NZTA is making good Desert Road reopening progress, with this section of State Highway 1 set to reopen next Friday at midday, ending a significant closure period that has affected travel through the central North Island.
According to the latest update received today (March 7th), repair work is progressing rapidly with more than 500 tonnes of asphalt being laid daily. Crews will be working through the weekend to maintain the schedule, which remains weather dependent.
"We're heading fast towards opening this section which could be the end of next week if good weather continues," the update confirmed.
A key component of the repair work has been the replacement of the Mangatoetoenui Bridge deck, which was completed in just six weeks. This project required assembling and dismantling New Zealand's largest mobile crane to complete the work safely and efficiently.
When the road reopens, traffic management will remain in place in sections where chip seal surfaces have been newly laid. This is to allow proper bedding of the chip seal material before returning to normal traffic conditions.
The reopening will restore a vital transport link between Taupō and points north to destinations south, including the Ruapehu district and beyond to Wellington.
