The tunnel is a key feature of the future State Highway 3 route in Taranaki in the country’s North Island.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) regional manager of infrastructure delivery Rob Partridge said the breakthrough was a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Mt Messenger Alliance team delivering the project.
The bypass is being delivered in two stages – the ‘southern’ and ‘northern’ sections. Since construction began on the southern section in 2022, more than 300,000m3 of earthworks have been completed, with the southern-most 1km section now at road level.
With the 6.5m-high upper section of the tunnel now completed, excavation of the 2.5m lower section will begin. Full tunnel excavation is targeted for completion in late February next year.
Work is also progressing on the project’s 125m-long bridge, with a 110m temporary staging bridge in place to support construction of the permanent structure. Construction of the bridge’s foundations is under way.
Completing the northern section of the project remains subject to ongoing legal challenges over the final parcel of land required. Funding and timeframes for the northern section will be confirmed once construction is able to start in this area.
Rob Partridge said the breakthrough of the tunnel’s top section was a proud moment for everyone involved.
“It is a visible sign of the progress being made to deliver a safer and more efficient route for all road users, and to unlock long-term economic and environmental benefits for the region.
“The need for a more resilient and reliable route over Mt Messenger was underlined recently when heavy rain created an underslip that caused delays for road users for more than three months.
“This achievement marks a major step forward for the southern section of the Bypass, which will replace the steep, narrow and winding stretch of SH3 over Mt Messenger with a safer, more resilient, and reliable 6km two-lane highway.”
The Bypass is being delivered by the Mt Messenger Alliance of NZTA, Downer, HEB Construction, Tonkin & Taylor and WSP, in partnership with Maori tribe Ngāti Tama.
