State Highway 29 is closed in both directions after several containers fell from a truck earlier this morning.
Waka Kotahi Transport Agency says the containers fell from the truck about 500m south of the Kaimai Summit, spilling chemicals on the road.
The road is expected to remain closed for much of the day to enable clean-up, says a spokesperson for the roading organisations.
Waikato Regional Council told RNZ the truck spilled 3000 litres of sodium hydroxide, also known as lye or caustic soda, and warned it may have entered a nearby stream. It advised anyone taking water downstream to exercise caution until more was known about the spill.
"Motorists are encouraged to delay their travel where possible," says the NZTA.
Detours are State Highway 36 and State Highway 5 via Rotorua or State Highway 27, State Highway 26 and State Highway 2 through the Karangahake Gorge and on to Tauranga.
The containers on the Matamata side of the Kaimai Summit. Supplied photos.
"These detours will add considerable time to journeys and are not suitable for High Productivity Motor Vehicles (HPMV).
"Visit the interactive Journey Planner website (journeys.govt.nz) for up-to-date information on the road closures, detour routes and traffic in the area.
"Waka Kotahi thanks motorists for their patience."
Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:
- COVID-19 services update: nzta.govt.nz/COVID19
- Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic
- Facebook: facebook.com/NZTAWaikatoBoP
- Twitter: twitter.com/WakaKotahiWaiBP
- Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
- Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)
:UPDATE 9:25AM#SH29 remains closed due to a chemical spillage with environmental impact assessment required prior to clean-up and reopening. Delay your journey or consider long detour. ^TP https://t.co/SkPppgJbJE
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Waikato/BoP (@WakaKotahiWaiBP) September 27, 2021
3 comments
nzta
Posted on 28-09-2021 10:44 | By dumbkof2
surely it shouldn't take all day to clean this up if the containers are safe a bit of stop go should do it. typical in this country make it last as long as possible to get as much money out of it
Roadworks, Accidents + Fires
Posted on 28-09-2021 13:23 | By Yadick
Tauranga is becoming gridlocked. Why is Cameron Road still 30kph on the weekend when nobody is working. One side I understand but both sides?
Tunnel needed
Posted on 28-09-2021 15:04 | By CliftonGuy
This incident only illustrates and underlines the need to build a tunnel through the Kaimais. The three sides of the motorway triangle between Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga needs to be completed. Having heavy goods vehicles struggling over the hill is a waste of resources and fuel. We need to have people at the top thinking forward a decade or two.
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