The stretch of State Highway 1 between Warkworth and Wellsford through Dome Valley has always been prone to disasters.

It was first graded in the 1860s as a part of the Great North Road, a troubled project to connect Auckland with Whangarei. A lack of government investment led the road to quickly degrade in quality. Eventually, the road shifted to more stable terrain bringing the very legality of the route into question.

In 1920, the Rodney County Council re-surveyed the road and metalled it. But it was still not up to the task. Winter weather made it unusable for months at a time as the clay underlying the metal turned into thick, greasy mud. The road was unusable almost every winter and spring.

Farmers Trading Company even placed a sign outside its Wellsford store indicating when the road was closed. The alternative route was a 46-km detour through Kaipara Flats, Tauhoa, Wharehine, and Port Albert, which had a concrete all-weather highway but was prone to flooding at the Hoteo River crossing.

The current alignment of State Highway 1 through Dome Valley was completed in 1933, adding smoother bends and gentler grades. However, it could not overcome the forces of nature. In March and July 1935, torrential rainstorms caused several slips and a large sinkhole that blocked all traffic between Wellsford and Warkworth.

Despite countless repairs and upgrades over the ensuing decades, this section remains one of the most problematic along the highway.

Be careful and drive safely this summer if travelling through Dome Valley.