The latest Manawatu Gorge closure is the longest closure in its recorded history and has beaten the previous record set in 2004.
The gorge has been closed for 78 days since August 18 after a slip occurred as a result of heavy rain and snow, beating the mark of 70 days set when it was closed after the floods of February 2004, in which five slips occurred.
Work on clearing the slip restarted this week after a period of settled weather enabled crews to return safely to the site.
NZ Transport Agency Palmerston North state highways manager David McGonigal said the agency had been monitoring the gorge closely, and settled weather had made the area safer for Higgins Road crews to return to the site with heavy equipment.
Contractors will carry out clearing work for as long as it is deemed safe to do so.