Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is pleased to advise that from 4pm tomorrow (Friday 9 September 2022), State Highway 5 will reopen to two lanes at the dropout site between Te Haroto and Tarawera.
Regional Manager Maintenance and Operations Jaclyn Hankin says the project was initially scheduled to take approximately ten weeks, but the majority of the work has been completed within six weeks.
“Our contractors have worked incredibly hard to reinstate two-way access four weeks ahead of schedule.”
There is still some additional work required, including the replacement and relocation of the culvert, which will need to be done under Stop/Go.
“We are still working through the timing of this work and will share details with the community as soon as we are able,” says Mrs Hankin.
In the meantime, other emergency works on Hawke’s Bay roads continue, with construction at the large slip at Waikoau Hill on State Highway 2 north of Napier planned to start in early October, with the aim to reopen the road to two lanes in early December.
Plans are being finalised to repair the steep underslip south of White Pine Bush, between Tangoio and Tūtira, with construction expected to get underway in early November.
“We thank everyone for their patience and understanding while we work to reinstate roads hit hard by this year’s weather events,” says Mrs Hankin.
