Road closures across region

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UPDATE: A number of roads are being closed across the region as rising rivers and heavy rain cause flooding.

State Highway 36 – the Tauranga Direct Road to Rotorua – is expected to be closed overnight due to a slip south of Te Matai Road. Traffic travelling to Rotorua can do so via Te Puke.

A tree on a State Highway 2 between Awakeri Road and Western Drain Road. Photo: BOP Police.

Police says contractors have been on site and are advising the overnight closure with alternative routes in place.

SH36 at Te Matai is diverted towards Te Puke while a Rotorua side diversion is at Dudley/SH36 and will be manned overnight by roading staff.

Police say traffic will be diverted back through Rotorua to SH33 or via the Kaimai - SH5, 28, 29 - to get to Tauranga. The best alternative is SH33 via Te Puke for both directions.

Surface flooding on State Highway 29 on the Kaimais.

Wharawhara Road south of Katikati was closed due to rising river earlier today.

Tauranga City suburbs

Tauranga City Council advises that Maleme Street is closed and there is surface flooding along Papamoa Beach Road, Roxanne Place in Windermere and Maunganui Road, outside Mount Maunganui College.

Signage is in place and motorists are advised to drive with care.

Pyes Pa

There has been a large slip on the Tauranga Direct Road - SH36. The road is being closed between Dudley Road (north of Kaharoa) and Te Matai Road (south of Pyes Pa).

A large slip and downed tree is also causing concern at Joyce Road in Pyes Pa and police are warning motorists to drive with caution.

State Highway 36 to Rotorua is closed after a large slip.

Kaimais – SH29

State Highway 29 on the Kaimais has surface flooding and conditions are considered marginal. The highway is open at this stage but caution is advised.

Katikati:

Wharawhara Road near Katikati is now open after it was closed earlier today due to rising waters.

Earlier:

Western BOP Road Police acting manager, Sergeant Nigel Ramsden, says the high tide combined with heavy rain is causing rivers in the region to swell.

'We are concerned the bridge may break,” says Nigel.

Police have decided to close the road off State Highway 2 approaching Katikati from Tauranga.

'We are also very concerned about the second high tide at 9pm tonight, and there may be further road closures,” says Nigel.

Police are advising people to avoid travelling if possible due to severe weather currently hitting the region.

Waihi

SH2 between Paeroa and Waihi at the Karangahake Gorge is marginal due to flooding, but remains open.

Waihi to Whangamata road is now open (at 5pm) after being closed earlier.

Eastern Bay of Plenty:

Pukehina Parade is closed to all traffic due to a large tree down on the road.

Diversions are in place at the intersection of State Highway 2 and Western Drain Road in the Eastern Bay of Plenty as emergency services deal with a large tree across the road.

Police are also at the scene of a crash on Awakeri Road where a car has crashed into a tree.

A rock fall has seen Whakatane District Council close Herepuru Road.

Trees are also reported to be down on White Pine Bush Road in Poroporo.

State Highway 25, through Hikuwai, is also closed due to flooding and Pukehina Parade is closed due to trees and power lines down.

Coromandel:

At 6.30pm:

Thames Coast Road open through to Whitianga.

Waihi to Whangamata open.

Whitianga to Tairua has now re opened.

Tairua is cut off to the south - and is expected to stay that way throughout the night.

Pauanui access road is closed and with the tide still rising this will be for some time and possibly all night.

Kopu-Hikaui Road is now open as far as the Whangamata turn off and then closed from that turn off through to Tairua.

Tapu-Coroglen Road is now open however this is not suitable for heavy vehicles to use.

There are very significant traffic jams around SH2 / SH25 and around Kopu. Police urge patience as this back log will take a long time to clear.

If you are still yet to set out Police urge you to not head towards the Coromandel area this evening and put off travelling to tomorrow, and even then check the weather and road closures first.

Earlier:

Waikato Police are advising against all but essential travel to or around the Coromandel.

Senior Sergeant Pete Van De Wetering of the Waikato District Command Centre said as at 12.45pm a number of popular holiday routes are closed.

"Police and council roading staff and traffic management crews are currently dealing with a number of slips, fallen trees and flooded parts of roads.

"Currently the road to Tairua and Puanui, SH25A the Kopu-Hikuai Rd is flooded while SH25, the route between Whangamata and Tairua is also closed."

Mr Van De Wetering said another busy route; SH25 between Thames and Coromandel is currently flooded at Manaia, while SH25 between Whitianga and Tairua is also closed.

"While SH25 between Waihi and Whangamata is still open, extreme caution is advised and another major route.”

"With a heavy rain warning in place, no matter where you are or where you intend going, Police ask that you use extreme caution and ask your self, while the weather is deteriorating, is your trip really necessary?"

With rain forecasted to continue overnight and a number of tidal changes, Mr Van De Wetering advised flooding is expected to worsen and motorists are urged to check roading conditions tomorrow before heading out.

"At the end of the day, don't put yourself, your family or your friends at risk this Easter Holiday weekend."

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