The storm system created by ex-Tropical Cyclone Hale has caused flooding and slips on State Highways in the Coromandel, Napier and Gisborne regions.
Situation as of 1pm
Gladstone Road Bridge Emergency Closure: The bridge is closed from 7pm tomorrow night (Thursday 12 January) until 6am Friday and again overnight Friday 13 January. The closure is required to clear debris beneath the bridge following ex Cyclone Hale. (NOTE: This timing differs from our earlier advisory, which stated work would get underway today.)
State Highway 35 is CLOSED between Tolaga Bay and Ruatoria and CLOSED between Te Araroa and Hicks Bay.
State Highway 25 (SH25) is CLOSED between Tapu and Te Puru due to a large slip at Ruamahunga. Contractors are working to clear the site but the road is likely to remain closed for the rest of the day.
SH25 is NOW OPEN between Hikuai Settlement Road and Tairua as flooding has subsided.
SH25 is reduced to one lane between SH25A and McBeths Road due to a slip, but is likely to reopen to two lanes this afternoon.
State Highway 25A is CLOSED due to several slips at Kopu Hikuai. Contractors are working on both sides of the slips at the same time, but the road is likely to remain closed for most of the day.
State Highway 2 is CLOSED between Tangoio and Tūtira. The road will remain closed for the rest of today. This will be reviewed around midday tomorrow.
State Highway 5 is reduced to one lane in several places due to slips – the road is passable.
Waka Kotahi is urging motorists to stay off affected roads. If they must travel, they should expect the unexpected and stay alert for unreported hazards.
Further damage could occur on the network, even as the weather improves, due to saturated ground and unstable slopes.
Drive to the conditions, view the latest weather forecast on the MetService website and check your intended route for hazards or disruptions before setting out using the Waka Kotahi interactive Journey Planner website.
