Escorted convoys are allowing for essential travel through washed out State Highway 1 north of Kaitaia.
The NZ Transport Agency is coordinating with forest owners, police and the Far North District Council to allow motorists to bypass the area damaged by torrential rain last Friday.
The washout created a hole in the road around 20 metres wide and up to five metres deep cutting off communities and tourists at the top of the North Island.
Authorities had advised motorists against using the unsealed forest route as it was on private land owned by Summit Forestry and not suitable for cars, camper vans and buses.
But an agreement has been made to open the route under police supervision for a short time.
Departure for southbound traffic from the corner of Far North Rd and Trig Rd took off at 7:30am this morning and a departure for northbound vehicles took off at 8:15am from 113 Hukatere Road at the end of the sealed section.
The southbound convoy will leave at 5:30pm with the northbound convoy leaving at 6:15pm.
The convoys are for essential travel only and suitable for four wheel drive vehicles.
NZTA Northland systems manager Jacqui Hori-Hoult says crews are making good progress on rebuilding the road which is set to open by the middle of the week.
Nine of the ten pipes required to channel the stream under the road have been laid. Backfilling over the pipes to restore the road level is also underway.
Civil Defence says it’s had no requests for assistance and emergency services report business as usual.
