Our roading contractors continue to assess the state highway network following the impacts from Cyclone Gabrielle.
SH2 between Ōpōtiki and Gisborne and SH2 between Gisborne and Wairoa are both open to the public between 7am and 7pm from today.
Our roading contractors are continuing to work to secure as much of the state highway network around the region as possible.
A priority is to ensure key freight routes are secure so supplies can be delivered to the region.
State Highway update as of 11.30am
SH35 from Te Puia Springs to Tologa Bay CLOSED
SH2 between Ōpōtiki to Gisborne OPEN between 7am and 7pm
SH2 between Gisborne south through Wairoa OPEN between 7am and 7pm
SH2 between Wairoa and the Eskdale turn off CLOSED
SH38 between Lake Waikaremoana to Wairoa CLOSED
“It’s really encouraging we’ve been able to secure a vital freight connection in from the north and we please ask other road users to continue to avoid unnecessary travel. If you do have to travel, please drive to the conditions and be mindful the condition of the road is still impacted,” says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s National Emergency Response Team spokesperson, Mark Owen.
“Crews are still on these roads so please plan for delays and in the case of SH2, the potential for short-notice closures.”
Damage to SH2 Waioeka Gorge Matawai to Gisborne (photo taken by our contractor).
State Highway update as of 5.00pm
SH35 from Te Puia Springs to Tologa Bay is CLOSED
SH2 between Ōpōtiki to Gisborne CLOSED to the public
SH2 between Gisborne south through Wairoa CLOSED to the public
SH2 between Wairoa and the Eskdale turn off CLOSED
SH38 between Lake Waikaremoana to Wairoa is CLOSED
As reported by Civil Defence, at this stage SH2 between Ōpōtiki to Gisborne is expected to open from 7am to 7pm from tomorrow (Saturday 18 Feb).
“Our priority is to ensure the safety of our road users and contractors, while acknowledging the importance of reconnecting our communities,” says Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne Journey Manager, Andre Taylor.
“Unfortunately we’re currently unable to put a timeframe on the repairs due to the extent of the damage.
“We want to emphasise that people should avoid unnecessary travel to enable our emergency services to travel unimpeded, allow vital supplies to be delivered and allow our contractors to reconnect our communities as swiftly as possible.”
Please note this information can change rapidly – ensure you check the latest weather conditions with MetService, and consult the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner for the most up to date information on road closures.
Journey Planner(external link)
For those who are unable to access the internet at this stage, please keep tuned tro local radio for the latest Civil Defence advice. Local programmes are on The Breeze 97.5 and The Hits 89.5.
Journey Planner is updated 24/7 by Waka Kotahi traffic operations centres and is the best source of the most recent and reliable information available on state highway closures and disruptions. Remember to refresh the page when checking the status of highways to ensure that the latest updates are displayed
