Cableway to be pulled down at Mt Messenger

Friday, 27 February 2026

The cableway and tower at the top of Mt Messenger is being demobilised since crews have completed the excavation of the tunnel underneath it. (File photo)

It has been one of the most visible features of the Mt Messenger bypass project but it will soon be gone.

The 1.1km cableway, put in place in May 2022, featured a 28m-high tower near the summit of Mt Messenger.

It was there to give contractors the ability to transport machinery, materials and people to parts of the bypass route not initially accessible by road.

Since it began operating in early 2023, it completed more than 8000 trips until crews were able to move equipment through the 235m tunnel, which gained completed excavation and lining earlier this year.

Since it has been in use since 2022, the cableway has completed 8000 trips to transport machinery, personnel and materials into the valley below. (File photo)

A spokesperson for NZ Transport Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said work had begun to demobilise the cableway.

“Specialists from cableway owner Dopplemayr NZ will be working with the Mt Messenger Alliance on the removal of the cableway, before taking the components away,” the spokesperson said.

In December, figures from NZTA revealed the project budget had increased to $590 million.

NZTA blamed ongoing legal challenges with acquiring land from Tony and Debbie Pascoe at the northern end of the bypass for the increased budget.

The bypass would shave about six minutes off the journey and make State Highway 3 link between Taranaki and Waikato safer and more resilient, NZTA said.