The long-awaited Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway officially opened to traffic from the week of June 9, with road freight industry leaders and the Government both praising the new 11.5km link as a vital upgrade for safety, efficiency, and regional connectivity.
National road freight organisation Transporting New Zealand says the opening marks a major milestone after nearly eight years of disruption following the permanent closure of State Highway 3 through the Manawatū Gorge in April 2017 due to landslides.
Chief executive Dom Kalasih says the new route between Ashhurst and Woodville will provide a safe, reliable and resilient connection between the Manawatū and Tararua districts.
“This new highway will make a real difference to the flow of freight and to the lives of drivers,” Kalasih says.
The four-lane highway — with two lanes in each direction and a flexible median barrier — is expected to carry around 9000 vehicles per day, 10% of which are expected to be heavy vehicles.
General traffic will take an estimated 10 to 12 minutes to travel the new highway, compared to the 20–25 minute detour currently required via Saddle Road. The estimated freight travel time is around 18 minutes.
Kalasih says the completion of the new corridor is a “relief” for freight operators and local communities.
“We also think it is a win that this is a non-tolled road,” he says.
Transporting New Zealand had strongly opposed earlier proposals to toll the $824.1 million highway, arguing that the Saddle Road was never fit for purpose and that the region deserved a safe, free replacement.
“This is a replacement road, not a luxury upgrade,” Kalasih says.
“Our members were clear – tolling this essential link would be unfair and would raise the cost of freight, hitting consumers across the board.”
Transport Minister Chris Bishop also welcomed the completion of the project, describing it as a transformational investment for the lower and central North Island.
“This is more than just a new road. It provides a vital link for freight operators and businesses throughout the lower and central North Island, which will encourage travel and support economic growth for the region,” Bishop says.
“Constructing this new road required remarkable engineering. The road features six bridges, two of which are more than 300 metres in length, and features to minimise the risk of erosion and slips.”
The Parahaki Bridge near Ashhurst is a key feature of the project — a 300-metre-long, 30-metre-wide structure spanning the fast-flowing Manawatū River. Built across a fault line and in one of the windiest locations in the North Island, it has been lauded as a significant engineering achievement.
Bishop also acknowledged the patience of road users during the lengthy construction process.
“I want to thank the truckies, motorists and local residents who’ve been so patient through these works, and the NZTA contractors who’ve worked hard to get this project completed,” he says.
The highway, which follows a culturally significant route once travelled by Māori between the coasts, is named after Te Ahu a Turanga – the former resting place of Turanga-i-Mua, son of the Aotea waka captain Turi, who was killed in battle at the site.
Kalasih praised the scale and complexity of the build, which included:
- 6.5 million cubic metres of earthworks
- 30,000 cubic metres of concrete
- 3.5 million mahi hours
- 2,500 workers
- Nearly 2 million native plants for environmental restoration
“It’s taken years of commitment, coordination and skill to complete such a complex build in an ecologically sensitive and geologically challenging location,” Kalasih says.
“Well done to all who played a part in making this happen.”
Other features of the new route include roundabouts at both ends of the highway, viewing areas overlooking Ashhurst, Woodville and the Te Āpiti Wind Farm, and a shared use path for pedestrians and cyclists.
