Motorists are asked to take extra care as State Highway 2 between Gisborne and Napier re-opens today, following the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle.

Police are urging motorists to drive to the conditions as much of the road is still impacted.

"Speed restrictions are in place and some areas are down to single lanes with traffic lights and signage," says Eastern District Road Policing Manager Inspector Angela Hallett.

"There may also be queues and longer expected travel times, so please have patience while you travel."

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency will be managing temporary closures of the road at night, while work to restore the road continues.

"Roadworkers and the team at Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency - Hawke's Bay and Gisborne have worked tirelessly to restore the road and take advantage of favurable weather conditions," says a Napier City Council spokesperson.

"A huge thank you to everyone who has put in the hard mahi to make it all happen."

The Bailey bridge at Waikare Gorge. Photo: Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency - Hawke's Bay and Gisborne.

Waka Kotahi Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations Jaclyn Hankin says restoring access for communities up and down the highway has been the driving force for everyone working on the road to get it to this point.

'We know how important this road is, not only to the communities that live alongside this section of SH2, but also those at either end - to access necessary services, such as food and healthcare, to get kids to school, to run businesses and to stay in touch with friends and whānau.

'This highway is the backbone of these communities, and we couldn't have reached this milestone without the support and patience of everyone along the way,” says Jaclyn.

Hastings District Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst at the Waikare Gorge blessing on Saturday. Photo: Waka Kotahi NZTA.

Wairoa District Councillor Chaans Tumataroa-Clarke, who is also a Trustee for Ngāti Pāhauwera Development Trust and attended Saturday's opening ceremony, says the bridge is more than just a physical structure.

'While the bridge itself connects us physically, north and south of the Waikare, its completion enables a sense of freedom. A sense of psychological and spiritual reconnection between our whānau and communities. It signals a very significant step towards full regional rehabilitation, though the proverbial road ahead is longer still.”

Wairoa District Mayor Craig Little has been looking forward to this weekend since the cyclone hit in February.

'It is tremendous to finally be able to celebrate the reopening of SH2 between Wairoa and Napier.

'This national highway is so much more than just a road. It connects Wairoa to the rest of Hawke's Bay, to our whānau and to vital services, including healthcare.”

Waikare Gorge blessing. Photo: Waka Kotahi NZTA.

Jaclyn says Saturday's re-opening doesn't signify the end of the road for repair and recovery.

'Contractors will continue to be present at a number of locations along the highway during daylight hours, working on areas with varying levels of damage.

'This means people driving through the area will see considerable traffic management in places and lower speed restrictions.

'Over the past few months, people in Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti have become very familiar with driving to the conditions, and we're asking them to continue to exercise patience and understanding, drive to the conditions and be considerate of other people on the road, including our roadworkers, especially in areas where the road is down to one lane, such as the Waikare Gorge Bailey bridge.

'This stretch of SH2 suffered the most damage of any of our networks, largely due to the topography of the surrounding area. We're incredibly grateful to our contractors and bridge engineers for their hard work and commitment in getting the road to this point,” says Jaclyn.

Waikare Gorge blessing. Photo: Waka Kotahi NZTA.

Hastings District Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst echoes those sentiments.

'We are immensely relieved that access has been restored for our isolated communities, particularly for our rural residents in an around Putorino and Tutira, who have been cut off for so long.

"The highway is also incredibly important to the economies of Gisborne and Tairāwhiti, given it is a critical connection to Napier Port.

"I acknowledge the work of the teams that have repaired such major damage, successfully reconnecting us to our communities and our Wairoa neighbours, ahead of schedule,” says Mayor Hazlehurst.

Mayor Little says now the road is open, the people of Wairoa are looking forward to reconnecting with family, agencies, services and people who they have not seen for three very long months.

'This road is our lifeline, and we are appreciative of the work that has gone into restoring connectivity,” says Mayor Little.

For safety reasons, the road will initially be open from 7am to 6pm, and traffic management will be in place to ensure everyone's safety while workers continue repairs.

"It's crucial to note that the road will look different from what commuters are used to, and it's essential to follow the traffic management in place."

The stretch of road between Wairoa and Napier will reopen to the public almost three months to the day since the cyclone first struck the region.

The Waikare Bailey bridge replaces the existing bridge that was washed away in February and is one of 11 Bailey bridges the Government has committed to building in its plan to reconnect cyclone affected communities.

Cyclone Gabrielle caused damage to almost 100 sites on this stretch of highway, including burying Devil's Elbow in under two metres of silt, destroying the bridge over Waikare Gorge and cutting off the communities of north and south of Waikare Gorge.

Motorists are encouraged to visit the Waka Kotahi Journey Planner website – www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz – before they travel for real-time travel information, and updates on delays, roadworks and road closures.

"Police will have a visible presence on the road, so you can expect to see us anywhere at any time," says Inspector Angela Hallett.