Manawatu Gorge closed by two more slips as costs approach $1m

The Manawatu Gorge has suffered two more slips at the weekend while geotechnical assessments and safety work was being carried out. Photo/NZTA

As the Manawatu Gorge enters its tenth week of closure with no reopening date in sight, the route has suffered two more slips at the weekend.

New Zealand Transport Agency highway manager Ross I'Anson yesterday confirmed further repair work was being carried out after two small slips at the weekend around the Kerry's Wall slip damaged the rock fall netting and support structures that had been put in place.

The slips come as figures supplied to Hawke's Bay Today by the NZTA show the costs claimed since the Anzac Day slips currently total $305,377.61.

The estimated claim for this month sits at $631,184.00 and it was expected the total estimated cost could rise to $936,561.61.

These costs, arising from contractor invoices, were to be met by emergency funding.

As of yesterday there was still no opening date for the Manawatu Gorge as geotechnical assessments, which would include the weekend's slip activity, were still being carried out, Mr I'Anson said.

The Transport Agency was set to progress with a detailed business case (DBC) process to review all of the options available to provide a long-term, resilient and safe connection through the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges.

Mr I'Anson said this case would consider all options to bypass or replace the current Manawatu Gorge route, along with other potential options such as significantly upgrading the Saddle Road to state highway standards.

"This process will involve assessing the costs, benefits and viability of constructing each of the options, including the impact each option will have on the environment in the Tararua and Ruahine Ranges," he said.

Once a preferred option was developed, detailed investigations and cost estimates would be undertaken to inform a request to fund the project from the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).