A busy year on the Hawke’s Bay state highway network has seen construction completed on a total of 90 recovery projects, contributing to the improved safety and resilience of state highways, and ultimately efficiency for travellers.
The Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) alliance has been continuing recovery work, on behalf of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) to restore cyclone-damaged state highways throughout Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti, reopening two-lanes to keep communities connected and freight moving.
Project manager Richard Bayley says the TREC team, alongside local contractors, has made huge progress in 2024 in Hawke’s Bay.
“We’ve completed construction on almost 70% of the programmed work in Hawke’s Bay with 90 projects repaired (faults fixed) overall. There is lots more to do and our busy summer construction season is continuing, with many new projects starting early next year.
“We had kilometres of damaged highways in the region, and we’ve restored much of it back to 2 lanes including at one of the most anticipated project sites in Hawke’s Bay - Devil’s Elbow. The entire lower section (north of the culvert) of Devil’s Elbow has now been finished, with 6 projects completed.
“Those projects couldn’t have been completed without the support of road users and communities in the area. With so much work happening on multiple sites, and Devil’s Elbow in particular, we really appreciate motorists’ cooperation when adjusting to new road layouts, temporary lower speeds or overnight road closures.
“We know it can be challenging to have so many construction sites, but the crews are working hard to repair what has been damaged, improving the safety and resilience of the state highway network.
“We’d also like to acknowledge all the local contractors who have delivered great results on TREC projects across the state highway network. It’s been a busy year, and we appreciate all their efforts. Around 80% of our East Coast recovery construction work is delivered by local contractors.”
“Thank you to Iwi and hapū who have continued to work closely with us."
Multiple projects continue to be worked on across Hawke’s Bay, many of which are out of view of passing road users, such as slope stabilisation, and highway underpinning, which enhances the road's strength in various areas.
‘We’re expecting most of the TREC recovery work around Hawke’s Bay to be complete by mid next year. Crews will remain on site at Devil’s Corner, just south of the Elbow, until the end of 2025.”
To help local and holiday road users travel more easily around the region and minimise disruption, TREC work across state highways will temporarily stop over the Christmas/New Year period from Thursday 19 December until Monday 6 January.
In places, there will be traffic management such as reduced speed limits or one lane sections with traffic lights to keep people safe. Please take care and follow all signs and temporary speed limits.
SH2 in Hawke’s Bay was badly damaged during Cyclone Gabrielle. Completed projects in 2024 include:
At Devil’s Elbow (video)(external link) there is a 5km long recovery section with 11 major projects. The lower section comprising 6 projects, including Devil’s Elbow Culvert at the hairpin bend, was completed in November and reopened to 2 lanes.
Three projects in the upper section at Devil’s Elbow are underway with one more starting in the new year. This includes the last and most complex Devil’s Elbow recovery project at Devil’s Corner – Project I on the map above. Here, Cyclone Gabrielle caused a 40m long and 10m high underslip that significantly damaged the southbound lane of SH2. Work to repair this complex slip will continue throughout 2025. This site will remain at one lane until the project is completed at the end of 2025.
Work continues at Tangoio Falls Reserve underslip(external link), with shotcreting (spraying liquid concrete) underway this week. This site will be open to 2 lanes for the holiday break and the team will return in the new year to complete the repair.
Additional SH2 sites for 2025 includes road repair work at Mohaka Rail Viaduct, as well as slip and pavement repairs at Sandy Creek.
Culvert repairs were a focus on SH5 this year. Culverts channel water away to protect the road above them, and the land supporting the road, from excessive water damage. This year TREC has completed work on Captain’s Culvert (video)(external link), North of Hill Road Culvert, and Dillon’s Hill Culvert.
Other recovery projects included Dillion’s Hill Sheetpile Wall, work at Pokopoko Gully and Stoney Creek.
In the new year, crew will be working on Tarawera Culvert and repairing three underslips at Māori Gully.
TREC has completed 6 recovery projects along the road. This includes 2 underslips at Waikaretāheke River, Waiau River underslip, and scour (erosion) repairs and protection at Piripaua, and south of Mangakino Bridge.
There are 6 recovery projects remaining: south of Kaitawa underslip, Tarapatiki underslip, Rosie Bay underslip, and 3 underslips at Whatapo Bay.
More details in our SH38 brochure [PDF, 4.3 MB]
Bridge repairs were a focus on SH50 this year with work being completed on Mangamate Stream Bridge, Ben Lomond Bridge, Chesterman’s Bridge, Tukipō Stream Bridge and Ashcott Bridge.
Glencoe Gorge Culvert was also repaired and the one remaining SH50 site - Glencoe Gorge underslip - will begin early 2025 and likely be finished by early autumn 2025.
More details in our SH50 brochure [PDF, 2.9 MB]
Waitangi Bridge over the Tutaekuri River on SH51 has been closely monitored since Cyclone Gabrielle. It remains structurally sound. During this time, we have been investigating the best option for repair, with the chosen solution going through detailed design now. When the repairs of the piles above the waterline are complete, we will be able to remove the delineation posts and the reinstate the posted speed limit.
Recovery construction is scheduled to start in April 2025, and will take approximately four months.
