A reopening date for Northland's Mangamuka Gorge is on the cards for this year

The 13-kilometre stretch of State Highway 1 is set to reopen before Christmas, following two years of closures.

It's been shut since an August 2022 storm all-but obliterated the highway - and another weather event resulted in 35 more slips last year.

Northland Chamber of Commerce president Tim Robinson says the cost of transport has been the most significant impact on businesses in the area.

He says the closure hasn't prevented travel and goods getting through - but it has added a cost to get in and out of the top of the country.