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State Highway 3 (New Zealand)

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State Highway 3
Route information
Maintained by NZ Transport Agency
Length500 km (310 mi)
Major junctions
North end SH 1C (Lorne Street/Normandy Drive) at Hamilton
Major intersections
South end SH 2 (Vogel Street/McLean Street) at Woodville
Location
CountryNew Zealand
Primary
destinations		Te Awamutu, Ōtorohanga, Te Kūiti, New Plymouth, Hāwera, Whanganui, Palmerston North Woodville
Highway system
← SH 2→ SH 4

State Highway 3 (SH 3) is one of New Zealand's eight national state highways. It serves the west coast of the country's North Island and forms a link between State Highway 1 and State Highway 2. Distances are measured from north to south.

For most of its length SH 3 is a two-lane single carriageway, with at-grade intersections and property accesses, both in rural and urban areas.

History

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A Mokau – Awakino horse track was widened to a dray track about 1897.[1] It was then possible for a horse and buggy to cover the 110 mi (180 km) – now 162 km – from New Plymouth to Te Kūiti in 17½ hours.[2] The first car to traverse the route from Auckland to New Plymouth seems to have been an 8 hp Cadillac in 1905, though Ōtorohanga to Te Kūiti was by train and, between Awakino and Mokau, a horse assisted on the beach.[3]

A 1910 Te Kūiti meeting called for metalling of the road to Awakino.[4] Mount Messenger Tunnel opened in 1916 and its single lane was enlarged about 1983.[5] £3,000 (2016 equivalent $280,000)[6] was provided in 1919[7] for the Awakino Gorge section, including the tunnel (enlarged in 2011),[8] and it was opened in March 1923 at a total cost of about £60,000[9] (2016 equivalent $5.8m).[6] Most of the route was gazetted as a government main highway in 1924,[10] some sections were tar-sealed in 1925[11] and more work had been done on the road by 1936, leaving only a few mud sections.[12] In 1937 the 6 mi (9.7 km) between Ōhaupō and Te Awamutu was the only unsealed section north of Tokanui.[13] By 1949 the road was sealed as far south as Te Kūiti and the reinforced concrete bridge over the Waipā at Ōtorohanga had been started.[14]

Mokau Bridge opened 1927

The 12 ft (3.7 m) wide, single-lane,[11] 11-span, 670 ft (200 m), steel, Mokau Bridge opened in October 1927 (official opening 17 December), replacing a punt.[15][16][17] The cost was £35,000 (2016 equivalent $3.3m).[18][6] It had a lifting span allowing passage of vessels up to 50 ft (15 m) wide and with a 60 ft (18 m) clearance at high tide.[16] In 2001 the 1927 bridge was replaced by the current 9-span, 230 m (250 yd), double lane, pre-stressed concrete bridge for $6.2m[19] (2016 equivalent $8.5m).[6] The new bridge doesn't allow for shipping, as the first ship to pass under the old lifting span was withdrawn three months after the bridge opened.[20]

An 1871 account of a coach journey from New Plymouth to Wellington described the very poor road round the coast via Ōpunake to Whanganui and the much better and well used road south from there. A government subsidy of £3,000 (2016 equivalent $400,000)[6] a year was being paid for the coach north of Whanganui.[21]

Route

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Tunnel at the north end of the Awakino Gorge, now bypassed by two bridges built in 2021. There is another short tunnel near the top of Mount Messenger

The highway leaves SH 1C at Hamilton, and initially heads south through farmland, passing through Te Awamutu. Sections of this stretch of the road are four-laned, but not divided carriageway. From Ōtorohanga it follows the valley of the Waipā River to Te Kūiti. The road then turns southwest through sparsely settled farmland, crossing several ridges before following the Awakino gorge to reach the coast, which it follows around the North Taranaki Bight. At the Tongaporutu River the highway turns inland to avoid coastal cliffs and climbs over Mount Messenger before descending via the Mimi River valley to return to the coast near Urenui. Bypassing Waitara, it reaches New Plymouth then turns inland, passing to the east of Mount Taranaki via Inglewood, Stratford and Eltham to Hāwera.

From Hāwera the highway follows the coast of the South Taranaki Bight south-eastwards to Patea and Whanganui before leaving the coast and heading to Bulls. Here, SH 1 from the north intersects with SH 3, and the two highways are concurrent for the next 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) to Sanson where SH 1 diverges to the south. SH 3 continues its south-eastern route to Palmerston North, where it runs through the city streets and changes to a north-eastern direction near the city centre. It maintains this direction as far as Ashhurst, where it crosses the Manawatū River and intersects with SH 57. There is a gap in the SH 3 designation here due to the closure of the Manawatū Gorge route in 2017, and traffic between Ashhurst and Woodville is required to detour via nearby Saddle Road while a replacement highway on a new alignment is under construction.[22] SH 3 resumes where the Saddle Road detour meets the former Manawatū Gorge route, but almost immediately thereafter enters Woodville and terminates at a junction with SH 2.

Both the Awakino and Manawatū gorges are prone to closure by slips and rockslides in heavy rain.

Route changes

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Construction of a bypass of Bell Block, a satellite town of New Plymouth, was completed in 2010. The bypass is a four-lane, divided expressway with an interchange at Henwood Road providing access to Bell Block.[23]

In 2016, a section of SH 3 in Taranaki was realigned replacing the "deadly" Normanby overbridge.[24]

Future improvements

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State Highway 3 will form part of the future/proposed Southern Links motorway project in the South/West of Hamilton and Tamahere.[25]

In January 2016, funding was announced for road bypasses of the two tunnels north of New Plymouth. Construction of the Mount Messenger and Awakino Gorge tunnel bypasses was expected to begin within two years.[26] On 24 August 2020 Te Korowai Tiahi o Te Hauauru, whose rohe the road crosses, withdrew support from the bypass roading project while in High Court. The Poutama Charitable Trust and New Plymouth locals protested against the project while court was in session, with the argument that this new route would destroy the valley's ecosystem. However, the Transport Agency responded by saying that the bypass is the least ecologically destructive and will deliver road safety.[27]

The highway through the Manawatū Gorge between Ashhurst and Woodville in the Manawatū-Whanganui region was closed in April 2017 due to a large slip, with SH 3 traffic diverted via Saddle Road. Contractors were pulled out of clearing the slip in July 2017 due to ongoing geological movement in the hill, closing the road indefinitely.[28] The NZTA began fast-tracking a long-term solution to bypass and replace the gorge. In March 2018, the NZTA announced a bypass would be built to the north of the gorge, but south of the Saddle Road.[29] Known as Te Ahu a Turanga/Manawatū Tararua Highway, construction of the $620 million road[22] began in January 2021 and is expected be completed in late 2024.[30]

Spur sections

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State Highway 3A marker
State Highway 3A
LocationSH 3 west of Waitara – SH 3 at Inglewood
Length15.6 km (9.7 mi)

SH 3 has one spur, designated State Highway 3A. This 15.6 km stretch links State Highway 3 just west of Waitara to Inglewood, providing a shortcut and bypass of New Plymouth. The entire length of highway carries the name Mountain Road with the sole exception being a very short link of Rimu Street in Inglewood to rejoin SH 3.

Major junctions

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Territorial authorityLocationkmmiDestinationsNotes
Hamilton CityMelville00.0 SH 1C north (Kahikatea Drive) – Auckland
SH 1C south (Lorne Street) – Rotorua		SH 3 begins
10.62(Normandy Ave) – City Centre, Rotoruato SH 1/Thermal Explorer Highway south
Waipa DistrictHamilton Airport106.2 SH 21 (Airport Road) – Airport, Mystery Creek
Ōtorohanga DistrictŌtorohanga5534 SH 31 / SH 39 (Te Kanawa Street) – Kawhia, Ngāruawāhia
Waitomo DistrictHangatiki6540 SH 37 (Waitomo Caves Road) – Waitomo Caves
Te Kūiti7647 SH 30 (Awakino Road) – Rotorua
Eight Mile Junction8855 SH 4 – Taumarunui
New Plymouth DistrictBrixton229142 SH 3A (Mountain Road) – Inglewood
New Plymouth Central240150 SH 44 (Eliot Street) – Port Taranaki
SH 45 (Leach Street) – City Centre, Ōpunake
Inglewood258160 SH 3A (Rata Street) – Hamilton
Stratford DistrictStratford279173 SH 43 (Regan Street) – Taumarunui
South Taranaki DistrictHāwera310190 SH 45 (South Road) – Ōpunake
Whanganui DistrictPutiki402250 SH 4 (Putiki Drive) – City Centre, National Park
Rangitikei DistrictBulls445277 SH 1 north (High Street) – TaupōSH 1/SH 3 concurrency begins
Manawatū DistrictSanson450280 SH 1 south (Wellington Road) – WellingtonSH 1/SH 3 concurrency ends
Manawatū District /
Palmerston North City boundary		Newbury468291 SH 54 (Kairanga Bunnythorpe Road) – Feilding
Palmerston North CityAshhurst487303(Cambridge Avenue) – Town Centre, Feilding, Woodville
488303 SH 57 (Fitzherbert East Road) – Levin
Gap in highway due to Manawatū Gorge blockage; connection made via Saddle Road.
Tararua DistrictWoodville498309(Woodlands Road / Saddle Road) – Ashhurst
500310 SH 2 north (Vogel Street) – Napier
SH 2 south (McLean Street) – Masterton		SH 3 ends
  •       Closed/former
  •       Concurrency terminus

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Communication Between Auckland And Taranaki". The New Zealand Herald. 21 June 1897. p. 5. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Overland to Auckland". Taranaki Herald. 11 April 1902. p. 1. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  3. ^ "Through King Country On A Motor". The New Zealand Herald. 5 April 1905. p. 6. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  4. ^ "King Country Roads". Waikato Argus. 18 January 1910. p. 4. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  5. ^ Ron. "Mt Messenger Tunnel – SHW 3". ketenewplymouth.peoplesnetworknz.info. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Inflation calculator – Reserve Bank of New Zealand". www.rbnz.govt.nz. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Public Works Estimates". Taranaki Daily News. 25 October 1919. p. 2. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  8. ^ "Works planned to trim back the inside walls of the Awakino Tunnel on State Highway 3 NZ Transport Agency". www.nzta.govt.nz. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  9. ^ "Link With Taranaxi". The New Zealand Herald. 31 March 1923. p. 10. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  10. ^ "Main Roads". The Evening Post. 13 June 1924. p. 10. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  11. ^ a b "Road To Taranaki". The New Zealand Herald. 7 May 1925. p. 8. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  12. ^ "Better Roads". The New Zealand Herald. 19 October 1936. p. 10. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  13. ^ "POSTAL IMPROVEMENTS. WAIKATO TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 27 February 1937. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  14. ^ "AtoJs Online — Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives — 1949 Session I — D-01 MINISTRY OF WORKS STATEMENT (BY THE HON. R. SEMPLE, MINISTER OF WORKS)". atojs.natlib.govt.nz. p. 53. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  15. ^ "Mokau River Bridge". The New Zealand Herald. 6 July 1925. p. 8. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  16. ^ a b "Mokau River Bridge". The New Zealand Herald. 17 December 1927. p. 12. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  17. ^ "Main Highway From Auckland To Taranaki Now Completed: The Mokau River Bridge Open For Traffic Photographs Taken On Friday Last. Left: A View From The Bridge Showing Cars Waiting For The Lift-span In The Middle Of The Structure To Be Lowered. Right: A General View Of The New Bridge, Which Eliminates The Ancient Ferry-punt So Well Known To Travellers On Thete Kuiti-new Plymouth Section Of The Route. The Opening Of The Bridge Will Expedite Overland Travel And Incidentally Enable The New ' ' Zealand Herald To Reach New Plymouth Earlier Every Day". The New Zealand Herald. 17 October 1927. p. 6. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  18. ^ "Mokau Bridge Opened". Press. 19 December 1927. p. 10. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  19. ^ "Mokau Bridge – Smithbridge". www.smithbridge.net. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  20. ^ Duckett, Graeme (9 November 2013). "The story of the steamer Wetere". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  21. ^ "New Plymouth To Wellington" Overland". Taranaki Herald. 2 August 1871. p. 2. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  22. ^ a b "Government green-lights $620m new Manawatu Gorge highway". Newshub. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  23. ^ Maetzig, Rob (12 March 2010). "Bypass ready to roll". Taranaki Daily News. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  24. ^ David Burroughs (16 October 2016). "Normanby overbridge bypass ready for use from Monday". Taranaki Daily News. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  25. ^ "Southern Links". NZTA.govt.nz.
  26. ^ "Key's state of the nation – full speech". NZHerald.co.nz. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  27. ^ Martin, Robin (24 August 2020). "Mt Messenger roading project opponents protest outside High Court". RNZ.
  28. ^ "Manawatu Gorge to remain closed 'for some time'". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  29. ^ "Preferred option for SH3 Manawatū Gorge replacement announced". The New Zealand Herald. 15 March 2018. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  30. ^ "Manawatū Gorge replacement highway takes shape". Stuff. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
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