Motorists are being asked to avoid using State Highway 36 or be extremely careful if they choose to, as there are loose sealing chips on the Hamurana end of State Highway 36.

A recently applied chip seal surface has failed at Kakahi Village due to the recent wet weather and NZ Transport Agency highways manager Brett GliddonDrivers says drivers should be aware there is loose chip in the traffic lanes.

'Our contractor is working on the situation which will require the surfacing material to be reapplied.

"We will need fine weather for the work to be undertaken, in the interim we are asking motorists to either use SH33 and SH2 or to take extreme care when driving along this section of road.”

Roadworks require dry weather, and unfortunately recent periods of rain soon after the job was completed has affected the resurfacing work, says Brett. The result is the chip seal has become loose.

'The speed limit has been reduced in this area to 50km/h, and we ask motorists to really take care when driving through this area,” says Brett.

'As soon as we have a significant break in the weather, our contractors will resurface this area again.”