{
  "id": 27995,
  "title": "Eighth recent SH3 Awakino Gorge closure: Businesses say they're hurting",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/eighth-recent-sh3-awakino-gorge-closure-businesses-say-theyre-hurting",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-02T01:21:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RNZ Business",
    "slug": "rnz-business",
    "url": "https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/860049/eighth-recent-sh3-awakino-gorge-closure-businesses-say-they-re-hurting"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The eighth recent closure of the SH3 Awakino Gorge has left Mōkau businesses struggling to survive. The Transport Agency has announced the gorge will be closed for four days from August 22 to August 25, 2023, to install three culverts to drain water at a massive slip. Owner Dev Rawat of River Run Cafe said road closures devastate his business as he depends on travelers passing through State Highway 3. Last year, his store was closed more than six or seven times, causing hardship in paying staff and bills. Transport Agency incident controller Kendra Ludeke explained that closing the road is a last resort due to the narrowness and the heavy machinery required for the work. Mōkau Butcher owner Bryan Lester expressed mixed emotions about the closure, as he understands the need for the work but also the impact it has on his business. New Plymouth mayor Max Brough noted that closures on SH3 at Awakino are becoming routine due to the lack of alternate routes. The culverts were delivered separately from a $50 million Awakino Gorge resilience package announced in May, aiming to reduce the risk of future slips and similar events. This work aims to reopen the section of road to two lanes following the April weather event and slip.",
  "summary": "Businesses on SH3 between Taranaki and Waikato face their eighth closure of the highway in recent times, while repairs are made to deal with water flowing on the road, but every closure hurts, they say.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}