Public access to the Manukau Heads Lighthouse has been restored after a $4 million project to reopen the road, which was extensively damaged by a massive slip.
The original Manukau Heads Rd was rendered impassable after a slip displaced 90,000 cubic metres of soil down a hillside.
The old route was assessed as unstable and too costly to repair.
Auckland Transport has since constructed a new section of road, metres away from the slip, under a government-funded project which cost $4 million.
The project was completed within the expected timeframe of three to four months, Auckland Transport said, despite the challenges of heavy rainfall and high winds.
The new section featured several measures to mitigate future landslip risks, including stormwater culverts and replanted grass and vegetation at the top of the slip to improve stability of the undulating terrain.
“This solution allows us to reconnect the area while addressing long-term safety and resilience,” Alan Wallace, group manager road asset maintenance and renewals, said. “We’ve taken steps to stabilise the surrounding land and reduce future risk.”
Bill Deed, chairman of the Manukau Heads Lighthouse Trust, said the past two and a half years had been “incredibly difficult”.
“With no public access, we saw a dramatic drop in visitors, which meant no donations or community engagement. It’s been hard to maintain momentum and income for the upkeep of the lighthouse when people couldn’t reach it.
“Now that the road is open again, visitors can return – but we’re also playing catch-up. We’ve cleared a lot of overgrown vegetation, but there’s still work to do to get the site back to its best.”
“This lighthouse isn’t just a historic landmark overlooking the entrance to the Manukau Harbour, it’s a cornerstone of west Franklin’s tourism. It draws hundreds of thousands of people each year, and we welcome seeing life return to the site.”
Auckland Transport said it was currently making progress on other storm-damaged roads across the areas of Franklin and South Auckland.
It said that 25 of the 30 affected sites had been completed, with one under construction.
