State Highway 1 over the Brynderwyn Hills will be closed for nine weeks over summer for "critical" road restoration.
In a statement, Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) announced the road will be closed from February 26 until March 27, opening for only six days over the Easter period.
The road will then close again on April 3 to complete the remaining work that requires a full closure.
NZTA regional relationships director Steve Mutton said the total road closure is expected to be about nine weeks, with the work done "as quickly as possible".
"We’ve had lots of great feedback about what we can do to support people and businesses during the closure. We hear that we need to improve detour routes and provide clearer signage and way-finding," Mutton said.
Initially, NZTA proposed two closure options that each held "benefits and drawbacks" for various stakeholders and community groups.
"Ultimately, we have come up with a hybrid option that caters as much as we can to freight, tourism, and the community in general. This option also gives us more time to prepare for the closure and work with Northland Transport Alliance to make sure the local detour routes are ready," said Mutton.
Northland Inc chief executive Paul Linton said the timing of the closure of SH1 over the Brynderwyns is a "complex issue" but said the restoration works are crucial for the region’s economy.
"We’re continuing to work alongside NZTA to minimise the impact of the planned closure and ensure clear, consistent communication to our communities, industries, and visitors to the Northland region, to make sure they know that Northland is open for business and ready to welcome visitors," Linton said.
Whangārei Mayor Vince Cocurullo said he supports the closure and the work to the highway needs to be done "before there are any major failures".
"When the repair works start on February 26, there will still be four other routes into Northland including the east route through Mangawhai, and Waipu, and the west route going through Maungataroto, Ruawai and Dargaville," he said.
Cocurullo said the population increases "enormously" during the summer holidays and the Brynderwyn work is being timed to avoid the busiest part of the season.
"Our destinations have been hit hard by successive years of Covid and storms, and we needed this kind of commitment from NZTA to get back on track," he said.
He said this work should provide a "permanent solution" for Northland and urged holiday makers to enjoy the "wonderful Northland coastlines" on the alternative routes and find new spots to stop along the way.
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