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Public meeting
A community information meeting to discuss the Mahurangi West Road slip will be held at the Mahurangi West Hall this Wednesday (Feb 4), starting at 7pm. Auckland Transport staff will attend to outline the processes, and likely timeframes, for both the temporary and permanent solutions. The meeting has been facilitated by Cr Greg Sayers. All welcome.
A significant slip triggered by heavy rainfall late last month has reduced Mahurangi West Road to a single lane, prompting ongoing investigations and traffic restrictions.
A preliminary site assessment has been completed, confirming that the slip was caused by excess water penetrating deep into the road base and underlying fill. The heavy rain destabilised the ground, leading to a failure that has removed a substantial portion of the roadway.
Engineers estimate the headscarp of the slip measures about 54 metres along the road.
An Auckland Transport spokesperson says that while it is difficult at this stage to accurately calculate the total volume of soil displaced, the slip material has travelled an estimated 150 metres down into the valley below. Further assessments are continuing, supported by on-site inspections and photographic evidence.
“The impact on the road has been severe, with roughly half of the carriageway having slipped away,” the spokesperson says.
“As a result, access is limited to residents only, with traffic down to one lane under signal control. This arrangement will remain in place until permanent repairs can be completed.”
At this early stage, no final repair plan or timeline has been confirmed. Investigations are still underway to determine the most appropriate long-term solution, and officials have advised that the design and construction process can take time.
Traffic data collected in June last year indicates the road carries about 1140 vehicles a day in both directions, with around seven per cent of that traffic made up of heavy vehicles. Authorities are urging drivers to expect delays and to follow all traffic management controls while investigations and planning continue.
Mahurangi Regional Park has been closed by Auckland Council since it is no longer accessible by road.
