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Mangawhai Road’s major slip repair is expected to be completed by mid-August, marking one of the final projects in Kaipara District Council’s $17 million programme to restore roads across the district damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle and the February 2023 Mangawhai storm.
Since February 2023, crews have repaired over 70 significant slips caused by back-to-back weather events. The programme has included some of the most complex roading repairs in the council’s history, with several major slip sites costing millions of dollars to repair.
Council said the scale of the damage meant repairs would always take time. More than 100 existing and new slips were prioritised according to NZTA funding, safety risks, access for isolated communities, and the results of geotechnical investigations.
“We’ve worked hard to get the best outcomes with the funding available, prioritising repairs and finding solutions that delivered the best long-term value for our communities,” Kaipara District Council Mayor Jonathan Larsen said.
He said while every site has presented its own challenges, several required particularly complex engineering solutions.
Mangawhai Road has been the largest and most complex of the Cyclone Gabrielle slip repairs. Ongoing ground movement at the eastern slip site, despite temporary stabilisation measures, required a full road closure so crews could safely carry out structural repairs. The closure affected around 3,600 vehicles a day, with work expected to be completed by mid-August.
Elsewhere across the district, complex repairs have been completed or are nearing completion on Huarau, Pouto, Whakapirau, Houto, Bob Taylor and Pukehuia roads. The work has included culvert replacements, slope stabilisation, rock armouring and piling, with several sites requiring redesigned engineering solutions and complex consenting because of challenging ground conditions and environmental constraints.
Once the slip repair programme is complete, the council will shift its focus to delivering its Low Cost Low Risk programme, with construction scheduled to begin over summer.
