First convoys head through forest around SH1 washout at Pukenui

Twenty-five vehicles have been escorted by police along a muddy forest track this morning around a major washout which has closed State Highway 1 north of Kaitaia since Friday.

Of those 22 vehicles travelled south and three made the northbound journey, NZ Transport Agency Northland manager Jacqui Hori-Hoult said.

The convoys were for essential travel only and would be repeated at 5.30pm this afternoon for southbound traffic and 6.15pm for northbound traffic.

Police would check vehicles and drivers for suitability to make the 40-minute journey over the one lane track. Convoys would run at the same time tomorrow.

Drivers needing to head south should meet at the corner of Far North Rd and Trig Rd while the northbound convoy will leave where the seal ends at 113 Hukatere Rd.

The route through the privately-owned forest was closed at all other times to vehicles except emergency services.

Normal forestry operations have resumed in the area and motorists will be travelling at their own risk through the off road route.

''If you don't have to travel, please delay your journey until the state highway is open,'' Hori-Hoult said.

Meanwhile, repair crews had made good progress over the weekend laying a new culvert with 2.1m diameter pipes. Seven trucks were delivering about 5000cu m of material to backfill the hole to road level. The highway is expected to reopen mid week.

The washout is about 20m long and 5m deep.