A large new slip has further hampered the Manawatu Gorge, which has been closed since late April following two other significant slips.
NZTA Regional Transport Systems Manager Ross I'Anson says approximately 10 thousand cubic metres of material, including large boulders, was discovered by contractors inspecting the road this morning. The slip is likely to have come down over the weekend during heavy rain.
The new slip site is about 500 metres from the locked gate at the Ashhurst end of the State Highway 3 road, and was therefore not accessible to vehicles.
Mr I'Anson says the latest slip demonstrates the Gorge's current instability.
"This illustrates how prone the Gorge currently is to slips due to the substantial movement recently measured in the hillside.