A key road corridor in the Bay of Plenty is down to one lane through the Waimana Gorge after wet weather caused an underslip to deteriorate.
The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said it appreciated State Highway 2 was a key freight route between Whakatāne and Ōpōtiki and was working on a solution as quickly as possible.
“The lane closure is required due to pavement cracking, which is extending around 200mm from the edge line currently, but likely to worsen when there’s more wet weather,” said NZTA Bay of Plenty system manager Sandra King.
“High levels through the Tauranga River following heavy rainfall has caused the underslip.”
A geotechnical team was investigating further, with their findings to inform the remediation plan.
The road was under 24-hour traffic management but traffic lights would be installed soon, King said.
“It is possible that the road will need to be fully closed at times to complete repairs. NZTA will keep the public informed as more is known.”
