Severe damage on State Highway 25 further highlights the need to protect our roads from climate change.

The Road Transport Forum say destructive storms, like one that tore apart sections of the Thames Coast Road last week, are likely to become more common.

Chief executive Ken Shirley said continued investment in making our roads more resilient is essential.

"We've had the seismic events with Kaikoura, the Manawatu Gorge with the slips there and the closure. It's having a huge impact on transport infrastructure."

Truck drivers are being forced to take a three-hour detour due to damage on the Thames Coast Road.

Shirley said the storm highlights the importance of future-proofing roads against climate change.

"We need to look at longer term, enduring solutions that will inevitably be more expensive, certainly in the short term."