Heavy rain brings down further slip in Manawatu Gorge

Despite the current ‘cost of living challenges’ facing all community events, Bike Manawatu is 100% committed to ensuring the 51st year of the Novice Tour – once again provides a safe, fun, competitive cycle racing event.

We will adopt a high-quality assured approach in implementing the Local Roading Authority’s/Cycling New Zealand’s ‘Safe Traffic Management System’ (STMS) standards which ensure best practices and rider and spectator safety.

If the level of community funding secured is not sufficient to contract in external road management service providers with the ability to stop/go traffic, the Novice Tour will proceed on a ‘local club racing’ model, whereby our team of trained/experienced road marshals will, where necessary, pause racing in order to give way to traffic and ensure rider safety.

Although funding external road management services with the ability to stop/go traffic is ideal, if this is not feasible – we are confident that the event’s ‘Safe Traffic Management System’ (STMS) will provide a competitive, fair, enjoyable and importantly safe racing environment.

Irrespective of which model of traffic management/racing is finalised, as with all CNZ/Bike Manawatu events, normal road rules will apply and a full rider briefing confirming the event rules will be provided to all riders prior to the start of each race.

SH3 - Gorge - 18 Oct 11 Heavy rain brings down further slip in Manawatu Gorge

The NZ Transport Agency has confirmed that a further large slip has occurred on SH3 in the Manawatu Gorge at the same site which contractors have been working to clear for several weeks.

NZTA regional state highways manager David McGonigal says while the road had been cleared of all previous slip material by last Friday (14 October), torrential rainfall over the weekend further destabilised the site and approximately 20,000m3 of new material came down overnight on the evening of 17 October, increasing the height and width of the slip face.

Mr McGonigal said NZTA contractors would begin clearing the new debris as soon as it was safe to do so, and further material was expected to come down, particularly following rainfall. Until conditions were safe enough to allow for a detailed site inspection it was too early to say what impact the latest slip would have on the timeline for re-opening the road.

“We appreciate that people are frustrated about the length of this closure, and so are we. We know how important this road is for local communities and for the region’s economy, and we are working hard to get it re-opened as soon as possible. But before we can allow traffic to use this route we must ensure that the site is stable and the road is safe to travel. The scale of this latest slip shows that isn’t yet the case.

“This is one of the longest and most frustrating closures on record – we know how disruptive it has been for motorists and local communities, and we thank them again for their patience.”

The NZTA took over control of the Saddle Road and Pahiatua Track earlier this month after receiving geological assessments which indicated the closure was likely to continue for up to two months. NZTA road crews have assumed responsibility for the maintenance of the detour routes. Mr McGonigal says by temporarily taking over the alternative routes, the NZTA’s road crews would help to ensure the alternative routes remain safe and viable.

“Closures of this extent only happen around once in a decade, but when they do happen they cause real disruption. Our priority is twofold: getting the highway reopened as soon as it’s safe to do so, and keeping the alternative routes well maintained and safe in the meantime.”

The NZTA advises motorists that the detour routes take on average 15-20 minutes longer than SH3 through the gorge.