Two stretches of State Highway 2 / Hawke’s Bay Expressway will close overnight on Sunday (19 May) for urgent repairs to median barrier wire rope.

One section of wire rope was extensively damaged in a crash last night around 7pm which saw the Expressway closed for a time between Watchman Road near Hawke’s Bay Airport and Prebensen Drive.

The damage to the wire rope has meant a temporary speed limit of 50 km/h remains in place, and will remain in place until the wire rope is repaired.

Transport Rebuild East Coast crews are also taking the opportunity to repair another section of wire rope, further south.

Sign posted detours will be in place for all vehicles and are as follows:

• ROAD CLOSURE between Meeanee Rd and Taradale Rd from 8pm-12am on Sunday 19 May. Southbound road users will be detoured via Taradale Rd, Kennedy Rd, Gloucester St, Guppy Rd and Meeanee Rd. Reverse for Northbound. HPMVs detour, via Taradale Rd, Kennedy Rd, Gloucester St, Lee Rd, and Meeanee Rd.

• ROAD CLOSURE between Watchman Rd and Prebensen Dr between 12am-5am on Monday 20 May. Please use Meeanee Quay, Pandora Rd, Hyderabad Rd and Prebensen Dr. This route is suitable for all vehicles.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi acknowledges the inconvenience these overnight detours will cause, and thanks all road users for their support.

Road users are advised to drive carefully and to the conditions and to be aware of the temporary speed restriction in place between Watchman Road and Prebensen Drive until the closure.

Plan ahead for a safe, enjoyable journey. Keep up to date with:

• Traffic updates: journeys.nzta.govt.nz/traffic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nztahbg
• X (formerly Twitter): https://www.twitter.com/nztacni
• Journey planner: journeys.nzta.govt.nz
• Phone: 0800 4 HIGHWAYS (0800 44 44 49)