokesman for national highways authority the New Zealand Transport Agency said yesterday the gorge, closed since April 24, is not likely to open before the end of next week, and highways users are being told on the NZTA website not to expect a further statement on the closure/reopening of the road until June 2.
Hopes of reopening the State Highway 3 link between Woodville and Ashhurst this week vanished when it was discovered a retaining wall supporting the road near the Ashhurst end had shifted and would need replacing.
Regional highway manager Ross l'Anson was on site in the gorge yesterday and unable to be contacted, but the spokesman said "The timeline for reopening will of course depend on how quickly the repair work can be carried out, in a constrained environment and challenging conditions.
"Our crews will be doing everything to get the job done as soon as possible," he said. "It's unlikely to be before the end of next week, but if work progresses more quickly than expected we will open sooner."