The Manawatu Gorge could be closed for years and officials can't guarantee it will ever open again.

NZTA has admitted it has no timeline to reopen or replace the gorge highway, which has been closed after two major landslips in April.

The news hasn't gone down well with some locals who stormed out of a public meeting in Woodville last night.

NZTA representatives confirmed it can't compensate affected businesses or residents.

Woodville resident Rose Karena said officials also couldn't say how a major slip would affect people living upstream.

"We already knew the answer. Of course it's going to block the river. If enough of it comes down the river is going to get blocked and we're going to have all that water come back on us."

Ms Karena said locals feel like "collateral damage".

She said NZTA should be dealing with their issues properly, rather than telling them to live with the consequences of its plans.

The agency pulled contractors out of the gorge this month because of the high chance of another major slip.

NZTA regional planning manager Ross I'Anson said it would take a long period of stability for officials to consider reopening the road.

Mr I'Anson said the hill above the Kerry's Wall rock face is very unstable and they can't put lives at risk.

"We had a rather large rock face move 80 millimetres in one month. It's the size of a very large two-storey building and there's a rather deep hill above it."

NZTA plans to redirect traffic around Ashhurst, and direct traffic back into Woodville.

The agency said it's realigning and improving the alternative Saddle Road until it can come up with a long-term plan.