NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is reminding drivers to plan ahead next week as State Highway 2 through the Waioweka Gorge will be closed for essential maintenance work.

SH2 will be closed between 10am and 6pm daily on Monday February 24, Tuesday February 25 and Wednesday February 26.

Recent poor weather has forced delays so this is the final push to complete the work to repair and asphalt the highway.

Closure points and details

Soft Closures: The soft closure points are Kerei St, Matawai and Warrington Rd, Ōpōtiki. Access for businesses and residents will be maintained at both ends of the affected area, up to the hard closure points.

The soft closure times are 9.40am and 5.40pm – enabling people to get through the site before the hard closure starts at 10am and reach the site before it reopens at 6pm.

Hard Closures: Two hard closure points will be in the gorge, closer to the actual road works. There will be no access through the site between 10am and 6pm each workday.

Upcoming work on SH2

Otoko Hill tree removal, drainage and culvert work deferred

Late-Feb to mid-April – Drainage upgrades and tree felling work planned for Otoko Hill this week, between Hihiroroa Rd and Fitzgerald Rd, have been deferred to late this month. Once work is under way, crews will be on on-site from 8am to 5pm. Stop/go will be in place to safely do this work and delays of up to 15 minutes are expected, but this wait time could be longer if a tree is being felled. We encourage you to plan your journey and travel outside of these work hours if possible. Tree removal and trimming is required to further the Otoko Hill works, clear fallen debris and remove the risk they present in weather events. This work will continue until mid-April.

Waimana Gorge

From Monday March 3 to Friday March 7, between 10am and 6pm each day, the Waimana Gorge will be closed to allow crews to surface the road. Closing the gorge means the work required can be done safely and efficiently. A detour for light vehicles via White Pine Bush Rd, Taneatua Rd, Valley Rd, right to Ōhope Rd to Pohutukawa Ave through to Wainui Rd then left to SH2 will add about 12 minutes to your journey. The detour is not suitable for HPMV vehicles, which are advised to travel outside of these times.