SH36 open both lanes after fatal crash

A crane was positioned in the middle of the highway as the drums were lifted out of the gorge. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

UPDATED1140am: Both lanes of State Highway 36 in the Mangorewa Gorge are now open, though a 30km/h speed restriction is in place.

A single lane was re-opened last night with stop/go traffic management in place.

The highway which links Tauranga to Rotorua was closed around 1pm on Monday after a truck and trailer unit crashed down a bank in the Mangorewa Gorge.

A 63-year-old Rotorua man was killed in the crash and 84 200 litre drums of resin and ferric chloride fell into the gorge.

The drums had to be lifted out of the steep terrain by a crane, which is set up on the highway, blocking both lanes, says NZ Fire Service Great Lakes assistant area commander Colin Russell. Read more here.

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