The completion of repair work at Devil’s Elbow on State Highway 2 (SH2) marks the end of Cyclone Gabrielle recovery work in the Napier to Wairoa corridor, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says.

“The 4-kilometre SH2 road rebuild is complete, with final asphalting now finished,” Mr Bishop says.

“This is a huge milestone for the recovery works in Hawke’s Bay and ultimately provides a smoother, more reliable, and more efficient connection between Wairoa and Napier.

“Crews from local contractors have worked alongside Transport Rebuild East Coast (TREC) on Devil’s Elbow since 2023 to repair extensive damage to this narrow and winding section of road in some challenging conditions.

“It’s been a long road to recovery for this important stretch of road, and there’s been a lot of disruption along the way. I know the crews appreciated the support they’ve received over the years from local communities and road users.

“Since Cyclone Gabrielle, crews have delivered 11 recovery projects through Devil’s Elbow, including 9 major under slip repairs, rock scaling, repairs to the Devil’s Elbow main culvert, a comprehensive culvert replacement and repair programme to better manage stormwater runoff, and a new 12-metre-high retaining wall.

“Keeping water away from the road is one of the most important ways we can boost the resilience of our state highway network. The new and repaired culverts will do that. We’ve already seen, during heavy rainfall and storm events this year, that this stretch of road has handled the conditions well.

“TREC’s Cyclone Gabrielle recovery work in Hawke’s Bay is almost complete, with under slip sites on SH38 and work on Rail Bridge 217 still underway.

“I am pleased to see the repair work at Devil’s Elbow on SH2 completed, which will make a real difference for road users.”

31 March 2026

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