State Highway 2 between Wairoa and Napier could be open by the end of May.

Reopening the integral route remains a priority for NZTA Waka Kotahi.Between Wairoa and Bay View there are around 98 sites to repair and majority of these are underslips. There are 23 sites where a lane is still impacted.

The state highway is open from Wairoa to the Waikari River, where the bridge was destroyed during Cyclone Gabrielle.  The connection will be restored with a Bailey bridge which will open the road to Tutira. The design is now complete, and a blessing has been held. Site works are underway, and Waka Kotahi aims to have the bridge completed by mid-April. Restoring the connection between Napier and Wairoa is a key focus. Some access for residents and stock movements in certain areas has been achieved. However, it’s still a long road ahead.

On SH38, the section from Tuai to Aniwaniwa Falls has now been opened to general traffic.

Since mid- March, the road has been open from Wairoa to Tuai. Work has continued on installing safety barriers and slip clearing and access is now complete right up to Aniwaniwa Falls.

There will still be temporary traffic management in place from Wairoa to Aniwaniwa Falls – and motorists are asked to stick to the temporary speed limits and follow instructions from roadworkers or signage. SH38 was significantly impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. The special purpose road that continues towards the Bay of Plenty from Aniwaniwa Falls needs further repairs before it can be opened.  

Meanwhile, culvert repair works that were planned for this week on SH2 between Wairoa and Gisborne have now been pushed out until April.

This work, at Morere, will result in a total road closure day and night in both directions from 8am Wednesday 19th April to 8am Friday 21st April. People are asked to plan their journeys accordingly.  No detour is available.

For up-to-date information head to: https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/hawkes-bay/

Information is also available on the Hawke’s Bay and Tairawhiti recovery websites;

https://www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/hawkes-bay-cyclone-recovery/

https://nzta.govt.nz/projects/connecting-tairawhiti/tairawhiti-recovery

27 March 2023

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