State Highway 35 (SH35) is now open for essential travel between Ōpōtiki and Hicks Bay on the Bay of Plenty side. Caution is advised.
3pm update:
State Highway 29 Lower Kaimai – Now open
Contractors have cleared multiple fallen trees between Hanga Road and Old Kaimai Road and SH29 is now open.
Drivers are asked to take care. There will be one lane open in each direction under contraflow and a temporary speed limit while PowerCo undertakes vital repairs.
SH33 is also now fully open
This Information updates the bulletin below:
1.45pm:
SH35 Hicks Bay to Gisborne is still closed.
There are multiple hazards across roads in the Bay of Plenty region. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency warns against any unnecessary travel. This is an evolving situation and Cyclone Gabrielle is still causing hazardous driving conditions.
Slips can form on any part of the network at anytime and wind can bring down trees without warning. Drivers should be vigilant for possible risks including surface flooding, storm surges, fallen trees or other debris and mud, which may make the road surface slippery.
Road closures in bay of Plenty as at 1pm:
SH2 Ōpōtiki to Gisborne - Closed
Multiple hazards. Contractors are working on clearing SH2 as a matter of priorty. Gisborne is currently isolated due to closure of all arterial highways.
SH2 Pukehina to Matata - Closed
Due to multiple slips, SH2 is closed between Herepuru Road and Old Coach Road.
Slip at Matata, SH2.
SH30 Whakarewarewa - Closed
Closed due to fallen power lines near Scott street
SH29 Lower Kaimai - Closed
Due to multiple fallen trees, SH29 is closed between Hanga Road and Old Kaimai Road
Progress has been made to clear roads closed by the storm overnight:
SH33 – Open under Stop/Go
Sh30 East from SH3 to SH34 - Open
SH5 North - Open
The situation is changing rapidly. Consult Waka Kotahi Journey Planner for the most up to date information on road closures.
Journey Planner(external link)
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
