This 48 hour closure will now take place from 8am Wednesday 19 April to 8am Friday 21 April.
This change considered the needs of people and animal welfare and we want to ensure we minimise the impact of the closure.
We understand road closures do have an impact on the surrounding communities and we’re working closely with communities affected, included farmers who told us they were needing to get stock to market in a timely manner.
This work is important in ensuring network resilience particularly in rainfall events. We thank the community for their ongoing patience while we achieve milestones on our road to recovery.
Next week’s planned road closure will NOT be going ahead.
Tuesday 21 March, 3.44pm
As the clean up from Cyclone Gabrielle continues, roading crews will be replacing the collapsed Mōrere Culvert north of Nūhaka, on SH2.
The works require the stretch of road around the culvert to be closed for a 48 hour period between 8am next Tuesday (28 March) and 8am on Thursday (30 March).
The collapsed culvert has been under temporary traffic management with pumping following the cyclone; with the need for this work previously advised.
“This is a significant piece of work, but we realise it also requires disruption to people’s lives – we want to acknowledge the impact that this closure will have on communities at a time which is already stressful,” says Waka Kotahi Central North Island Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations Jaclyn Hankin.
“We want to reassure people we will be working day and night at the site to minimise the disruption to communities as much as people.
“We have been working closely with Wairoa District Council to ensure this work is carried out in the safest, quickest way possible. We want to thank those communities for their understanding.
“Replacing this culvert will ensure this crucial route is further strengthened for all road users - we wouldn’t be closing the stretch of road unless it was absolutely essential.”
