Due to ongoing road movement caused by the recent wet weather, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advises State Highway 35 will be under stop/go traffic management 2.5km west of the Motu River Bridge until further notice.
Cracking has been noted along the eastbound lane, and the decision has been made to reduce the affected area down to a single lane, following an engineer’s assessment. If the cracking develops further, the road may need to be closed at short notice.
This route is suitable for light vehicles only. All heavy vehicles including over-weight and over-dimension vehicles are unable to use this route until further notice, with all permits for SH35 between Ōpōtiki and Gisborne suspended.
With rain forecast to continue over the next week, the site will be assessed for repair once the road movement ceases and weather is more favourable.
Bay of Plenty’s roading network has been hit hard by the recent severe weather with slips, drop outs and flooding in a number of locations. With more wet weather forecast, crews are closely monitoring the network to ensure the safety of all road users.
People are encouraged to take extra care, watch for hazards on the road, adjust their speed for the environment, and plan for delays to their journeys. People are advised to refrain from unnecessary travel.
Waka Kotahi thanks everyone for their patience and will provide further updates over the coming days.
