A cyclone-damaged stretch of State Highway 2 at Otoko Hill is being transformed, with work to stabilise the hillside and make the area more flood resilient ramping up over the coming months.

Transport Rebuild East Coast - TREC - crews are working their way up the highway at Otoko Hill, north of Gisborne.

Since the cyclone, the focus has been on repairing and resurfacing the road, with a number of underslips fixed.

TREC Tairāwhiti spokesperson Richard Bayley says attention now turns to stabilising the hill surrounding the road and improving drainage to minimise the potential for slips to move again in the future.

“Extensive drainage systems will be installed to reduce water build-up and large, metal soil anchors and shotcrete (a type of concrete sprayed onto a surface using a high-pressure hose) will be used to stabilise the hillside and reduce land movement,” says Richard.

“Work to reinstate the road shoulder and install safety barriers, along with culvert improvements will also get underway.”

Progress at at Otoko Flats, near Gisborne (not viewable on map below). Photo: NZTA Waka Kotahi.

Nine recovery projects are planned to make the Otoko Hill section of highway more resilient and minimise road closures following future weather events, with another three on SH2 between Gisborne and the Bay of Plenty boundary.

“We know this is an important connection, especially for freight, between Bay of Plenty and Gisborne. The drainage and stabilisation work is crucial for making this a more resilient route, creating a safe and resilient journey for all road users.”

Recovery work on this route is expected to continue through until late 2025. Ongoing maintenance and renewals are also being planned, ahead of the summer roadworks season.

Traffic management, including traffic lights operating a one-way system, will remain in place where required and people should expect delays when travelling through.

Richard says TREC has staged the recovery work to minimise disruptions and staff will continue to monitor travel times to see if changes are needed.

“We’d like to thank everyone for their patience while the work is carried out.”

Map showing sites. 

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