The unseasonal stormy weather has closed parts of three State Highways in the upper half of the North Island due to flooding and slips, resulting in lengthy diversions in some cases.
SH25 Whangamatā to Whiritoa (Coromandel): The only practical diversion is a lengthy two hour trip via SH25A and SH26 through Kopu, Paeroa and Waihi. The slip is highly unstable and challenging to safely clear. NZTA say the earliest date the road will reopen is Wednesday 4 February.
SH25 Kūaotunu to Kūaotunu West (Coromandel): there is no practical detour so travellers are advised to delay their journey. The road is hoped to be open by 29 January.
SH35 Ōpōtiki (Bay of Plenty): a section of SH35 in Ōpōtiki town has been closed, with access only available to residents, local deliveries and emergency vehicles. Date of resolution is unavailable on the NZTA Journey Planner website at this stage.
SH2 Waioweka Gorge (Gisborne): the route between Gisborne and Ōpōtiki via Waioweka Gorge is closed due to multiple slips, and is expected to remain closed for several weeks. The detour via SH2 and SH38 through Murupara adds 211km and over two hours to the standard journey time.
SH35 Pōtaka to Te Araroa (Gisborne): no detour is available and no date of resolution is known yet.
SH35 Whakaangiangi Rd and Te Araroa (Gisborne): no detour is available, with restricted access for residents only. No date for resolution is currently available.
Karangahake Gorge on SH2 between Paeroa and Waihi has reopened, with traffic management in place.
We say the weather is “unseasonal”, but in reality this is not the first time we have had stormy weather and road closures during summer. It may be the new normal and so, even though summer is a good time to undertake road maintenance, Transporting New Zealand says the NZ Transport Agency needs to plan for adverse weather and also think about the resilience of the transport network and prioritise key transport routes to mitigate against slips and flooding.
To view all road closures, go to NZTA’s Journey Planner.
