In September 2019, the NZ Transport Agency and Palmerston North City Council announced development plans for the Te Ahu a Turanga: Manawatū Tararua Highway. The $NZ 620 million project will accommodate a new state highway connection to replace the closed State Highway 3 (SH3) Manawatu Gorge route. This corridor crosses the Ruahine Ranges immediately north of the Manawatu Gorge and south of Saddle Road.